Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-01-23

Is irremeoiable. You can now think
onl- Of saving from the wreck that
which can be honestly saved. do not
ask you to exile yourself from Paris
no more from Beatrice am afraid of
exacting too much. But / ask that you
see her frankly, as a woman to
whom you bear nothing but esteem,
friendship. To do this, no doubt, win
demand much courage upon your part;
but have you not told me that gave
you courage and hon )r?''
Madame, 1 hope to rove It."
81 thank you said the young wo-
man with some emotion. But to aid
you in this" she added, smiling, you
will permit me to take a few pre-
cautions that my old experiment sug-
gests. Among all the circumstances
that could put your courage to the
proof, there is one, at least, that it is
easy to foresee and to save you. l
beg of you to have no direct explana-
ton with Beatrice. That would agi-
tate both of you too much. l will at
tend to that this very day, and you
will then have nothing to do but pre-
sent yourself TRANQUILITY, as of old, at
the house Of Fabrice. l will promise
you that you shall be well received.
They will make no illusion to the
past, nor to the present, and you will
promise me, will you not, to make
none On your side, and to not hest
tate to be a good, old friend, as you
are to me-and nothing more?'
Il promise you, and 1 have not
much merited this, I assure you. That
which you have just offered me seems
very sweet, after that which l have
suffered"
Soon again-at present l must dis
miss you. l am going to her house
this morning. l told her 1 would do
so.'
But, Madame, since you forold my
excusing myself, from even just1fying
myself, that she may know"
''She will know all. Should l not
write you, go and see her when it may
please you; but preferably upon Mon
day-that is her day. You will be lost
in the crowd-that will be less trou,
blesome. But the time presses. Good
afternoon" And they parted.
Still under the dolorous impression
of the scene of the evening before,
Beatrice had not felt her anguish di-
minish upon receiving that morning
the laconic note rom Nine. d'Aymaret.
which prepared her for a serious COM
munication. When she saw her enter
she ran to her with face afame.
what is it," she said.
cit is, first, that | have to bring you
the excuses of the Marquis de Pierre
pont; and, second, the assurance that
we need no longer blush because of
our friendship for him."
SIS it true" cried Beatrice, clasping
her hands in transport Of happy sur
prise.
Eyes, but dame! that is a satisfac.
ton that I bought at a great price. Be
seated there while I tell you my
story"
She then recounted the terrible con,
versation Of the evening before with
the Marquis in the parlor of the Thea
ter Francois, without emitting the I'M
understood ending. She had betrayed
Beatrice! But she had betrayed her
to defend her from unjust and cruel
imputations, to restore an abused,
hopeless unfortunate to himself, and,
above all, to overcome the imminent
danger of deplorable duel.
Beatrice, who had listened with a
pass onate interest, could only ans
Wer by kissing her hands.
Sure of pardon, the wise little wo>
man passed into her advice, her coun
sells and her prayers. She told them
to her in a slightly different language
from that which she had given them
to Pierrepont an hour previous. She
told her that which had been agreed
upon between them She was. con-
Yinced that Beatrice would easily IN
derstand, as Pierrepont had, that in
.renouncing the impossible
and in accepting the frreparable, she
should yet be able to find some sweet
ness. a sweetness no doubt somewhat
but pure and deep, in the
feelings which would still be retained
by them. Aside from that, there would
be for Beatrice only shame, degrade
ton and despair, and for Nine. day
maret, herself, only everlasting re.
morse for her imprudence, which had
been so involuntary.
Beatrice thanked her with effusion,
aVowing to her that, in reality, she
was happy that Pierrepont had been
instructed in regard to the truth. She
was happy at seeing him become
again All honest man. AS to the rest,
she duplicated Nine. d'Aymaret to
have confidence in her.
To be continued.