Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-01-26
through the war. But why do you

"Ah, you have something-th,
air militaire. ! knew it from the
first. /, too, am a soldier, and
did not need that you should give
the countersign."
Another night passed, and hour
after hour of the second day. We
were forty miles from Calumet. A
deep silence fell upon us two, who
in these days of chance compan-
ionship, had grown so strangely
near each other. Soon our paths
would diverge, never, in all proba-
hility, to cross again. In vain M.
L'Estrange urged Inc to prolong
my journey, at least as far as New
Orleans.
1--WE must not part as strangers,
he said, impulsively. "My heart
has gone out to you-for we are
akin! Somehow--somewhere--
shall we not meet again." and he
clasped my hand warmly.
My reticient Northern nature
stirred within me.
81 trust so, / hope So" respond
ed. "But the world is wide.
shall never forget you, NJ. LES
TRANCE"
"Ah you are young" he said,
with slow shake of the head,
"you are young; and the young
have short memories. But stay !
hold +! | shall give you a sign-a
token; so you shall keep one in
your heart"
Taking from his pocket q tiny
box he unlocked it with key at
tached to his watch guard. A
number of pearls cleaned and
shimmered in the sunlight. He
selected four of remarkable size
and purity.
"You shall wear these for my
sake" he said, placing them in my
hand.
But, demurred, saying it was
too costly n gift.
"Are we not friends ?" he cried,
his lips curling with a superb
scorn. "How talk you then of
cost p
/ shook my head.
1.-TWO, then, to be mounted as
sleeve-buttons ~ Still | shook my
head and still he persisted.
"Here, then, mon o,ni," he said,
at last, "if You will not have two,
you shall have one;" and taking
my hand, he placed one large, lus-
trous pearl on the palm and closed
my fingers over it. at shall be
mounted like this" drawing a de-
sign on the lid of the box, "and
you shall wear it for a sign. Then
you see, shall have its mate set
in the same manner. 1t shall be o
token between us and the pearls
shall bring us together again. All,
! know it The pearls-they are
charmed !"
"Oh, NJ. L'Estrange !" l answer
ed "Indeed / can resist no longer.
l will wear your pearl and it shall
be at least a souceJ,ir of days never
to be forgotten"
As he was replacing the box, a
card photograph fell to the floor.
l picked it up, and was handing it
to him, when my eyes fell upon a
face of such rare lovliness that |
held the little picture as if spell
bound-a woman's face, softly out
lined, delicately rounded II pure,
calm forehead, crowned with "braid-
ed tresses darkly bright y tender,
unsmiling lips, that wore a sweet
ness deeper and holier than smiles
chin and cheeks that might well
have served as models for a sculp-
tor. There were soft laces resting
about the throat; and lace shaw
was thrown over the stately head
and rested lightly on the shoulders
like a radiant cloud. But the
eyes were the glory of the picture
large dark, spiritual black eyes
that look into yours with unfath.
omable meaning in their liqnid
debths.
My self-possession and my goot
manners returned to me at tn,
same moment.
81 beg your pardon" said, de
preciatingly, as gave the pictur,
: back to its owner; "it is so beauti
full II is your wife :"
any wife No" he said. wit