The sun., 1908-04-26

stltutiny an impossible barrier between
him and her We are reminded that such
a, point OF view was by no means In her
time universally recognized. nor was II
shared by Guibert himself. The letters re-
Gently published make II plain that the
honeymoon once well over he was anxious
TO renew his former relations. but encoun-
tered a resolution which he found II would
ba impossible TO shake For the short re-
mainder Of her unhappy life Julie de Lea
pinasse was free from reproach, and In the
I judgment Of her blographer the determina-
ton not to injure another woman expiated
IN some measure for former wrongdoing,
Her attitude. indeed. toward her uncon-
scious rival was at all times thenoeforth
conaplcuously generous. The bitterness OF
her heart overhowed often enough In re-
proaohes 70 Gubert, but Of his betrothed
she uniformly spoke In terms OF respect
and even Of kindness. Once she terrified
Guibert beyond measure by appearing un-
eKpectedly In his rooms on an evening when
she knew that he was 10 receive q visit
from Mile. de Couroelles and her mother.
The wretohed man vainly implored her to
withdraw before their arrival, She was
determined 10 see his future wife, but the
soene which followed relieved him OF his
fears. Mile de Lespinasse made herself
as delightful as only she could The girl
was fascinated by her charm Of manner
and the caressing tenderness with which
she welcomed the hancee Of an old and
valued friend. NEXT day Julie. as II de-
termined to be thorough In her great re-
nunciaton, wrote to Guibert: Il thought
her charming and well deserving OF the
interest you feel In her. The manners and
appearance Of her mother are also most
pleasing and attractive. Yes, you will be
happy Guibert was gratihed and even
touched by this magnificent self-abnega-
ton, but he considered that II was scarcely
maintained with sufficient consistency.
There was In his opinion a want Of good
faith about such letters Of congratulation
as that which he received after the formal
signing Of his marriage contract: And 30
the sentence ls slgnedl God grant II may
be as decisive for your happiness as my |
DEATH Farewell; may your life be always |
too full and too happy TO leave room
for the remembrance Of an unfortunate
woman who loved you Manllke, he did
not like even to think that he was kill
ing the woman whom he professed still
to love, but TO be told II was really very |
unpleasant. II Is certain as the biographer
says. that Gulbert spoke no more than the
truth when he wrote about this time to
Julie de Lesplnasse the words which reused
her to an nexplicable fury Of resentment:
sDo not break your heart for me, beseech
you. lam not worthy Of all that you have
suffered for my sake
When Mile, dc LespInasse declared that
Guibert had signed her sentence Of death
on the same day as his marriage contract,
she spoke no more than the truth. The
deems II extremely unlikely that
she would In any circumstances nave lived
to be old, and the mental suffering Of the
last few years had Of course gravely
affected her always fragile health. This
Anal blow, which she survived barely a
twelvemonth, must certainly have hastened
the end. At her funeral D'Alembert and
Condorcet were chief mournerB. By her
own express wish the last 'observanoes were
performed in very simple fashion and
hideous custom. then prevalent. Of laying
out the dead in front OF their homes as a
spectacle for all who passed by was omitted.
Miss Jebb points out on her final page that
Julie de LespinasSe never ceased to believe
that II Mora had lived to know all he would
have forgiven her. D'Alembert. we know.
ilthough out to the heart when he hrst
earned OF her relations with Guibert. did
i've 70 forgive her. Surely, then, the
oiographer thinks. it is scarcely for us TO be
.evere in oondemning her, Across the
gulf Of over hundred years
her unique and fascinating personality !
pleads with us on her behalf, as 1t pleaded
hen even with those who had suffered
through her fault. We find In her some
hings which we needs must blame, but
'ar more to be admired, pitied and loved
NJ w II