AANCT TS
huwman power can separate us, and b | quitted vou, T ohave only to ey Y Toee /e ro ! and o vour prison gates will reopen, and we wi'l come out o more except toecther. Death upon the =ame scallold, that will be cnough for me.”
“Oh. no. no - leave me, o the name of
L}
Pleaven, Teave me !
“eave vou ! TTake heed what vou sav, for il 1 quit this prison without having the right to defend vou, &oshall seek out your father—vour father whom vou have for- aotten, and who weeps for you—and | shall sy to him s COld man, she could have saved herselt, but she has not done =0 she has wished vour Tast days to be pas-uid in mourning, and her biood to be upon vour white hair. Weep, old man, not because your (aughter 15 dead, but because =he did not love you well enough to Tive.”
Marccau had repulsed hery ana she had fallcn on her knees beside him, and he, with his teeth clenched, strode to and fro with a bitter taugh ; then he heard her sob, the tears Teapt to his eves,and he fell at her feet.
“ Blanche, by all that 13 most sacred m the world, consent to beconme my wife TV
“You must, voung cirl,” mnterrupted a strancee volcee, which made tham tremble and risc together. Tt as the onlv way to preserve vour e, Rehigion commuands yvou, and [ am ready to bless your union. Marceau turned astonished, and recogniscd the cird of Sainte-NMarie-de-Rhe, who had made part ol the catherme whieh he had attack- cd on the nieght when Blanche became his prizoner.
“Oh, my father,” he eried, scizing his hand, *obtain her consent !
“ Blanche de Beaualiea,” re- plicd the priest, with solemn aceents, i the name of vour father, whom mv oace and fricndship oove e the right of representime, T command vou to abeyv this voung man.”
Blanche scomed agitaterd with o thousand different cmotions; at last ~he throw herscll into Marcean' s armes,
“lcannot resi=t any longer,” she said. Narceau, 1o love vou, ainl I owill be vour wife” Their Tips joined 5 Marceau was at the height ol joy ;o hic
[PRISONER. 9
scemed to Lave foreotten evervthime, T'he pricstUs voice broke o upon thewr cL'sLa:s}'.
“AWe must be quick,” he saud, * for my moinents are nuwmbered.”
The two lovers trembled ;o ths vorce recalled them to carth. Blanche glanced around the cell with apprehension.
“AWhat & moment,” she said, *to anite our destintes ! Can youw think a union conscerated under vaults o sombre and lugubrious can be fortunate and happy 7
Marceau shuddered, tor he himselt was touched with superstitious terror, 1c drew Blanche to thiat part of the cell where the davhieght strugelime through the crossed bars ol o narrow amr-hole rendered the shadows Tess thick, and there, falling on thictr Knees, thev awarted the priest’s bles.- e, s he extended his arms above them and pronounced the sacred words, the clash of arms and the tread of soldiers was hcard 1 the corridor.
Blanche cast Marceau's arms.
“Can o thev have come to scek e alreadyv 27 she orteds * Ohymy love, how triehtiul death s at thns moment ! The voung Creneral threw himsell before the door.a pistol e cach hand. The astonished soldiers drew back,
hersell 1 terror 1nto
o
X! 1 i
Hy ‘@
CRBLAGCHE CAST NERSELEF IN TERROR INTO MARCEAU S ALLIS,