Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-02-13

she had recovered possession of her
memory and that she realized her
former feelings of the terrible calam-
ity
Beatrice" said the painter, "if an
explanation to you should be too dis
tressing now, I will defer it"
20, no, immediately" she murmur-
ed.
Besides, it will not be long" said
Fabrice, for if I am not deceived l
have but few things to tell you Of
Your nervousness has just betrayed
you; you have heard, have you not,
what was said in my studio between
the Marquis de Pierrepont and me?"
She made sign that she bad heard.
Consequently, you know for what
reason | would avoid all rumor and
the scandal of a duel? You know that
it is to save you from any personal
stain which might, beside, reflect up
of my innocent laughter"
She made the same affirmative
| sign of her head.
las you understand that, precaution
will have been useless; it will have
been illusory, # you should leave the
house of your husband while he lives.
That would reveal to the public that
which it is of more Importance to you
than to me to have concealed. 1t will
be very hard, no doubt, each of us
knowing that which we do know, to
support a common life for three or
| four months. But since I have that
| courage, I hope that you will have it
also"
"As you will"
''To sustain you during this trial
you may have the consoling thought
Of soon being everything to him; to
him for whom you have made the
VOWS just now while We were shoot
ing"
Beatrice did not answer.
ITO end" Fabrice added, II have
not, I think, to trace a plan Of con-
duct for you. suppose that you will
not forget-the Marquis de Pierre
pont and you-the respect which is
due a man whose hours are number
ed"
He left her with these words a.
AS for her she remained until even
ing in that fatal walk, because of
weakness, upon the bench. Was it
indeed she, who was there, who had
just been mixed in these fFightful
scenes? Was it she, Beatrice, who had
just received and merited alas! the
terrible reproach which Fabrice had
addressed her?-for she had not
dared deny it. 1t was too true that,
during the combat in which the life
Of her husband was at stake against
that of another, it was not for hus-
band that she trembIed; it was too
true that she had committed, in
transport of passion, the crime of
steadying the hesitating hand of
Pierrepont, and that upon seeing her
husband struck with the doom of
death, her first movement was that
of wild joy. She knew then, the poor
creature, as So many others had
known before her, to what extent pas
sion may overcome and control the
it has become sovereign over the
ruins of reason, will, and of honor.
CHAPTER XIV.
Several weeks have run by. It is
the month of August. Beatrice and
Pierrepont have not seen each other.
By mutual scruple, they have avoided
all communication by writing. Beat
rice only knows that Pierrepont, cGs
trary to his custom, has passed the
summer in Paris, and she presumes
that he awaits her orders.
He receives from her one morning
the following note:
Il beg you to leave for Glion. l
Enbw that Madame d'Aymaret is still
there: tell all to her. Tell her that l
am at her feet, that am going insane
and that I await her"
A few hours afterward, the Marquis
departed for Switzerland. Upon the
next day in the afternoon, he arrived
at GIion and two days later Madame
d'Aymaret, whose husband was
slightly recovered, arrived at Paris,
whence she went Immediately to Belle
vue. Upon seeing her enter the salon
the wife of the painter let feeble cry
escape from her. 'Eli5e!" And she
joined her hands, looking at her with
an ari of suppIication. Nine. d'AymareC
clasped her in her arms and Beatrice
threw herself upon her, breaking int
to deep sobs@
Thanks, thanks" she said through
her tears, for two months I have not
cried"
And when she was somewhat
Gained:
HAS he told you aIl?"
"Au"
She made the Vicomtesse be seated.
"Ah, well, what have you thought?"
AS for me, no longer think"
81 think" said Nina. d'Aymaret,
chat everything must be done to
save the life of your husband
TT is impossible. He will not have
it."
who will not have it?''
He, my husband"
'Why?"
Because he has given his word"
Nine. d'Aymaret, in an accent hard
almost severe, said to her:
Beatrice. if l could think, only for
one minute, that you face without hor-
ror the future prospect of your wild
owhood I would never see you again.
Listen, to me-" said Beatrice, . that