Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 381: what you’re looking at

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368 PICKWICK ABROAD. Archambault sank upon a chair exhausted, and demanded water, His cheek became still more pale than the illness had left it; and he felt as if he were about to faint. ‘Oh! let me not die yet!” said he, in pathetic appeal to his Maker. I hastened forward to open his waistcoat, loosened his collar, and exposed his neck to the air. The gold chain of peculiar workmanship,. to which I before alluded, caught the eye of the Baron de Rémonyille, He rushed towards the fainting youth, examined the chain foramoment,, and cried ma hasty tone of voice, ‘“‘ That chain—whence came it? Speak-——-Oh ! speak.” Eugene raised his head feebly, and replied as well as he was able to the questions that were put to him: and it was from.his mouth that:L gathered his previous history. “My son—my son! my long lost son!’ exclaimed the Baron; and. he clasped Eugene in his arms. ‘Your son!” ejaculated Sevigne. “¢ Yes—my son—my dear son!’’ continued the Baron. “ And now —QOh! let him conduct to the altar her whom I was about to drag thither an unwilling bride!” ‘(Ts this truth, or is ita dream?” enquired Engene, on whose countenance a deadly pallor was cast. ‘¢No—it is truth—reality!” whispered Rose: in her lover’s ears. ‘‘Rouse yourself, dear Eugene.’ ‘Oh! it ishard to die now,” faintly murmured the unfortunate youth. ‘* Happiness awaits me—but | shall not live to enjoy it. Oh! T feel an oppression here,” he continued, pressing his hand upen his forehead, ‘‘and I know that I have but a few moments to exist. Rose —dear Rose-—and you, my father, where are you ?” “We are here—we are both here—we are near thee, dear boy,” exclaimed the weeping Baron, while Rose’s voice was lost im heart-- wrung sighs and sobs. “Oh! it is sweet to die thus!” murmured Eugene: ‘now I am happy !” And with these words his spirit fled for ever. Mr. Pickwick’s memorandum-book does not inform us of the pre- cise fate of the unhappy Rose. 3 en cae A A et er. —= ft —_ > ‘ | GComicbooks. con 1