Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-02-20

LOl lIuuCu.
After a pause of reflection, Pierre
pont sad: Does your friend desire
that marriage?"
She desires and approves anything
which will deliver her from The hell
IN which she now is"
well, I will obey. I shall 90 tomoT-
row. If there is no steamer leaving our
coast, / shall find one in England. This
evening you will receive a letter to
be given Fabrice. You will give it to
him when you consider it best. Adieu,
Madame"
Two days later, he embarked upon
a. transatlantic steamer from HaVre.
Nine. d'Aymaret had received upon
that evening the letter which he had
addressed to Fabrice. 1t was opeH.
She read it and was pleased but she
resolved to not give it to the painter
until the day upon which she might
inform him at The same time Of the
marriage Of Pierrepont, hoping that
he would be more accessible to their
insistcnce at that tine. Beatrice was
Of the same mind and as to the mar
riagc itself, she received the news
with Indifference.
Encouraged by her friend, she now
saw a half chance, doubtful as it was,
Of saving her husband and escaping
herself from the moral tortuTes which
she feared would drive her mad. She
did not the less continue to follow and
survey with poignant interest the
last acts the least words Of Fabrice
Notwithstand her weakness Of
artstOcratic pride and worldly van
ity, it would have taken a much more
hardened heart to remain insensible
to the firm cOuntenance, generous and
heroic, Of the artist in the face Of
death In her admiration, mixed with
a profound pity, and perhaps, with a
still more tender sentiment she no
longer thought Of anything except to
regret the annoying sorrows which
she had nOurished against ner hus-
band. She was astonished to have mis-
known him to that degree, at having
closed her eyes so Obstnately to the
high distinction to the man and the
artist, and at only having perceived
some imperfections of the surface.
The phys. cal person Of the painter
seemed to her under new light; she
was struck with the natural dignity
of his step which made her think Of
The great and deep attraction of the
energetic character, of his calm feat
ures to which his slightly whitened
locks, which seemed as though half
powdered, gave a strange softness. He
seemed to her as TRANSPORTED, as
though the thoughts which occupied
him and sustained him during those
supreme days had nYeloped MIN in
some superior radiance.
However, the time passed. 1t was
upon the goth of July that the agree
ment of suicide had been entered into
between Fabrice and PierrepOnt. The
interval of four months accorded the
painter should expire upon the goth of
October. Beatrice saw with terror that
the great panels destined for America
were going 10 be finished upon the
first week of the month. They would
have been even at that moment, if
Fabrice had not, more than ever, in
his last work tried to Justify the repu-
alton for cOuscientiousness and ar
Jistic probity which he had acquired.
But he had to do no more than put on
a few light touches which demanded
but four or five days work. Already
the correspondent of Mr.. Nicholson,
in Paris, had come to find out FROM
the painter about the continuance and
the progress of the work. In proper
ton, as the redOubtable time ap-
preached, the anguish Of Beatrice be
came more iBcessant, more intOleT-
able. more mortal Devoured by a fe-
yer, listening day and night in her
waiting for some sinister sound or
some tragiCal spectacle, she pressed
Nine. d'Aymaret to attempt with Fa-
bricc the supreme step upon which
hung her last hope. But Nine. d. Ay-
maret, already informed by Pierrepont
that his marriage would take place in
the near future, wished to wait in or
der to say that the news had been int
formally confirmed. 1t was in the be-
ginning of October that the second
letter from the Marquis informed her
that the event had happened. She
also received, at the same time, an
Americans newspaper, which gave her
a detailed account OF the affair. She
no longer hesitated.
Since her return, in her frequent
yrf.-F ,+ al oh 10 10 m n
ONCE met Fabrice. He could not doubt
that she was in the confidence of
Beatrice. but there had not been be-
tween the young womanD and him =
shade of aIlus on upon the subject.
One morning he saw her abruptly en-
ter his studio He had a great liking
for her, but vaguely feeling in himself
at that troubled and resolute time, the
object Of her step, he assumed a very
grave air.
you wish to speak to me, Mad
ame?" he asked.
Il wish to speak to you, yes, but
do not deprive me of my courage. Be
kind to me, I beg of you"
TT is very easy to be kind to you,
sad he. with a sad smile. Continue,
speak"
He brought a chair for her, Tor he
saw she was becoming too weak to
stand.
Monsieur Fabr.ce." said she after
a silence. = have been informed today
of something which it may be of IN
terest to you to know" And she gave
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