The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-07-24

OLlly IONC Va LII AAACs
At this moment the door opened,
and Pierre himself entered the room.
His daughters rose and rushed up to
him, throwing their arms around
him.
"My dearest father, you look sad
tell me what is the matter with you."
"Ah, girls, girls, my own two
children-for you are both my chill
dren, are you not ?"
eyes"
Something has happened that l
felt would happen one of these days.
1t is proved to me that some one be-
side me has the right to love cne of
you
"Ah, father, what do you mean 7"
"You know your own history-you
know that one of you is not my
daughter"
1--WE have never liked to think of
it,"
"Well, children, this evening l
had an appointment, Of which I told
you nothing, so much did I dread it.
1t was with an eminent lawyer. He
has proved distinctly to me the per-
son who claims one of you; told me
the whole story; but how am I to
part with either of you? 7"
(Which of us, father, is not your
child?"
"Here precisely is the puzzle; we
cannot tell but I cannot give up
either of you, for l love one as we'll
as the other"
1--WE both love you as Our father /;
we do not want to leave you; we can
love no other father but you."
"The daughter that is not mine
has neither father nor mother; 1t is
her mothers mother who claims her.
But she will give her what I cannot
give-a great name, riches, and a
position in society far above the one
I have placed her in. Which of you
is it ?"
Jeanne and Marie both kissed his
cheek neither spoke. Jeanne was
thinking that the advantages he set
before her would have removed the
obstacles which separated her from
Octave, but she only sighed deeply /;
not for an instant did she dream that
she could ever lay claim to all this
brilliant fortune; but Marie, taking
her fathers hand, calmly asked him
If there was no sign by which they
thought to recognize the rightful
heir.
"The heiress of the Marquis de
Valbourg has sign-so says letter
from her mother. l do not think 1t
is love that makes them so anxious
to find her, but the Duo de Blossac IS
heir to the property, and the revenues
of all the estates have been for years
accumulating; until the death of this
girl is proved, the Duo de Blossac
cannot touch penny. Jeanne, what
is the matter with you !"
Nothing, father; I feel faint"
"My darling, sit down."
"Well, you must know that by an
amicable arrangement made years
ago, when the existence of this
daughter was suspected, it was de-
cided that when she should be found
and installed in her rights she should
become the wife of M. de Blossac,
that young, handsome duke, you
know; he has been here often to buy
diamonds but-Marie, Marie, look
at your sister; she has tainted p
JEANNE was conveyed to her room,
for she had indeed tainted. An hour
afterward Marie slowly entered the
room, where her father was anxiously
pacing the floor.
Father" said Marie, Jeanne is
better she will sleep soon, and then
all will be right. Father, have you
favorite between us u
eyes the one who was sick wher
you were children 1 always loved
best; but now Jeanne is suffering and
seems unhappy, why, darling, think
love herr
"Not better than your Marie; thai
can never be. But would you bt
content to see Jeanne happyl"
cat any cost"
"Tell me the sign by which thi:
lady says she can recognize her grand
daughter"
ga violet mark imprinted in th'
way in which sailors mark their arms
but over the heart"
"Then," said Marie. ''you mus
love me best, father, for am yonl
child, and Jeanne is Duchess d.
Blossac."
"To lose one of you is terrible, my
darling but do you think that will
console her :"
81 do, though she will never forge
u.s."
That night Marie knelt by he
Jeanne's bedside, the door was locket
and the sisters were alone.
"Marie !" exclaimed Jeanne, :"
cannot hear of this sacrifice. Wha
right have I to deprive you"-
"Of nothing, my sister. You low
the duke, do not. If 1 claim tn
inheritance, 1 must become his wife
1 cannot, so now submit
Still Jeanne resisted, but Marie wa
firm, and drawing aside the night
dress, with firm and light hand sh
pricked the shape of violet just owe
her sisters heart. Then, rubbing
with gunpowder, she made the mar
indelible.
"Now, Jeanne" said she, "that
exactly like the one I have on-th
one, probably, my poor mother made