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


 terested in the charming widow, but when he mentioned something of his feelings to Raimond the latter said bravely: My sisters nature and mine are not con- genial" After that Oswald never men toned the countess to his friend, though his intimacy with Mime. d'Aubigny in- ci eased to point which alarmed even himself and made him reflect that what he was doing would surely meet with the strong disapproval of his father. If he stayed in France. however, he felt that he could not disengage himself from the entanglement.
 He resolved to fly across the channel. and Raimond seemed glad that his friend was to return to England. In a few morths. he said, he would be with him there.. For France was then on the verge of the revolution which destroyed the old regime, and Raimond saw only too clearly the abyss which the nation was approaching The revolution came. Oswald in London received letter from Mime. dAubigny saying that her brother Raimond had perished in defending the Tulieries and that she herself was in ex- treme danger, though living under an as stunned name in a country town. Rai- mend, she said. had taken his own for tune and hers with the intention of transferring them to Oswald in London Had Oswald received the money? She conjured him by the affection which he once professed for her and by the regard he held for her brother to come to France and rescue her.
 War was impending between revolution ary France and England, and Oswald had already entered the army. His father, he krew. would have forbidden his return ing to France But the call of the help less woman could not be disregarded writing a nasty letter to his father, Os- wald crossed the channel and found Mime. d'Au bigny That willy woman had simply lured him to France Her for tune proved to be safe. but she kept the young man dangling on and on until at length he found himself living with her as with a wife and struggling vainly to break the chains which bound him and return to England, whither his father rad repeatedly by letter commanded him to repair.
 When at length Oswald announced to Mme. d'Aubigny that he must and would return to England the woman burst into tears and said: Would you, then thus heartlessly desert me? Know, cruel man. that have a secret to tell you. It will not be me alone that you abandon to fate if you fly now" And as she made this avowal she blushed and cast down her eyes. Oswald was beside himself. torn by conflicting emo tions But 1t seemed to him that under these circumstances his plain duty was to remain with Mme d'Aubigny.
 There was a relative of Mime. d'Au- bigny, one M. Maltigues. who was much in her society and upon whom she seemed to rely in all her business af- fairs. While Oswald was in the pe- riod of his greatest distress this man said to him: For my part, if were you, would at least spare my friends the sight of my sufferings and my self their long faces of condolence. It Is foolish of you to remain here where your life is threatened in so many ways" oswald replied with some as- perity, and one word bringing on an- other. Lord Nevil challenged Maltigues to duel. which challenge the latter lightly accepted.
 Before they went to the dueling ground Maltigues said: You are a good fellow. Oswald, but Mime. d'Au- bigny does not suit you. Your father would be in despair at such match. My cousin wants to marry you, of course, but she Is highly sagacious, even in love. and never fails to pro