, 1876-02-06
MADAME la F0NTAINE,.

| couches. a house divided into many suites Of
apartments,. each suita occupying IN entire
etage, Our story has to do with the troisieme
| etage.
| Madame Ls Fontaiue had been three months
| in the residence when this story commences.
"6he must lave been very beautiful years
| ago." thought the world who SAW her, as they
looked upon her regular featnres and large
black eyes. Her complexion Was deadly pale,
save when art lent it's assistance to nature,
when rouge and blanc-de-perle met in not alto
gsther friendly rivalry On her deeply-furrowed
brow aud her thin, pale cheeks; her hair was as
white aa snow, her expression was one of deep
melancholy. People felt that this woman had a
painful past; that for her there was no fnture.
1t Was abou. 10 o'clock in tho morning. Paris
was quite awake, with only an exception here
aud there. One of those exceptions WAS the
troisiema etage in the strest at the back Of the
bouleyatds.
4 large room, nearly dark. Although it was
10 o'clock, it would have been quite dark in this
room bad it not been for wax-candle burning
Ia gilyer candelabrs placed in tho centre Of =
n-baize-coyered table. On the chairs aud
table, cards; on the sideb6ard, cards again, and
dice-bo1; on the pru1olu table supporting the
looking glass, cards, and ! half enptied cham
the suite OF apartments in the street at the back
OF the bonlevarls ras used by Madame La Fon-
taine as d gambling HOUSE ..
A man.se1sapt WAS putting the place to rights.
So occupied was he with his own thoughts that
he did not hear knock on the outer door. The
knock Was repeated, and then the handle Was
turned, and q gentleman entered the room.
He was an old man. he VAS thin and sal1ow,
and wore q white neckcloth. Ha carried gold
headed stick, and spoke sharply. He was blunt,
nj Str.r 1ad ina nm
Atty. After this description, need it be said
that he WAS an Eng!ishnan?
HIN! a very nice place 1udeed!" he ez-
claimed, looking through pair OF double
nice place indeed. Cards and dice! A GAM
bling house, and for its custodian ruf1ian."
"Who's that calling me q ruf6an'" cried the
MY name ia DR.. Abernethy Blunt, and I
have come here to give sou FIVE Napoleons. il
you earn them"
s'That alters the case, sir. Businasss is
business. But I amt ruf1an. 4 gentleman
left me here to starve Che brought me from
England as q valet) and Madame here took pity
upon me. shegave me this place. and never
met kinder WomAn."
''The keeper OF gamb1ing-house kind:"
"1t seems strange, don't it? and ret it's
gospel true She's not at all bad sort, take
my nord for it. But about them tive Napo-
Icons, sir p
Look here, my good friend" said the Doc
tor. ''I'li tell you what want as briefly as I
can. I hare ward-a young fellow who was
left to my care by his father, q very dsar friend
OF mine. This boy fell in lore With young
aud he ran away to Paris. The young lady fell
ill., her father relented, and hare come here
bearing his blessing to young Hopeful but
young Hopeful has d1sappearad-'
"Wall, sir :"
II have been to the Freuch detectiyes they
n as a hrnt
ron. At the lhAt moment I came ACROSS French
doctor, who gave mo = clew-thst clew led me-
here. Now do you see how you can earn your
five Napoleons ?"
al want you to tell me IT, within the last
week, young Englishman has been to this
house Whether he has becn seen BIZ DR..
Naud,a {ny intorman0? Whether he is here
"Well sir, I will trust to your honor abont
the Napsrand tell you all know about it. Yes.
sir, young Eugllshnan has been here during
the last seven days He cana about week ago.
He mas happy whom he came he grew happier
and happier, tossing off bottle after bottle Of
champagne, until he fell under that there table"
swell. sir, as general rule, it's my duty to
turn out the drunk and incapables, for We must
keep the house select but on this Occasion
Madame stepped in. She seemed struck by his
face. She started IS If she had been shot
to ths smau room next her own. On the follow
ing day be was in . fever. crying about Kate,'
and his lost love- and all sorts OF foolshness'
~, 'DellFiuoa. T. said the Doctor. And what did
"Wb5, Eir, she watched over him like
mother over child. When the doctor eaid he
might dlo. she cried as It her heart would break
You Would hare never believed she could feel 90
deeply. had you'not seen her. She's as cool as
q cucumber when she keeps the bank"
"Very strange" murmered the Doctor. Then
louder. "But you have not told ma his name"
"Well, sir, until to-day, he has scarcely been
sens1ble. Last night the fever seemed to leave
him, and Madame would not let him talk. Just
before camo here to do up the room saw tho
French doctor, and he told me the crisis WE
over; that he only wanted strength to be quite
we'll. He is getting up I found this photo
graph in his coat-pocket."
"Fiye Napoleons for your story, and an extra
one for the photograph and some further a.
tistance," said the Doctor. paying ont the gold,
"Thank you, Sir; here's the photograph"
My ward" murmured. this Doctor. uAnd
now tell this young gentleman that am wating
tor him. You knox my name; mention 1t, and
he viii come to me-"
"certsiniv, SIR" said the servant, and be 3D.
preached the door. ~
''Stopi''
The Doctor and tha serrant turned eharnrv
1onnd. The door MAS open Madame La Fnn.
tain6 had entered the 1oon.
.sYou can leave u.s. John" she said. ..wb,+
ever this gentleman has to say be will sav t mo
No, do not 90 by that door: wait below !"
Hfadn + q