CHAPTER III.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 170, 18 September 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER 111.

Fkom the front windows of the mansion, Cecile watched with curious and mistrustful gaze the departure of the wedding party. That .her aunt really was going to be married seemed quite too good to be true, seeing that she \va* not going to be married to Rodolpho, which would not have been good at all. Poor Rodolphe ! She was very sorry for him, but Bhe would have been more sorry for herself had he become her uncle by marriage. " Gone already 1" she said ; " it looks li^e a dream. Oh my, where is Rodolphe !" And as if in answer to her thought that young gentleman entered the room. 11 How d'ye do again ?" said Gecile. " It's no use your coming heie unless you want to see me. There's nobody else in the house," and eh© smiled with demure triumph at his look of discomfiture. '* Where is your aunt 1" inquired the young artist. " Gone out— on particular business. She woa't be long, but I've got something to* tell you. I'm not to go back to school." Cecile looked delighted, and looked to see if Rodolphe would appear pleased. "Urn very glad of it, I'm sure/ replied he, pleasantly. •♦ I'm so glad that he's glad," thought Cecile •' But tell me," went on the artist^ w as I approached the bouse, I saw two carriages leave the door ; who were in them ?" " You may well ask who ; that was the wedding party." " What wedding party ?" "My aunt's," returned Cecile, and her heart beat quickly as she watched the effect of this news upon him.' He turned pale and dropped into a chair. " Impossible !" he said. ** You don't suppose I'd tell a fib." Hardly heeding what the young girl said, Rodolphe went on in a half-rhapsody. II Why did she not tell me of it when I was here just now ?" " Because she didn't know it herself," observed Cecile. •'So sudden ?" he remarked; " she is a wonderful woman. TVho is the man ?" "He is a great deal more than a man — he's a Marquis," and he had kissed Cicile, but she said nothing about that. "The villain!" said Rodolphe rising. Hie ane;er rose too. " Oh, fie !" cried Cecile j " don't you call my uncle a villain." The young artist paced the room to and fro nervously. The young girl watched him, resting her chin upon her clasped hands. | " Her wretchod ambition has done this," fhe exclaimed ; •• but ehe'll suffer for it. Cruel Hortense to deserfc me thus. " Cecile pricked up her ears as she heard him. What did he mean ? She went timidly up to where he stood, fixed in thought, and said gently : " Rodolphe, look me in the face, and give me an answer directly. Were you in love with my aunt?" With & short nod he answered, *' I wae.' " And would you have married her?" "I would." . She looked steadfastly at him for a few seconds, and then, bursting into a, violent fit of crying, turned away. " Cecile, whab is the matter ?" asked Rodolphe, with every mark of surprise. " Nothing," Bhe replied, walking slowly away and sobbing. "He was in love with that old aunt of mine, who must be thirty if she's a day ! He'd have gone and married her, and he don't care a pin's head for me. A na3ty nice man !" "Cecile, come back," said Rodolphe, Jbut still crying and sobbing, "I couldn't if it was ever so, " she left the room." The artist gazed after her as she went. " I've lost a heart that loves me," said be, "in Becking one that spurnß me for an empty title. Ah ! here they como." i He drew back from the door, and the Marquis, leading Hortense, entered the ■ chamber. On perceiving the artist, she broke from Frontignac. , "Rodolphe here?" Bhe exclaimed, and anger and astonishment mingled in her tones. . < ' ' The young arfciat gave her a.look of grave reproach and said "Hortense !" " Hortense?" questioned the Marquis indignantly. ** I am speaking to thai; lady, sir," proudly returned the artist, giving the other but a glance, and then again. looking at the new marchioness. She turned, her back upon the artist. " That lady, sir, happens to be my wife,'.' said Frontignac, curtly, *• 6ome, mar-{ chioness," and he, approached the late, widow. . „,">-,, t > , ,' i . "„ Excuse me, my lord, I.go alone," said Hortenee, passing into the side room* " Hortense, one word," implored Rodolph«, but the lady passed on and took no heed. . , ■ ' ,• „< v ( .