The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-12-31
The Useless Question
J. n. RosEsoRNE.

! We expressed our surprise that
Marquis de Bar did not laugh like the
rest OF us at the witty attacks upon
! the feminine Sex by Navere. the wom-
an hn',r but he said:
"Nrna an defends her love as We de-
fend honor, often with greater hero
ism. because the sacrifices she makes
are less apparent and very seldom un-
der>tood When | was still quite young
: ! san an example which forever rob
bed NE Of the desire to ridscule wonl-
en-
"Ml uncle. Count de Bar. had taken
me II i sons place. after the death
OF his vife. was younger son. and
ny l,rents saw in the Counts eN-
pressed wish stroke of luck for me.
The Count having no children OF his
own
"lt.,. in the old chateaur de Bar
seemed glorious to me. At times we
lived II seclusion as if i'll monas-
'erN a: other times the castle was
'hr""s.I with a gay and brilliant
crowd
Il h"ush | was only seventeen |
soon hccame my uncle's best friend
and had his full confidence. was
the hr>, one who knew that he was in
love WITH Jacauelin de Terrelles whom
myself thought the prettiest and no.
hl">r woman l had ever met. They
called me fool because | helped to
throw my chances away. but | shrug-
ccd wN shoulders. | cared for no in
heri'nnce but love and affection.
The first days after the wedding
We're delightful. The young wife
frightened our lives. being nobler and
more kindhearted than either OF us.
The Count adored her and she seemed
10 love him with all her heart.
but after a while my uncle SEEM
cd 10 grow melancholy and his wife
seemed to feel sad. | learned later
that life of perfect happiness is
dangerous to happiness itself, because
nature Graves contras, and creates
contrast with the elements at its COM
mand sometimes coarse and vulgar.
sometimes subtle and indefinable.
These two had fulfilled that de-
mand of nature. They lived in separ-
ate a, artments and sometimes did not
meet Tor long time. When they did
they seemed as happy as ever.
"One night when l had been asleep
for some hours l was suddenly awak,
ened by my uncle. / stared at him in
surprise, as he stood at my bedside
His face was flushed and his eyes
Wild
Get up, Pierre" he said. Il want
you
Il hurriedly put on my clothes with
out asking a single question.
'Jacqueline is deceiving me- he
gasred. AT hrst l doubted, but now
am sure
Jacqueline?' exclaimed. oh, il
is impossible she could not deceive
you. She loves you too much
Yes. she tells you that, because
you are simple minded as l am. but
you will see proofs of her unfaithful
ness tonight. For some weeks this
. man Fernand has always been making
love to her. have grown suspicious.
With these words he pulled aside
: curtain and pointed to the wing o.
the chateau where his wife's apart
ments were. 1t was moonlight. Sud
denly l trembled for l saw shadow,
form cross the courtyard and disap
pear through door in the wall.
There you see. said my uncle
That was he, Fernand de Montreaux
. He left now He has the key of tn,
little gate. Come along with me-
broken hearted l obeyed. He pick
; ed up lantern and rudely entere,
his wife's bedroom.
She gave a cry of terror. | cal
soc. her still. prettier than ever in he
lace night gown, her pale face fran
cd by her dark hair. She stared a
my uncle and exclaimed:
What is it? Is anybody sick?'
Yes he replied. somebody ha
Ibccn poisoned
"Who?' she cried.
You. he roared. you. Jacauelin
the fathless, the shameless, dishor
ored'
Her pale face turned even paleI
but her eyes looked at him SO stead
fas'ly that for moment he was cor
fused. But his insane jealousy return
ed with double force.
He raised his arm as If to strik
her. but not for a moment did sh
lover her beautiful eyes and in
voice of pain mingled with sorrow sh
y asked calmly: DO you believe wha
vow are saying?'
The Counts mad jealousy ha
!" reac he'd a point when nothing coul
make any impression on his mind.
= Dare you deny that Montreau
ha- lust left this room?'
she looked straight into his bloot
e shot eyes and said: Such a suspicio
is unworthy of you Calm yoursel
. and remember that you befoul So
cred thing Remember that am you
wife, your companion, your friend. ID
not ask me to answer question tha
III is an insult. Believe me withou
further proof, simply because you lov
me-
Explain or you shall die he roaI
ed in d paroxysm OF fury.
Is Il felt that she would not explain
that she was too proud Of her love I
plead her love as justification. Won
~ ankle Jacqueline did not explain. Fl
must believe her or kill her. Her eye
=. told him that Her brave unwayeriu