The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-20
Continued From Our Last Issue)

Mr.. Rochester then said Adele
vas the daughter of French
ra-daneer, Celine Varens, to-
wards whom he had once cherish.
ed what he called "grande pas
sion" This passion Celine had
Drofessed to return with even SUI
Derior ardour. He thought him
self her idol; ugly as he was; he
believed, as he said, that she pre-.
ferred his "taille d'athlete" to the
elegance of the Apollo Belvidere.
But like most other affairs Of
this sort the lady was found to be
untrue; while flattering her rich
lover for the gifts Of gowns and
jewels he was able to bestOw up
on her, she was intriguing with
an impoverished young army Of
ficer for whom she really cared.
1t was not lovely tale with
which my ears were RECALLED that
afternoon, but IL had one redeem
ing feature. Let the teller of the
story recount 1t in his own words:
Some years after | had broken
with the mother, she abandoned
her child and ran away to Italy
with a musician or singer. | ac-
knowledged no claim on NAdele's
part to be supported by me; but
hearing that she was quite desti-
tute, | cen took the poor thing
out of the slime and mud of Paris
and transplanted it here, to grow
up clean in the wholesome soil OF
an English country garden. Mrs.
Fairfax found you to train 1t; but
now you know that It is the ille-
Ultimate offspring Of French
opera girl, you WILL perhaps, think
differently of your post and pro-
tege-eh?'
INC. Adele is not answerable
for her mothers faults. have a
regard for her, and now that |
know she is parentless shall
cling closer to her than before.
How could | possibly prefer the
spoilt pet of a wealthy family, who
would hate her governess as a
nuisance, to a lonely little orphan,
who leans toward her as a friend?"
1t was not till after had with
drawn to my own chamber for the
night, that I steadily reviewed the
tale Mr.. Rochester had told me.
AS he had said, there was probably
nothing at all extraordinary in the
substance of the narrative itself; q
wealthy Englishman's passion for
a French dancer and her treachery
to him were everyday matters
enough, no doubt, in society; but
there was something decidedly
strange in my masters manner to
myself.
The confidence he had thought
fit to repose in me seemed trib-
ute to my discretion. I regarded
and accepted 1t as such. His
department had now for some
weeks been more uniform towards
me than at the first. I never seem
ed in his way; when he met me
Unexpectedly. the encounter seem
ed welcome; when summoned TO
his presence, I was honored by a
cordially of reception that made
me feel I really possessed the
power to amuse him.
What alienates him from
Thornfield asked myself.
"Will he leave It again soon?
Mrs. Fairfax said he seldom stayed
here longer than fortnight at a
time; and he has now been resi-
dent eight weeks. II he does go,
the change will be doleful."
The next day / was given a
chance to decide whether such an
occurrence would be doleful or no.
I did not see Mr.. Rochester during
the day. but there was nothing I'M
usual in that.
AT tea time, however. Mrs. Fair
fax sent for me to have tea with
her, and her announcement OF the
masters having departed on a
journey was anything but casual
to me.
"Journeyl-Ts Mr.. Rochester
gone anywhere? I did not knew
he was out"
oh, he's gone to the Leas; Mr.
Eshton's place, ten miles on the
other side MilIcote; ! believe there
is quite a party assembled there
Lord Ingram, Sir George Lynn,
Colonel Dent. and others
DO You expect him back to-
|niFht?v
"No--nor tomorrow. either:
should think he Is very likely 4
stay = week Of more: when thes,
fashionable people get together