- v . n .\ : "That one word must be with me^ sir," observed the Marquis, with marked con.atraint, '/Jf you please*" j ...i^- * r , ; . He, walked quietly up tostbesarttefc, who simply, replied, "Quioklyi then.'H.-Bothi men .looked each .other atraighttyj in the' face, without observing that , the cobbler, ■tood.in the doorway. = The- solicitude of the artiean concerning, his ypropirty .the Marquia ; h«d clearly no* end»d -»t : tho . rChMoh^or,*^ 1 M t Vnf , '»k

[ngly?**^ia*too l T«)Uti©- r to ß^m»Tri€p»^v'« i mian'iia - the presence of her husband, you at c probably'awUr» that there is a little ceremony which f oll&WB «»'tfitaattcß ofredfarae^ 4 ( Ik dp. ?»o|>, ujqders^ndv you,?' Rodolphe,. v «• 1 v • ««tf ?" ' responded Frbntigiiae,' r ari^hisliand,dropped baaually/fupon the hilt of hisi 3 word, .which he partly drew as ho Bailed auggestiv'ely. ' '"' ** " '" "Oh ! I beg ! ybuv patdobj" returned the other, following the example of the Marquis. ' , „ f "Stop," stop, stop !" cried Crepiri, running between them with outstretched hands. The little man, looked more alarmed than either of the others. " Crepin, stand back," said the Marquis ; "you forget yourself." . "No, I don't, 'my lord," replied Crepin, shaking ,hia head slowly .to and fro," and I don't Forget my bill. If you are killed, who's to pay it ?" , ', ' >, -<* "Fear nothing," said Frqn,tignaq, " But I fear everything," Baid Crepin. " I fear for you, I fear for my bill, I even fear for this gentleman, though I haven't the pleasure of knowing him and don't work for him.", " Stand off, fellow !"said Kodolphe as, the cobbler approached him, , " I'm no fellow," stoutly retorted Crepin ; *' I don't make so many shoes without knowing what fellows are. I tell you, .air, that tbis.ia imy Marquis, and I don't, allow my Marquis to fight. ", „ '" One moment," said Frontlgnap, "and I'll set matters straight." .So saying, he wont toward the door through which Hortenee had disappeared. Meanwhile the artist walked threateningly up to .the cobbler and a9ked him, " What does this insolence mean ?" Poor Crepin drew back in alarm. "Oh, don't call upon tne for an explanation. I'm bAPpy to say Fm no gentleman. The Marquis had walked to the door and found it locked, at which he stared first, and afterwards knocked. The door opened, but not to admit, the Marqui?. On the contrary, a servant maid came out, shut the door again, stood before it, and handed the Marquis a letter. He * gave her a look, and took the letter, which he opened, and, after glancing at the first few lines, frowned and W3nt to the window and began the perusal once more. The letter read as follows : " The Marchioness da Frontignae regrets that the Marquis persisted in refusing to read the contract of marriage before he signed it, although ! she* cautioned him that it contained conditions which rendered his , doing so absolutely necessary. The time has arrived when he must read it, and the Marchioness refers the Marquis to that clause which is specially marked in the enclosed copy." Although the Marquis had read thin in a low tone of voice, it was sufficiently audible for the artist and the cobbler to overhear him, and they exchanged glances of curiosity. " Well," said Frontignac, with a short laugh, "she will make a man of business of me in spite of myself." He opened the accompanying contract, and glanced rapidly through it. " What's this ?" he cried, and he read out the clause in a raieed voice : " Madame Hortenee Bertrand, widow, being desirous of rank, and the Marquis de Frontignac being in pecuniary difficulties, it is agreed between them that a formal marriage shall be gone through : that the Marquis shall beatow on Madame Hor tense his name and title, in coneideraiion of the payment of his debts, and of the annual sum of thirty thousand livres to be legally settled on him, 1 but that immediately after their