Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

The secret regarding the authorship of the volume of poems
which made so great a sensation during the last few days at
Paris, has transpired. It is now said in literary circles that the
young poet whose first efforts have been so eminently successful,
and to whom it is anticipated that the Prix Monthyon will be
awarded this year, is the Baron George de Vedelles, son of the
Count of that name, well known as a distinguished member of
the magistracy in the west of France. This young man is only
twenty-one years of age, and bids fair to rival some of our most
eminent modern poets.
" Good heavens !
Mede, and it was well she was there to suggest that they had all
better depart, and leave the young couple to themselves and to
the peaceful enjoyment of their new-found happiness.
As she opened the door leading out of the drawing-room, Benoile
was discovered behind it. The little goal-herd had an
THE NOTARY'S DAUGIITKR. 57
of his mother and his wife, she could only look up to heaven in
silent, ardent thankfulness.
Madame Lcsealle had gazed in silence on this scene. She was
fairly bewildered at a change which, to do her justice, did take
her by surprise; but there was no mistaking her daughter's countenance
and tinnner; it was impossible to make, her out as a victim,
and the good side of her own heart asserted itself she was
glad Rose was happy. She said to herself not quoting Shakespeare,
but her wits jumping with those of our great dramatist
"
All's well that ends well," and looking at her husband,
ejaculated
"
Well, but what does it all mean? "
The notary rubbed his hands and twinkled his eyea and
smiled, as if to convey .the idea that he had known all along
there was nothing the matter.
Meanwhile Jacques had been opening a newspaper he had
brought from Marseilles, and glancing over its columns he suddenly
made an exclamation.
"
Any important news? '
his father asked.
"
Important domestic news," Jacques answered, "if this paragraph
is not a hoax.
" A hoax? What do you mean? "
They all gathered round inveterate habit of eavesdropping, but no one thought nt that moment
of reproving her. She darted up to Hose and said
" "
Mise, is Monsieur what he always said I was, a poet?
Upon which Rose they
him, and Jacques read as follows
were all a little beside themselves ********
juat
then hugged her and said
"
Yes, ho is, and I shall read you some of his verses."
On a lovely morning in May, two years afterwards, M. and
Madame George de Vedelles were sitting on the grass of the littie
lawn at Belbousquet, and their beautiful boy of fifteen
months rolling near them amongst the daises. George kept
catching at his son's little fat legs, which made him shout wil.h
laughter, whilst Wasp, rather jealous of the baby, uttered short
barks to attract his master's attention.
On a rustic arm-chair, close to this group, Mise Mede sat knitting
stockings for her poor people. Rose had on lierki
newspaper, and divided her attention between it and the frolics
of George and her boy. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation
which made her husband turn towards her his handsome head,
into the dark locks of which his baby had been sticking daises
and blades of grass.
"
Read that," Rose said, with tears in her eyes. He took the
paper and perused, with visible emotion, the paragraph which
his wife had pointed out to him.
It was a description of the fearful ravages of the yellow fever
in South America, and the announcement of the death of several
Sisters of Charity in the hospitals, where day and night they had
been nursing the sick. "Amongst others," it went on to say,
" we regret to state that Smur Denise, so well known at Mar-
seilles as the friend of the poor, and who, in the world, was so
much admired as Mademoiselle do la Pinede, has fallen a victim
to the raging pestilence. R. I .P."
" What different paths there are to heaven! "George ejacula-
"
ted with a sigh. Hers has been a short and glorious one. To
"
Madame Lescalle exclaimed, " you don't
mean to say that you have written a book?"
Rose burst out into a joyous laugh, and clapped her little hands
together.
" "
Is this true, George? the Count inquired, laying his hand on
his son's shoulder.
He was answered by a smile and a flush of pleasure on George's
pale cheek. Jacques threw up something, the her we owe it, Rose, that, thank God, we aim at the same end,
newspaper, or his
hat, in the air. The notary embraced the Count, who felt so
happy that he did not resent it.
"Oh, if Aunt Mede was only here!" Rose cried out; and it
seemed as if that day all her wishes were to be granted, for almost
as soon as she had uttered the words, Mdlle. Lescalle appeared.
She had received her sister-in-law's summons, but not
till late in the day. Madame Lescalle had not felt anxious that
Mise Mede should join the family council, and had purposely
sent her note so as not to reach her quite in time. Now her arrival
was a welcome event. She had much to hear, much to see,
though by a different road."
" "
Is not our road too smooth, too bright, too happy? she said,
drawing
much to guess at, and much to thank God for, that dear Mise
close to him and laying her hand on his shoulder.
"My own darling," he answered, " it is indeed beautiful and
smiling now. But when we love anything on earth as I love you
and that baby, the thought will sometimes arise that grief must
come some day to you or to me. One of us, Rose, will have to
go first, and leave the other behind. Heaven cannot be reached,
without previous anguish, by those who love each oilier as we
do. She went straight, an end to the goal, nothing weighing her
down or keeping her back. We must not weep for her."
There was a moment's silence. Then the baby tottc-red up to
them with a ball in its little hand and threw it to Wasp, who
played with it and with the boy in a wild, frolicsome style. The
parents smiled, and soon had to play too, whilst Mise Mede
looked with rapture on the scene.
"Oh, my dear children," she
beautiful thing to see!"
exclaimed, "happiness is a
George kissed her wrinkled brow, and said
"Dear old aunt, it is a blessed thing to be able to enjoy the
happiness of others.''
END.