198
DEATH
IN LIFE.
to the cottage of Elise's father. It was here sence here. She learned at last the one central that she had determined to seek shelter for a fact that Philip was dead- killed in a duel, few days, till she was able to go to the distant brought on by his own wickedness and folly. convent in which she had been educated, and Leon, who had arrived in Paris only a few which she had been assured by the abbess days before his brother's death, received the message summoning the Marquis de Haut lieu would gladly receive her again. Vivienne had determined to leave the cha- to the chateau, and then was first informed of teau immediately, for her attendants told her the truth concerning the will of the late marquis, that "Monsieur le Marquis was expected every and, as his brother's heir, he succeeded not only hour," and she would not meet that bold, bad man. to the title, but to the vast estates of Hautlieu. But Vivienne was destined never again to In the lowly cottage of Elise's parents she was welcomed with tears and blessings ; and enter the old chateau. In the dead of night, beneath a peasant's roof she found a peace when she lay sleeping in the cottage, the sky and repose she had never known in the proud was crimsoned with a great conflagration. From Chateau de Hautlieu . The night brought her nearly every window of the chateau sudden gentle, heathful slumbers, and the morning, flames leaped and roared. The new owner of though it roused her to a remembrance of her the stately building, sleeping for the first time grief, bore with it also a sense of consolation beneath its roof, was wakened by the crash of and safety. falling timbers, and with difficulty escaped, and When the noonday sun shone brightly, Vivi- roused the slumbering servants. Nothing could enne sat by her latticed window, leaning her { be done to check the flames-nothing could be brow against its frame, and listening to the saved from the wreck . Of all the beautiful and soothing hum of a spinning-wheel in the ad- costly contents of the chateau, not one article joining room . Suddenly the wheel stopped . escaped destruction save a small casket, which There was a strange step on the cottage- floor, was found lying at a distance from the building, a murmur of voices, and Elise entered the room and which, on being opened, was discovered to with an excited face. contain the " Hautlieu rubies." It was after"Madame, " she cried , " Monsieur le Marquis ward conjectured that the chateau was set on is arrived . He wishes to see you . Oh, madame ! fire by Duroc, who was never seen after the something has happened ! I do not know how death of Philip Saint Evremonde, and who, it to tell you. Will you go and speak to monsieur?" was believed, had robbed the chateau of many Vivienne rose, bewildered by the girl's ex- jewels and other valuables, but in his flight had citement and incoherence, and hesitatingly ad- dropped this single casket. The chateau sunk into utter ruin, and was vanced to the door. She shrunk from seeing that cold, cruel, insolent face, and yet there never rebuilt ; but a beautiful mansion soon rose seemed no escape. on a distant portion of the Hautlieu estate, and Near the open door of the cottage, in the thither, two years afterward, the young marquis blaze of the summer sun, stood a tall figure in brought his beautiful bride- more beautiful the splendid uniform of an officer of high rank. than ever in the light of returning health and The marquis ! It was Leon ! Leon's brilliant happiness , and the dignity of a fine and noble eyes fixed themselves rapturously upon her face. womanhood. Leon's dear voice called her name in accents The horrors of the old chateau were almost be in vain endeavored to render calm and cere- obliterated from her memory by the two years monious ; his hand clasped hers, and his lips of tranquil happiness she had spent in the contouched for an instant the fluttering hand he vent, amongst the gentle nuns she had loved held. in her childhood. Leon was with her, and she was free ! And With beauty more wonderful than ever, and in spite of her dimmed beauty, and her lost with infinitely more winning sweetness and gayety, he loved her still. Not a word did he gentleness of character, the young marquise utter to assure her of that, but not a word was again appeared at court ; and the " Hautlieu needed. She knew it by the light in his eyes, rubies, " though magnificent as the jewels of an and the tender accents of his voice. She com- empress, were ornaments less rare and beautiful prehended it with greater ease than she did than the purity and modesty that adorned the the strange story which accounted for his per- wife of Leon, Marquis de Hautlieu.
