Captain Paul

ve him when he

to remember

for him that he

espe

ere she usually found Achard, a young and handsome man, who looked at her with gladdened eyes, and with a kindly smile. She made a sign to the servant to put down

find my old friend, Achard, here, and I c

for he could not reply to her; he felt that the tone of his voice would betray the emotions

ean, all that was soft or tender in his heart, he had turned towards God, and although in the eyes of rigid Christians, his religion might not have appeared as strictly orthodox, it is no less true, that the poetry which overflowed in every

and saying to her: Marguerite! my sister, no woman has yet felt love for me; love me then with sisterly affection. Oh! mother! mother! by depriving me of your c

g the door, "farewell! I wished this evening to co

stranger was in that room. Paul remained gazing at her with outstretched arms as if to prevent her leaving the house, wi

guer

mprehend this strange familiarity, in one who was

cing a step towards his sister, "Mar

with dignity; "but I could not imagine that word was addr

ght her back into the room. "I know that you are unhappy, that you have not one friendly

igh," replied Marguerite, raising

fer you that which you most need; to tell you when all lips and all h

ords which you have uttered; words, unfortunately, to which i

give you one

!" murmured

ble!" cont

ith an indescribable accent, in whi

! and

en-but

aul, showing her the one with t

imed Marguerite, "have m

li

no longer

oves

what was it I was saying? If he be living-if he still lo

to me as a token

o any one?" cried Marguerite, pushin

scribed-dishonored, in the eyes of the who

nce is that. Is

love of his sister, "he thought that delicacy required, banished as he is for ever from soci

one for him," replied Marguerite, "her only excuse i

an angel!" ex

zing the young man's hands, and loo

ha

u seen h

friend, hi

lover, and forgetting that it was the first time she had seen the person to whom she was addres

nd he hopes aga

uerite, and drawing back som

ll

ace, over which a sudden tinge of red had cast its

nd clasping her to hi

miracle of

e, sir?" said Marguerite,

I a sister I would pray to heav

unhappy sister," she replied, leanin

said Paul

ow not,

oce

ectoure is to arriv

en informe

ight the marriage con

w that

s once said, 'It is my will,' all that remains to do is to bow down one's head, to weep, and to obey. My father? Yes, I well know that my father must leave the room from which he has never stirred for twenty years, to sign this contract. My father! for any one less unhappy and less culpable than I might prove a resource: but you know not that he is insane-that he has lost his reason, and with it every feeling of paternal affection. And besides, it is ten years

you do, my poor child; but be pacified

can pre

wil

ou

row I shall be present

present

e the

od heaven, beware, while striving to save me t

s sacred as your own, Marguerite. Fear

e contending feelings of confidence and mistrust which she had till then labored under. "For what a

matters. What line of conduct do you intend t

tell h

wing profoundly, "al

ured Margue

ter! as a

," cried Marguerite, "and I believ

lied Paul. "Then-

occur, only contrive to let me know by letter, by a wo

ndeavor t

at the length of this interview. Return to the cast

guerite; "you to whom I kn

e your

l, then,

ulsively in his arms, "your lips are the first from which

ing to Paul, she held out her hand to him. Paul

to the door of the inn

," said he, "conduct m