Belle-Rose — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

« - rs : > - Se- - —_ = * 38 ae THE SKIRMISH. See Ss ardor, to the manly pride, to the bold impatience whose flame just now colored his handsome face, a sweet and melancholy smile had succeeded. Jacques felt himself at — the same time touched and attracted by that mysterious sadness whose source must originate in the depth of the heart. . He sat down and related the innocent story of his youth, of his love, and of his departure. Monsieur d’As- sonville listened to him; for a moment his eyes were’ moistened at the narrative of the innocent love of Jacques, ae but this moment was so brief that J acques did not even- x see his humid eyeball shine. Monsieur d’ Assonville car- ried his glass to his mouth. ‘‘T drink to your hopes, ’’ said he. Jacques sighed. _ “Tt is the fortune of tho poor!’? he murmured. — “yf ee your sweetheart has an honest and sincere heart, keep Ay them; but if she is weak like the reed or deceitful like the © wind, boldly drive them from your mind. Betrayed hopes — are like thorns which lacerate. ‘‘T hope because I believe,’’ replied J acques. ‘“You are eighteen!’’ exclaimed Monsieur d’ Assdneiies and a flash of bitter irony passed over his eyes. Then, | more softly, he resumed: ‘Believe, Jacques; belief is the perfume of life and tho ornament of youth; woe to those who have not believed— they have not loved; they die without having lived. > Monsieur d’ Assonville pressed both of Jacques’ hands; the reflection of an ill-extinguished passion illuminated his face, and he swallowed his glass at a draught. “Of what am I thinking?’’ he presently said; “it is a as question of love and not of philosophy. Come, Jacques, — what do you count on doing?”’ ‘‘T have told you—to go to Parisand seek fortune, unless you consent to keep me with you.”’ ‘“We will see about that later, and I shall willingly con- = < sent if my company can beof service to you. Butsuppose — for a moment that you have arrived at Paris—what will = Ee you-do there?’’ "Frankly, I do not know; I shall knock at every door.’ “It is.an excellent means ‘to enter none. Have you mie 3 money ?’’ ‘‘Yes, fifty livres which have been stolen from me, and — which I hope to recover along with my valise.”” ‘And fifteen louis which 1 shall give youas i: part of the sheds < Mow « -- - ee 8 > -comick pooks.com_ me . 7 a” . - ede