The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-09-07
a True Story.

''Why, yes, it is a true story, true and most
wonderful" CThe Marquis was speaking) 81
love the little tale love it because-well, say
I am full of sentiment. If it be so, thank God
for it, Heaven pity the man who loves to mediate
on pots and pans, beef and beans, stones
stars, even, rather than on the human heart!
"The Count de Longueville loved Mademoiselle
de Fleure. There was, indeed, family opposition,
but, finally, the affair arranged. The count
was enraptured, the demoiselle was shyly pleased.
The contracts were signed the day for the nuptials
was set.
"Then, in the midst of joy, grief came. The
call to arms was sounded; the Counts duty as an
officer demanded his presence at headquarters. The
hour for parting rushed upon the betrothed. There
were whispered words of yearning, VOWS of con-
| stancy a last clinging caress Then soon, hun
dreds of leagues lay between them; the enemy ad-
vanced; communication, even by letter, was for
time impossible; only memory and hope remained
"In the heat of battle, in the fatigue of marches
IN his waking and In his dreaming, the count car
ren always In his heart the vision of its saint the
vision of dainty maiden, tall and slender, 1.-THE
and issome, with a face like heaven The hope of
return to her life to him.
but In the castle there sorrow. Day after
day the devoted maiden waited and mourned for
him she loved of whom she could hear no word.
Then her private grief was in part forgotten. for
the smallpox ragged in the provinces, and the peo-
pie sorely afflicted. One of the waiting maids
of Mademoiselle herself was taken sick with the
disease. Mademoiselle cared for this girl with her
own hands, until She too, in turn, was stricken.
For long she lay between life and death Then, at
last, in answer to many prayers of the poor whom
she had succored, the expiring spark of life was
breathed upon by God It increased into a tiny
flame; soon it once again burned vigorously
''But the pity of it The harsh hand of dis
ease had doomed her loneliness. No longer the rose
blushed redly amid the warm fairness of her cheeks
A deadly pallor wrapped her face. like an Oriental
mourning veil. The soft smoothness of her face
was married with furrow and pit.
"Still Der faithful soul prayed God to grant her
patience in her womans agony. Still she thanked
God for His mercies.
"And now the war was done. The returning
legions gaunt and worn, brought mingled jov and
grief With them came the Count de Longueville
seeking his hearts delight.
"His horse familiar with the way so long I'M
travelled FASTENED at full gallop the portal of the
Chateau de Fleure moment later, unannounced
the count has entered the house and stands in the
doorway of a little curtained chamber where mis-
love was won't to loiter. The dear name trembles
on his lips. Ere it thrills the air. woman is
clasped in his arms, woman sobbng tears of
ecstasy
"Then, swiftly, she moves little from him:
ooh, l must not do this thing. I must not
Behold me- l am no longer fair to look upon-I
am SCARED and pallid as the deadr
"She beckons him toward the light
Look look she cried, thou canst not love this
mockery of her thou hast wooed
"He draws her closer in his arms; his lips curve
in a soft smile of peace.
"EAnd dost thou think I loved thee so unworth-
lily? No, no, thou shall not leave me- life of nv
life. Listen dearest-the will of God works won
drously; l. too, have suffered. even as thou hast
and l am blind "-Benzger's Magazine.