The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 75 (1/2)
Sanselme had saved several thousand francs What should he do with Jane?
He had left Lyons, hoping that a change of scene would go far toward restoring cheerfulness to Jane Vain hope She never forgot her mother, nor that mother's life She learned with marvelous rapidity Study was her best distraction Froht her himself all that he had forress shetalent for music If Art should take hold of her and absorb her entirely, she would forget and enter a new life
She studiedas they were, in Gerood ious, her voice exceptionally true, her taste perfect Sanselme felt that here was safety for hireat artist, ith her benefactor to Paris
Their position toward each other was in no degree modified He was very respectful in his manner, and always kept a certain distance between the hter of the wretched Zelda
By degrees the recollection of Lyons seemed to fall from the mind of Jane Never was there the irl never spoke of her
This silence astonished Sanselme, and troubled hihly understood her character, her goodness, unselfishness and passionate gratitude He knew that she had not forgotten her mother, and would never do so, and that the reason she never mentioned her was because her pain and shaular mixture of audacity and timidity It was her own proposition that she should offer her services at the concert, and when Sanselo to Sabrau's, the artist, she had not hesitated in doing so
She sought to distract her hastly fear that she ht be tempted to lead the life her mother had led
The theatre, so often calureat artist she would forget the past It was her salvation, her glory, and the path to fortune She would be respected, honored and happy These were the dreaed
Perhaps, too, soive her his naed in a happy reat joy that he took Jane to the reception at the artist's, and here basked in the admiration and respect she received If she would but consent to go on the stage her fortune was secured--but hitherto she had refused even to listen to this plan
That evening Sanselme had been shocked to ain arose before hinize hiuilty of one imprudence
When he heard the nae of Benedetto at Toulon, and how he had sworn to be avenged on him
A secret instinct warned Sanseleance on the son of his eneiven Esperance the warning that had so startled hihast at what he had done What was the young Vicomte to him? What did he care for Benedetto's hates?
When the fire caught Jane's robe, he had been a witness of the energetic pro ave the warning And when they returned hoht, Sanselreat Future was unfolding before hi For the first tiiven her if she had struck him
He saw that memory still haunted her, that there was no peace or rest for her He wanted her to travel, but the et hts that Benedetto appeared to him
And this was not all Benedetto knew his secret, and now, as if all this were not enough, Jane herself had vanished It was y could support
While Sanselhts, he heard a quick, running step His well-trained ear could not be deceived It was a woman's step--if it were she? He started forward It was dark, and he could see nothing, and the steps were dying away He ran on toward the _Pont de Jena_, and presently he heard the steps again, and before hie was a dark shadow Was it Jane?
He called, ”Jane,to the parapet, and so black passed between him and the sky--the splash of water, and all was still
”Too late!” cried Sanselme, ”but I will save her” And he in his turn leaped into the water He was a vigorous swimmer, as will be remembered by our readers
When he rose to the surface after his plunge, he looked around, and at some distance beheld a dark spot He swa And now this man was so overwhelmed with emotion, that the blood rushed to his brain and his limbs were almost paralyzed Fortunately the shore was not far away, but the wo convulsively to him
He called for aid, but all was silent and dark He knew that he was sinking, and that the end was near Suddenly a voice shouted:
”Courage! we are coorously