The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19

Frenchwomans sense of the ridiculous sand evinced with all the fancy of an Ital- ian. But she mingled with it such sweet preconcerted or hostile-for in most things 1t is coldness which offends. while vivaci- ty. on the contrary. has almost invariably the air of good nature.
 Oswald found in Corinne a grace which he never before met. A terrible recollec- ton of his life. 1t is true. was associated with g very lovely and gifted French woman, but Corinne in no way resembled her. But while Corinne fascinated him Oswald, when not in her presence, judged her after the standards which he had been accustomed to apply to women of his own country, and many doubts and misgivings perplexed him. In spite of this, how ever, and in spite of the fact that sew eral times<he resolved to fly from her witchery-did indeed absent himself for days from her house-the acquaintance be- gun at the capitol and increased by his first evening by her side developed into an attachment to which he surrendered his whole being and which he felt was reciprocated by the mysterious poetess.
 Under the guidance of Corinne, Lord Nsvil saw the archaeological treasures of Rome and those wonders of art and archi- lecture which are the marvel of the world She entertained him often at her country house at delightful Tivoli, and in her com pany he journeyed to Naples. Their close intimacy. while perfectly innocent, would. in any other country than Italy. have oc- casioned criticism of the most severe kind, and Oswald's English manner of thought told him that 1t was time full and free explanations were made on both sides. If Corinne's past held nothing which would render such union impossible he wished to marry her. and Corinne had intimated unequivocally that if when he knew the whole story of her life. he wished to make her his wife she would consider that she had attained the summit of earthly hap piness.
 But to reveal that past she showed a disinclination not unmixed with terror of the consequences of betraying such a knowledge to the man she now so pas sionately loved. On his part Oswald agreed to first make statement of the life which had been his before meeting Corinne. and to divulge to her those haunting facts which had undermined his health and destroyed his peace of mind. It was at Naples that they came to this agreement and 1t was there that their mutual revelations were made. Oswald told his story first.
 When he was scarcely more than boy hls father had picked out for him as his future wife Lucille Edgermond. the daughter of his fast friend. Lord Edger- mond. She was child then of tender years. and 1t was resolved that for a time Oswald should. travel on the conti- net. In France he became acquainted with one Count Raimond. a young man the perfect model of French character in its old loyalty, of French mind in its new cultivation. A warm friendship sprang up between the two. Oswald was fascinated by the giddy whirl of the life of Paris. where everything was so new and delightful to him. He knew. however. that his father. whose wish was his law. looked with distrust upon Paris ian life and character and would not have prolonged his stay in the Fernch capital had he not chanced to meet Raimond's sister. the widowed Countess dArblgny. Mme d'Arbigny resembled her brother even in voice. but with her there was more of a retiring caution. Her coun- tenance was very agreeable, her figure all grace and faultless elegance. She ex- presed herself on tender subjects as if trying to hide the feelings of her heart.
 Young Oswald became at once much fin-