return from the ceremony, the parties shall separate, and the Marquis agrees and hereby engages himself to withdraw at once and for ever from the dwelling and society of the Marchioness." The Marquis, the cobbler and i;he artist looked at each other in surprise, swelling in the Marquis into indignation. " Can this be possible?" he exclaimed. "JHave Ibeen deceived— tricked— betrayed? I will be revenged —but now ? It is too late, the hateful ceremony is over, and this designing woman revels in the rank which my credulity has conferred upon her. I could cry with vexation— l could laugh to think how I've been gulled. I could do anything except," said he, taking Rodolphe by the hand, "except fight for her, and there, sir, you must excuse me." "She has Bpurned us both," said Rodolphe, "and is not worth it." "Sensibly spoken on both sides," commented Crepin to himself. " There is a sort of comfort in knowing that somebody besides myself has been made a fool of," observed the Marquis. "I'm glad you think so," replied the artist. "You," said Frontignac, " have the best of it, you are free, whilst I— but my anger shall take refuge in contempt." Turning to the servant who still remained planted in front of the door, be said : "Return to your worthy mistress — to the late merchant's widow, who has become a marchioness by treachery and imposition. Give her this," and he threw down the contract, " tell her that she has married not only a nobleman, but fortunately for her a gentleman— one who will honourably abide the consequences of his signature dishonourably obtained. Tell her also that I scorn to touch a coin of her money. I will leave the house this instant, and that I bear uothing to remind me of my degradation. Say that her husband leaved her house without a coat on his back." Se wrenched off the wedding-garment and -flung it on 'the floor along with the contract. The maid gathered both up and retired. " It's not quite s6 bad as all that, Marquis," quoth Crepin; "I picked up your own. Egad, I delight in your spirit." He offered the Marquis the coat he had thrown, off when dressing for the marriage The Marquis refused at first, but, persuaded by Eodolphe and the cobbler, he* at laßt consented to put it on. " You'll never get paid now, poor fellow," 9aid Frontignac. " I have neither money, house, nor home." " Come to mine, then,' 1 said the cobbler heartily, "so the law directs. Anythingrather than you should be under any obligation to this abominable woman." ' Crepin !" said the Marquis warningly and with uplifted finger. "I bog your lordship's pardon— this infernal Marchioness." " Acceptf this honest man's offer," said Rodolphe, advancing to the Mai^quis j " better times may come yet." "Stay !" said Frontignac to prepin ; "a thoughts'trikes me ; do you live hear this house?" " No, my lord," answered the cobbler, "but Madame de. Frontignac— l mean the Marchioness Bertrand— no,' % I mean your" lordship's' lady ship-^has* a chateau a little way out of Paris, and I live close to that." • 1 >• • ' <- . - • . ' i «- r Better still ! How strange a fate is mine I I seem to havo but one staunch friend in, the world,. and hiral have ruined by my extravaganoe. Crepin,^ lam yours, bound to y«u by gratitude— and by- law." As if by common consent th 9 three, proceeded to leave the" house, when they encountered .the Viscount '> de rMillefieurs, ' to . whom ; Rodolphe bowed, the ograndmasrer i bowing in return. As Crepin passed out,) bo snapped' his fingers- as JProntignac bad done. :,, The i smiled, and turned his back upon him r contemptuously,

r*l% Alfwe^plople in this house seem to have -sudd«niy*Rone*m»di J?^^id*h«»'y« i * J''W**or;"*he'mistress of it, eher-Tr"' u ""'la'flhtfMartmflnessa^rfbiitigiiao;'' said' Hb^WnSK' earning* o^thb'A adjoining' The Viscount started ; then, divining the^ eitti'atioViKhe 1 biwed'lbw in' admh-atibri a'nd ! : •'*• Truly yoii.are a 1?" «• J^ M '»- ' >f \ 4'4 ' •He offefed^hieiarm, which, witfraßmile,' sKe accepted, wad a f ew x»itt\iteB after they were Ke£rd driving 6flf to the roydl f6te. m "' '(To be Continued^ ? : ' !'!,',