The Argosy — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

The Curé’s Sister. 357 It was nearly midnight when the girl arose, and stole away like a _ shadow. I looked after her wistfully, but I would not follow her, or offer her my protection. ‘She came hither safely,” I said; ‘‘she will return safely. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.” Poor Léonie! she came through night and darkness to pray for them, and to kiss the threshold of their door, and her foster-mother thought her cruel! The marriage contract, which gave the young pair a noble dowry, lay on the table in the great hall. The Comte de Villet, with a flush of youthful joy on his cheek, signed first, then the Count de St. Erme led his daughter to the table, and her bridegroom, with an eager look in his eyes, handed her the pen. It was at this instant } scanned Léonie, with an anxious glance, and felt re-assured. I had never seen her more calm, or more beautiful. Her bridal attire of pure white, her wreath of orange flowers and wild white rose, her long veil of snowy lace, suited her strange style of beauty, and I thought for a moment I saw before me a sibyl, a vestal, or a priestess of some wild, dead faith. She took the pen with an unfaltering hand, and, raising her large dark eyes to her father’s face, she smiled. Oh, how I blessed her for that smile, which lifted from my heart a cloud of fear and sorrow ! Another instant, and her firm signature was affixed to the document, which pledged her to be the young Count’s wife. As her fingers: dropped the pen, I saw a quivering paleness gather about her lips, and I felt in my own heart the shadow of the pang in hers. But she conquered, and turned her face, with that same smile on it, towards. her father, and received his kiss, Then her mother’s lips ‘touched hers, and Madame de St. Erme, with a look of ineffable joy, lifted her tearful eyes to heaven as if in praise. Next came the bride- groom, and, as he stooped and saluted his bride on either cheek, that paleness about her lips grew ashy white, and, as her eyes drooped, I saw tears gather on the lashes. A crowd came round her now, and hid her from my sight, and just at this instant, Madame de St. Erme’s trembling hand touched my arm. ““] have prepared a happy surprise for Léonie, to-day,” she whispered tome. ‘I have reason to think that she refused to see Madame Valmine for fear of wounding me, so I have sent for her foster-mother, and I mean to give her at table, the place of honour, next the bride. I had no time to say that I thought this would be a dangerous trial for Léonie, for the company, sweeping on towards the doorway, separated me from the Countess. The throng pressed on to the grand saloon, where a sort of dais was erected, on which stood two fauteuils, CONnNICMOOOKSs.EO®