6 "€llllll A CONFESSION. [in > ou remember, Utile wife. How years ago we two together Saw naught but love illumine life 111 sunny days or winter weather? Do you remember how we two Would stare into each other's eyes. Till all the earth grew heavenly blue. And speech was lost in happy sighs? Do you another thing recall, That used I j happen often then; How, simply passing in the hall. We'd stop to smile and kiss again? Do you remember how T sat And, reading, held your hand In mine. Caressing it with gentle pat- One pat for ©very blessed line? Do you recall while at the play Through hours of agony we tarried The lovers' griefs brought lis dismay: Oh, we rejoiced when they were mar ried. Ah me, 'twas years and years ago When all this happened that I sing, Ami many a time the winter snow Has slipped from olive slopes of spring. And now—oh. nonsense! let us tell; A tig for laugh of maids or men! You'll hide your blushes? I'll not. Well— We're ten times worse than we were then. —W. J. Henderson, in Century. p A ROSE OF M, NORMANDY g WILLIAM R. A. WILSON U CHAPTER XVI —Continukd. The governor came daily, and strove with real distress to encourage the sufferer. Madame Bizard appeared fre quently too, telling her of the outside world and urging her to a quick con valescence. But somehow the desire to recover was lacking in the patient. It was as though a spring had snapped within her leaving inertia instead of energy, and a desire to slumber on in sweet forgetfalness rather than the determination to resume the weary load of life again. But her release was not to be, and as she slowly be gan to regain ground she found relief and her chiefest pleasure in the com panionship of the nuns who nursed her. Their life in its seclusion and usefulness appealed to her heart, and gradually the fancy for a religious life became strengthened to a determina -1 ion. Her own existence would always he a blank, and could she do better than to fill out her remaining years in the service of God? He had evidently had a purpose in permitting her to Jive, almost against her will. When she first told Frontenac of her decision he stormed and swore he would ship her back to France; then, as he saw that she remained unshaken in her resolution, he finally suggested a compromise to which she agreed. This was that she was to remain with the nuns for two years as a donnee or religious helper who has taken no vows. If, after this novitiate she still persisted in her purpose, he would offer no objection to her entering the sisterhood. He hoped that in so long a period events would alter conditions In France so that she could be sent home in safety. It was indeed the Comte de Miron whom Renee had seen as she looked out of the window. Tonti's sword point, it-entering his breast had touched a rib and, glancing upwards, had wounded the lung tissue severely, barely missing the heart. The copious hemorrhage that followed well-nigh strangled him. His faithful coachman finding that he still breathed had taken him to a house on the outskirts of Paris, called a leech and summoned one of the Comte's friends, whose name he had given liim before the duel for use in any such emergency. Together they combated the enormous loss of blood and weakness that fol lowed. On convalescing, his friend, learning of the king's expression of satisfaction in the supposed death of the Comte, hurried him away to an estate in Brittany. There they abode together for many months, riding and hunting. As spring came his faithful confi dant, went to Paris to see if it. were safe for him to come lo life again. He re turned in a month with bad news. One of the Comte's numerous pecula tions in the state funds, which he had committed while-secretary to Colbert, had come to light, rendering it hazard ous for him to appear again in Paris or even remain in France, for if by any chance he were apprehended it would mean the loss of his head. According ly. they laid their plans and he was hurried aboard the next ship that sailed for New France. This happened to be the one on which Renee traveled. Both of them seeking to escape ob servation seldom left their cabins. Hence it was that each was Ignorant of the other's presence. Bearing a letter to Duehesneau from a friend, the Comte presented himself at the palace Immediately upon his ar rival. Staying at the palace he soon became acquainted with all of Duclies iichu'h friends and agents. It was there that he met Madame 81/.ard, who had c'-iue to make her regular report T'i the Intendant. of all she had learned. Ho had refiilm-l from going about the <*lly to any great extent, hence had never een Itenee; and it was while on an ci land for Due In ma 1 th-it he had caught a gllii'fis • of Madam* 1 111/ aid' face at the vMoW, .m.i rsnwbef lug her Invitation to tall, had stopped. Well supplied wlih money, which he spint l urelcmly, he * »in rtj i'l# many W 111 II I 1i.,1 I ~ I, l:.