I was
very happy. But one day, in the midst of my exultant joy, a
thunderbolt fell and shattered my peace to destruction forever! Oh,
Doctor Rocke, my husband was murdered by some unknown hand in his
own woods, in open day! I cannot talk of this!" cried the widow,
breaking down, overwhelmed with the rush of terrible recollections.
Traverse poured out a glass of water and handed it to her.
She drank it, made an effort at self-control, and resumed:
"Thus, scarcely sixteen years of age, I was a widow, helpless,
penniless and entirely dependent--upon my brother-in-law, Colonel
Gabriel Le Noir, for by the terms of their father's will, if Eugene
died without issue the whole property descended to his younger
brother, Gabriel. To speak the truth, Colonel Le Noir was
exceedingly kind to me after, my awful bereavement, until a
circumstance was discovered that changed all our relations. It was
two months after my husband's death that I discovered, with mingled
emotions of joy and sorrow, that heaven had certainly destined me to
become a mother! I kept my cherished secret to myself as long as it
was possible, but it could not indeed be long concealed from the
household. I believe that my brother-in-law was the first to suspect
it. He called me into his study one day, and I obeyed like a child.
And there he rudely questioned me upon the subject of my sacred
mother-mystery.
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