The Argosy — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

The Curé’s Sister. 359 But Léonie’s father answered him with only a troubled look, and descending among the crowd himself, the bridegroom seized the weep- ing Madame, Valmine roughly by the arm, and led her to the door, uttering in her ear rapid words of scorn and anger. With straining eyes Léonie watched this scene, her senses seemingly bewildered by a strange horror, but as her frightened foster-mother, at the doorway, looked back upon her reproachfully, she dashed forward, parting the crowd on either side by her vehemence, and reaching her, she clasped her in her arms and kissed her. “You see,” she said, bitterly, ‘‘ you have no part in me now; we are separated for ever. But kiss me, and bless me, before you go, mother.” But Madame Valmine was crazed with vexation, shame, and disap- pointment, so she answered angrily : “You want no blessing of mine, Mademolselle. I wish you joy of your fine jewels and clothes, and your fine husband the Count.” “See this woman off the premises!” cried the exasperated bride- groom to his servants. ‘‘ This insolence is past bearing.” Two men laid their hands on Madame Valmine, and pushed her through the great doors of the hall. It was an act done in anger— done in a moment, but it broke Léonie’s heart, and its consequence went on into eternity. ; Hard as turning of Madame Valmine from the door might be, it yet seemed a measure of necessity, and all breathed more freely when she was gone. All but Léonie, and she stood like a statue of stone, with eyes dilated and hands clasped upon her brow. ‘Then, as the Count de Villet turned with profuse apologies to his guests, I drew near to her — and touched her on the arm. ‘‘Léonie,” I whispered, ‘‘ remember your promise to me at the fountain. A worse sorrow than this might fall on your foster-mother through you. For her sake you must bear this.” Such a look as Medea had when she slew her children, Léonie turned on me, and my blood coursed to my heart like a river, as I bent to hear her words. ‘I take heaven and you to witness,” said Léonie, “that when they thrust my mother forth, I would have gone with her hand-in-hand, and I would have sprinkled the dust from my feet as I left this place ; but { know there is a curse upon me, and I dare not bring its blight upon fer and hers. No, I could not follow her to-day—their home can never be my home again; but you, who know the truth, will say for me, that for their sakes I forsake them. Oh, I have courage to save her and him—believe me. You shall see I have!” Her face shone as she spoke, like the face of one of those women of old, who have died from some noble mistake of duty ; and walking rapidly through the parting crowd, she mounted the dais where her father still stood, and taking his hand she kissed it. ‘‘ Father,” she said, wistfully, “‘do not grieve for my roughness and my faults; you COMMICDHOOKS.CO