Page:Peterson Magazine 1869B.pdf/214

 197 IN LIFE. the hands that clasped Vivienne's grew colder, should hear of her death, would it matter to yet the end did not come. him? Would he give one regretful thought to The short summer night had passed, and the an the wom he had once loved ? Oh! did he morning breeze stole gently through the winlove her still ? If only she could know that he dows, from which the curtains had been withsometimes thought of her; if this terrible blank The eyelids of the dying woman, that . n closed in the gray, morning twilight , of silence and uncertainty could be broken ; if dra hadwn bee she could see him once more ! The robe that opened gently as an infant's ; the eyes wandered shook her wasted frame told plainly enough of from Vivienne's face to the rosy sky. There the heart that still clung to earth, though she was a movement of the pale lips, a fleeting smile on the white face, and with one gentle would fain have given it all to heaven. wers bloomed sigh, Madame de Beranger had ceased to breathe. flo The mer sum It was mid . again on the terraces of Hautlieu, and filled For a moment. Vivienne knelt with those pale with their perfume the chamber where Vivienne hands still clasping hers ; then she gently folded knelt beside her dying mother. All that fair them on the quiet bosom, and rose up from the summer day Madame de Beranger had lain couch. Her work was ended now, and in her calm and still, and faintly smiling , while her weary heart there was no thought but a pasheart throbbed with pulsations that grew slower sionate longing to pass beyond the gates which parted her from the mother she had lived for. and weaker every moment. Pallid as the corpse she had left, with bowed Priest and physician had rendered their last services, and there was no sound in the room head and woeful eyes , she went from the chambut Vivienne's low, clear tones , and her mother's ber of death. On the threshold stood Duroc, his eyes glitrs. nt ewhispe faiTh s er' hands dying woman held her daught tering with malicious triumph. • in her feeble clasp, and looked up with undying He leaned toward her, and half whispered , love into the sweet, solemn eyes of her child. 'Madame has, perhaps, forgotten the penalty 66 So the hours wore away, and the end was attached to what she has done." ing y r ver nea . The rays of the declin sun peneShe looked at him quietly , and his evil eyes trated the crimson curtains of the windows, and sunk before the dignity and purity of her shed a roseate glory over both the pale, worn nce . monsieur ," she said , simply, "I have gla"No, faces of the women. The gloom faded, and twilight gathered in not forgotten. I am no longer mistress here, the room ; but still Vivienne knelt there with and we are going away, my mother and I." her hands clasped in those feeble, clinging ones She glided past him, and entering her own chamber, summoned Elise , and began to give which were growing chill in death . Suddenly Elise drew near, and stooping, directions for the funeral of her mother, whispered something in her young mistress ' Vivienne was adored by every person on the estate, and she knew her requests would be ear. Vivienne looked up, and shook her head ; but obeyed, though the right to command was no Elise still lingered , with a disturbed expression ger hers. lonShe wished that her mother's body should be e on her fac . " What is it, my child ?" whispered the dying Itlaid , not in the drear vaults of Hautlieu , but voice. "Ah ! I know now ! Elise is right. in the green church -yard of the village, and ne ! that the hands of the humble peasants, who ien Viv Oh, e ve is tim for you to lea me. loved her so faithfully, should perform the last must you go from me now ?" "No, my mother !" said Vivienne, gently . sacred duties for the dead . It was done as she directed . In the hushed " I will not leave you now. My work is almost m of the mid -summer evening, the day after cal done ; I will stay with you to-night ." A smile lit up the wan face of the mother, and her death, they laid Madame de Beranger in an expression of deep peace and rest succeeded the peaceful church -yard ; and rough peasants the momentary look of anguish that had ruffled sobbed aloud as they gazed at the black -robed figure, and the pale , lovely face of the young herSilbro encwe. again in the dim, flower -scented room, marquise, who stood alone at the head of the and then, faintly and slowly came the chime of ve. n at last all was finished , Vivienne turned the clock . Vivienne counted the eight solemn graWhe strokes, and bent her head that her lips might away, and leaning on the arm of the sobbing e on, 's han ch the d . and hour after hour Elise, she went slowly along the path leading herwor touSo her nig motht

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