Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAST HOUR. 243 night I could not keep from thinking of him. This trouble increased on the following days; it was mixed with un- known sensations which delighted me, and nevertheless I dared not speak of it to mry mother or even to my sister. I do not know whether the Chevalier d’Arraines noticed it, but it appeared to me that on every occasion when the family was assembled together he attached himself more particularly tome. When he spoke to me, his voice was soft and charming; when he looked at me, his eyes had an expression which touched me deeply. One evening—this evening has decided my life—he met me in an avenue of the park where I went to dream all alone. On seeing him I blushed, and felt myself tremble without knowing why. He came to me and took my hand; and nevertheless I made no effort to detach myself from him. He spoke to mealong time; hesaid to me those things which one dares not hear and which are nevertheless engraved in the depths of the heart. When he told me that he loved me, I thought I was going to die with happiness. All at once we heard walking near us; I disengaged my hand and started to fly; but before leaving, I dared look at him; his eyes were so tender and suppliant, that if no one had been near, I should have fallen into hisarms. The next day he went away,’’ continued Gabrielle. ‘‘His father sent him to the army; but, before leaving, the Chevalier d’Arraines sent me this letter, in which he repeated to me what he had said to me the evening before.”’ **And since then?’’ questioned Suzanne. ‘**Since then, I have heard nothing more of him. A short time after his departure, my mother fell sick, then died; my sister followed my mother; the little child died also. Terror seized me, frightful dreams peopled my sleep; at night I awoke in surprise, bathed in tears, and it seemed to me that phantoms touched my face with their icy hands. The word convent was murmured in my ears, I was told that it was a refuge; Icame here. Alas! Suzanne, you know how I will leave it.’’ Suzanne no longer had strength to reply; she held her friend embraced and wept over her. **You, Suzanne,’’ said Gabrielle, ‘‘you will leave here; one day, no doubt, you will meet Monsieur d’Arraines, RADDY: perhaps, and no longer thinking of me. You will tell him that you have seen me, you will show him at the bottom of this letter some words which I have written, and you will give him this tress of my hair. And then you =) = (E(0) Ebook 5