Belle-Rose — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ae =, Pin! yt —_ lu ~~ my ~ ee a ee” va > - . ~ " a oo a = . ae a «> as = =. « “x Ps an *. ge »* , od . .~« Me (i-t s ee oe ; rt Ma =? y : f wots “3 a a a i . “4 -_ ~ 4 ~ . ~ - . - - “ t bk - re = >" er 3 ate ra . cv - - y . ’ : = a ~ THE DROPS IN THE CUP. = os = 6B like tiene of a drowning man. He could not have cried out if he had made an efiort to do so; his throat was closed. The ceremony of the marriage was accomplished without _ his making any movement. There was no life in his body except in his eyes, and his eyes did not quit the altar. When they had received the nuptial benediction, the two spouses arose, and the young woman turned around. It was indeed she, Suzanne de Malzonvilliers, now Marquise ‘d’Albergotti. Belle-Rose did not even tremble. What need had he to see her inorder to recognize her? The procession soon took its way toward the porch; but this time the bride and groom marched at the head. The procession made the circuit of the chapel, the crowd parting beforé it; from the movement around him, Belle-Rose understood that Suzanne was advancing. He stood-upright. <A pillar, — against which he had leaned, prevented him from recoil- ing. The bride and groom approached slowly; the long vail of Suzanne swept the floor, and her virginal beauty was displayed under its transparence, ‘The nave was narrow; & corner of his sweetheart’s dress brushed Belle- Rose; a sigh half parted his lips, and he leaned against the pillar. Suzanne raised her inclined forehead. Near her, and in the penumbra of the chapel, she caught a elimpse of a pale face in which blazed two eyes filled with the sinister flames of despair. Suzanne tottered. But before the cry which came from her soul had expired upon her lips, the procession had pushed her forward, and when she turned back, Belle-Rose had vanished like an apparition. A living rampart separated them. But while the crowd pressed with its thousand feet the sacred in- closure, Belle-Rose felt his heart and reason wandering. He did not think, he did not dream, he did not suffer; he was paralyzed. He remained immovable, his back rest- ing against the pillar, his arms hanging listless beside him, his head inclined upon his breast, and no longer hear- ing anything but the dull ‘throbbing of his heart. The crowd had long since left the chapel. The white image of Suzanne alone filled it for him. At this moment the beadle passed, making his round. Seeing aman alone, standing against a pillar, he went to him and struck him on the shoulder. ‘“‘fh! friend,’’ said he, ‘‘the wedding has been over for some time; let me close the doors, then.’ Belle-Rose raised his head and looked at the beadle. The poor man was troubled by this ‘look. Great tears fell fron: __ the soldier’s eyes and bathed his colorless cheeks. comicbooks (E(0)