Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-09-05

day. some young
ladies, friends of
the bride, and few officers, who had
been comrades of her fathers in past
years. The guests were distributed,
rather unequally, in two handsome
apartments, opening into each other
one called in the house the drawing
room, and the other the library. In the
drawing-room were assembled the no.
tary, with the contract ready, the ie,
the young ladies, and the majority of
General Berthelin's friends. In the Ii
brary the remainder of the military
guests were amusing themselves at q
billiard-table until the signing of the
contract should take place; while DaD-
vile and his future father-in-laW
walked up and down the room together;
the first listening absently, the last
talking with all his accustomed energy,
and with more than his accustomed al
lowance of barrack-room eXpletiyes
The general had taken it into his head
to explain some of the clauses in the
marrjage-contract to the bridegroom,
who, though far better acquainted with
their full scope and meaning than his
father-in-law, was obliged to listen for
civility's sake. While the old soldier
was in the midst of his long and con-
! fused harangue, clock struck on the
library mantelpiece.
Two o'clockr' exclaimed Danville,
glad Of any preteXt for interrupting the
talk about the contract. 1.-TWO O'Clock,
and my mother not here yet! What can
be delaying herr"
Nothing" cried the general. when
did you ever hear of a woman punctual,
my lad? If we wait your mother-and
she's such a rabid aristocrat that she
would never forgive us for not waiting
We shan't sign this contract yet this
half-hOur Never mind! let's 90 on
with what we were talking about.
Where the devil was l when that cursed
clock struck and Interrupted us? Now
then, Black Eyes, what's the matter?"
This last question was addressed 30
MademOiselle Berthelin. who at that
moment hastily entered the library
from the draWing-room. She was a
tall and rather MISUNDERSTANDING girl,
| with superb black eyes, dark hair grow
ing low on her forehead, and something
of her fathers decision and bluntness
in her manner of speaking.
"A stranger in the other room, papa.
who wants to see YOU, I suppose she
servants showed him upstairs, thinking
he was one of the guests. Ought | to
have had him shown down AGAIN."
"A nice question! How should l
know? Wait till I've seen him, miss.
and then I'll tell YOU With these
words the general turned on his heel,
and went into the drawing-room.
His daughter would have followed
him, but Danville caught her by the
hand.
Can you be hardhearted enough to
leave me here alone?" he asked.
What is to become of my bosom
friends in the next room, you selfish
man, if I stop with your" retorted Mad
emoiselle. struggling to free herself.
Gail them in here" said Danville,
gaily making himself master of her
other hand
She laughed, and drew him away to-
wards the drawing-room.
Come she cried, and let all the
ladies see what tyrant | am going to
marry. Come and show them what an
obstinate unreasonable, wearisome-"
Her voice suddenly failed her. she
snuddered and turned faint Danville's
hand had in one instant grown cold as
death in hers; the mOmentary touch of
his fingers, as she felt their grasp
loosen. struck some mysterious chill
through her from head to foot. She
glanced around at him affrightedly;
and saw his eyes looking straight into
the drawing-room. They were fixed
IN a strange, unwavering, awful stare;
while from the rest of his
face all expression, all charac-
ter, all recognizable play and
movement of feature had utterly gone.
It was a breathless, lifeless mask-a
white blank. With a cry of terror, she
looked where he appeared to be looking,
and could see nothing but the stranger
standing in the middle of the drawing
room Before she could ask a ques
ton, before she could speak even a sim
gle word her father came to her, caught
| Danville by the arm. and pushed her
roughly back into the library.
Go there, and take the women with
you. he said in quick fierce whisper.
Into the library he continued, turn
ing to the ladies, and raising his voice.
Into the library. all of you, along with
my daughter
The women. terrified by his manner,
Obeyed him in the greatest confusion.
As they hurried past him into the
| library. he signed to the notary to fol-
low; and then closed the door of COM
munication between the two rooms.
stop where you are!' he cried, ad-
dressing the old officers, who had risen
from their chairs. Stay. insist % it!
Whatever happens. Jacques Bertheiin
has done nothing to be ashamed II in
the presence of his old friends and COM
panions. You have seen the begin
ming, now stay and see the end"
While he spoke, he walked into the
middle of the room. He had never
| quilted his hold on Danville's arm
step by step, they advanced together to
the place where Trudaine was standing.
"You have come into my house, and
asked me for my daughter in marriage
and I have given her to you,' said the
general, addressing Danyille quietly.