The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-26
"Aretyai blidd. .Ithss yeua6n,h 90 ny

~ = y - - -tr4 .rfe -.
"Areyn1 }biidd ,fthas ypua5n,h see my
sufferipgsf'ss 'ssexolaimed the youp6 girl.
violently Aeitatea.ss 'sOh, this; existehce
is unbeara5lei Don't you know love
you. and You alone, and that this con.
stant decsiving of myseltis killing me?'
| She throw her arms around bis neck
and sobbed bysterically. Emile, master
ing his own emotion, tried to soothe her,
and leading her to chair, made her sit
down. and in broken voice said:
81, too, love you, Hortense; do not
interrupt me; I adore You, and have
adored you long time. How could
help itP But have struggled, and we
must both continue to do SO for Paul's
sake. He trusted US. and even now 1
fancy I see him standing before us, re-
proaching US for daring to speak of love. "
''But love you alone" interrupted
she.
Hush, Hortense, these words are un.
worthy of you and of me. Poor Paul,
ho is far away, alono in a strange country,
trying to carve his way to an honorable
position, to be shared by you. And
while he is there trusting in your virtue
and coniding in my honor, We would -"
He stopped, his tears suffccating him.
WY 10 llC uOU uClC! ouio I1OttChoC.
"Because he trusts us. Never will /
deceive him; would rather die. 1t will
surely kill me-"
AS Emile uttered these words, their
eyes met, and they felt, as it were, an
electric shock in that once glance. Death
appeared to them as the only refuge open
to them, as place Of rest and of cxpia-
ton.
Hortensc was the first to speak, and
resmming the thought that had accumu-
lated n that short time, she said:
eyes, it is better TO die than to live
thus, and to think Of
She was about to pronounce Paul's
name, but stopped.
Emile took her hands in his, and look
ing steadily ut the young girls eyes, as
if to read her most secret thoughts, said
earnestly:
"Have you the courage to die?"
Hortense arose calmly and answered
simply, "Yes, at onceI
And falling into each others arms,
they silently and ferventy embraced.
Early on the next day, the letter carrier
brought registered letter directed to
Emile, and bearing the post-mark from
st. Petersburg. He rang the bell, knock
ed at the door, and not receiving an an
swer, concluded that Emile had gone
out, and Was about to withdraw, when
one of the neighbors told linn that Emile
was in. They rang the bell again and
again, but still no answer came. The
porter being questioned, related that on
the previous evening, Emile had gone
out to buy some charcoal. A female
seen Hortense looking out of the window
and CruinCy hifforlxy 20 l.
whispered that tragedy had taken place
in the house, and word was sent to the
nearest police station. On the arrival
of the proper authorities, the door of
Emile's room was broken open and their
worst fears were realized.
Hortense was stretched on the bed,
Emile on the sofa, both apparently dead.
Medical assistance was soon on the spot,
but alas! it was too late to save poor
Emile. He was dead. Hortense, after
long and strenuous efforts of the doctors,
revived, and was pronounced out of
danger.
Before leaving her, the magistrate who
had presided at the inquest held over
Emile, opened the letter which had just
arrived. It read as follows:
MY DEAR FELLOW: I wish you very
happy New Year, and also to your little
wife, = I say your little wife,
for / am not 80 stupid as to suppose that
you have waited for my permission to
love Hortense. willingly forgive you
both, for was married month ago.
PAUL.
On hearing the contents of this letter.
Hortense took it from the magistrate 8
hands. and running to the sofa, held it
up before the inanimate form of Emile,
exclaiming:
''This is our happy New Year! isn't it
good joker" And she burst out laugh
ing wildly. She was mad.
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