The Argosy — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

202 The Burgomaster’s Daughter. perceive that all dislike is only ignorance, and “‘ to know is not only . to forgive,” but often to love also. The news of the ugly man’s wealth astonished the world. It was so wonderful that a creature so ugly should not have embellished his features with gold—that he should to the very last have tried to get loved, or, at least, tolerated, for himself. Ah! what a mistake! The exact terms of his will were not divulged; but it was known that Mademoiselle Lucille Warenne had two millions of francs. Hence there was a nine days’ wonder for the world when it was announced that this young girl, who lived in deep seclusion, refusing the visits and the friendship now that had been denied to her in her sorrow, was about to become a novice in the Carmelite convent near. The steady, plodding man, who had loved her through good and evil, heard this, and looked imploringly at his mother. ‘Look you, my son,” she said; ‘‘ I would go to-day, but she is so rich now. We refused when the Burgomaster beckoned; he will say now it is the money has brought us back. I am too proud to bear that.” ‘So am J,” returned Jules. He said no more to his mother, but the fever in his eye burned brighter, and his cheeks grew hollow. Thus things stood when old Madame Warenne, like an adroit general, came to the rescue. V. Ir was time she came, for it was Lucille’s last Sunday at home, and her father, grown old and grey before his time, followed her piteously with his eyes whenever she moved from his side. __ “My doing—all my doing,” he murmured to himself, as he caught her wistful smile, or saw the tear which, in spite of her resolve, would sometimes flow unbidden, ‘I have spoiled your future, Lucille. I have condemned you to this. O, my dear, dear child, what shall I do when you are gone? [I shall soon die.” At this moment Lucille threw her arms round his neck, and ne | wept together. Yet he did not try to shake her resolve. He knew if any man sought her now it would be for her money, and she would refuse all such offers. And when he was dead and gone, it would be better for her to be safe in a convent, than to face the world alone, a single woman. ° . “Tt is very unfortunate,” said Madame Warenne, ‘that poor M. Rennelon died. You see, if any parti presented himself for Lucille now, he’d declare off ‘when he heard the terms of the will.” This speech was made after supper, when Lucille was gone to bed. The Burgomaster heaved a deep sigh. ‘‘ That’s why I wrote to you tocome. That’s why she has resolved to take the veil.” “No, it isn’t,” said Madame, drily. ‘‘ She has set her heart on Jules Bastoigne, and she’ll be glad ——” 952." Gomicbooks con