The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-10-05

queen, and proud was | right loyalty to
serve her. Recause ! knew she was of
right among women queen, was it that
| burned with fierce ambition TO win q
crown. Her equal then, might claim
her for my own. was only a reporter
for the Chronicle Butt loved. And
% love nothing is impossible. For her,
| knew l could win it-with my pen.
For her what man could not have won
The universe2 Yet dared not love her,
She was my goddess, whom worshipped
from afar. And with eager, silent pride
/ waited Until should win the right to
love her; then to claim her because
mine was the right.
! looked upon her that day, and would
have given my soul, and counted myself
the gamer, to be loved by her, but for
one hour as she could love. For all the
torments of hell could not have robbed
me of the memory of that hour. And
possessing that, paradise was mine. That
was the thought that filled me, when one
of the patients, weird old woman with
shriveled form, and haggard face, and
deep set eyes, that cleaned like SCRIP
ent's, spntng, in front Of us, and raising
her hand, as if in solemn imprecation,
croaked out in tones that frenze my
blood
My lady swear it-that you willnev
marry him.
With the calmness of ffate-it was fate
-Mademoiselle bowed her head, and, as
if under a spell, slowly responded
Il will never marry him"
"All the foul fiends and malignant un-
clean spirits that possessed those maniacs
took up her words and echoed and re
echoed with internal mocking laughter,
Il will never marry him. They crawled
out of their loathsome slime and seized
me in their shaky folds and coiled about
my neck. and hissed it into my ears un-
til could hear no more They swooped
down upon me through the thick air
horrid nameless forms. Their devilish
leering glare pierced me like red-hot
steel. Thicker and faster they came
do you not hear them, see them, feel
them now" ,"he cried out with an unearh
" shrek, and he covered at my side in
speechless terror, glaring at the empty
air as though his eye-balls would burst.
But no, no, no, no." he gasped con-
vulsively, laughing with horrid alright
and clasping tight my hand. TO day
thank God, the sun shines bright; does
it not? Yonder is rose in full bloom;
is it no SO? And the bird in the cage
in the window trills gladly, and-they
cannot come" and he pressed closer to
me and was silent for a time.
No they can not come, he said soft
ly, for Mademoiselle is coming. am
here because she babe me stay until she
returned" and he paused as if lost in
reverie.
YES" he continued, Il have waited
long. My hair has grown gray since
then. But no; it is not long ago; only
/ have lived ages since Mademoiselle
went away But-she will return. And
her coming | wait" and again he was
silent.
chanced to look around, when | dis
covered, not without uneasiuess, | con-
fess, that the others Of our party had
gone, and was alone in the corridor |
with this strange assistant. At that mo
ment the doctor returned. He was ac |
companied by yisitor-a woman of
majestic presence. Hers was
a face not easily forgotten, so cold and |
hard, so proud and strong wasit. 1t was
the face of a woman who had outlived |
her heart; to whom was left only ambi
ton; and who already was realizing what
a cheat ambition is. ! looked again, and |
recognized the famous tragedienne
Madame B
As they approached, the strangely old
looking young man looked up. An I'm
earthly light came into his face.
She has come he whispered llnarse
ly. Then, springing 10 his feet he rix
claimed:
'.Mademoiselle, 1 have waited
She stared as if at a blow.
"Messalina," he cried out, you have
come and his voice faded to a whisper,
ito find your Marco"
And he flung uphis arms convulsively |
reeIed, and fell to the floor-dead.
Yes, my Marco she exclaimed,
kneeling and lifting his lifeless form in
her aams, and kissing his lips again and |
again.
Amidst the tumult that ensued, her |
husband, fellow of sinister glance and |
mien, who had fingered in |
one of the other wards entered. He
touched her shoulder. Silent and tear
less she rose. Offering her his arm, he
asked an attendant to show them the |
main entrance, where their carriage
waited.
When they were gone turned to the !
doctor and said:
His story
1T was true" answered the doctor as