Year: 1873

whom [ quickly became friends. Un-
luckily, he did not live in Vignelles, but
about two miles distant, in a solitary
little house on the cliff, commanding,
however, a view of the sea.


It was there I first saw Adele. She
was his only child, and the idol of his
heart. seem to see her now, as I saw
her then for the first time. I thought
her the most beautiful girl upon the
face of the earth. I can't tell you the
color of her hair and eyes, for they were a
mystery to me. I think her eyes must
have been brown, but they often looked
quite black-as black as her eyebrows
and eyelashes and as for her hair, it
was all shades of gold, red, russell
brown and black. 1 really do not reco1-
lect about her features, except that they
were beautiful nor how tall she was,
except that I was taller nor whether
she was plump or thin, but only that
she was perfect. She was perfect, too,
in disposition, as amiable and unsel6sh
as she was lovely. She was clever, too,
without being highly accomplished.
She used to sing to us of an evening, in
or simple ballads /; she could draw and
paint, cook little, row boat-in fact,
do almost anything. She helped her
mother in the house, and yet was her
fathers constant companion. She was
always thinking for others-never for
herself-and was withal as ight-hearted
and blithesome as girl of sixteen or
seventeen ought to be.


She was friends with me at once, and
before many days were over, it seemed
to be settled thing that the little
house on the cliff was open to mel
was free to come and go as I pleased.


The days glided away very quickly.
Six weeks or two months had passed,
and at the end of that time L was
obliged to acknowledge to myself that I
had done very foolish thing. I had
fallen terribly in love with Adele.


1t was very foolish thing, for I was
poor and entirely Sepen ent on my own
exertions, and at that time my profess
sional talents were by no means appre-
ciated. Monsieur Berton was, knew,
far from rich, and Adele was little more
than a child. Still, the fact remained,
and I was helpless to extricate myself.


The worst of it was that she herself
seemed quite unconscious of it, and by
her very innocence only made matters
worse. During all this time we had
grown very intimate, and it seemed
quite natural that we should be together
nearly all day neither Monsieur nor
Madame Berton made any objection,
but allowed us to walk and talk as much
as we pleased. I suppose they COM
pletely trusted Adele-as Adele COM
pletely trusted me indeed, I very soon
discovered this, partly from her manner,
and partly through intuition. She
would talk to me quite openly, and even
ion on various subjects, and she treated
me with familiarity that showed her
unsuspicion by its very openness. Of
course, treated her in the same way.
I could not do otherwise. To have been
formal or Indifferent was impossible to
have ventured to make love to her would
have seemed to me like abusing privi-
lege and betraying a trust. I am very
glad now to think that L never allowed
myself to say anything to her that from
our intimacy was not perfectly excusa-
BILE.


In the meantime the days passed on,
and I grew more and more in love with
her. I felt that something ought to
follow. But what ? Of course, the
wisest thing I could have done was to go
Immediately away; but that was far
easier said than done. The fascination
was too strong for me. I could not re-
solve to voluntarily say good-by to Adele.
seemed to see her sweet face looking
up sorrowfully and pleadingly into
mine, and to hear her soft musical
voice, as she begged me to stay, even
myself. 81 can't goat least, not just
yet" So I stayed on, and put off the
evil day, and gave myself up entirely to
the pleasure of Adele's society. How
long this might have lasted it is impos-
cible to say, if suddenly the end had not
some.


This was how it was. One morning
went as usual to the Bertons. found
nobody in the garden, SO 1 pushed open
the door of the house and went in. All
was silent, there was no trace of any one.
This was very unusal Monsieur Berton
was generally in the garden, and Mad
anne Berton or Adele in the little room
dignified by the name of parlor. / was
puzzled, and was just going to call out
when remembered little back room
which Madame Berton sometimes used
as a work-room. L looked i'll, and saw
Adele lying huddled up on the couch,
weeping bitterly. I sprang forward.
and kneeling by her, entreated her to
tell ME the cause of her grief. At first
she only shook her head, and continued
to cry but after time she grew calmer,
and tried to speak.


"Tell me what it is," urged; "per-
haps I can help you you may trust me,
indeed you may"


"I know, I know" answered she ;
you are SO kind, but in this you can
be no help"


"At least, tell me-" repeated L" is
your father or mother ill? What is it p


placed myself at her side on the
sofa, and stole my arm around her waist.
1t was an irresistible impulse, but L am
glad to remember that she did not notice
It, her mind seemed quite absorbed by
her trouble. I could not imagine what
it twas, and certainly never suspected that
it would SO nearly affect me, so I con-
tinued to persuade her to confde in me.


"Do not be afraid, Adele if you only
knew how it grieves me to see you sc
unhappy? Tell me, my-"I was go
ing to say something much tenderer.
when she stopped me by putting both
her hands on my shoulders, and said:


"Dear friend, I will tell you, for
know you will pity and be sorry for me.


as should be for you if you were il


trouble. Ny poor Rudolph is very ILL
| dying perhaps; he prays to see me, ane
we have not got the money to 90 to him