The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-10-10
Are you hurt? Have you fallen
down these steep stairs?"
1

so good perhaps you will advise me.
/ have come ftom the country; | am
an orphan; I have no relatives;
came to find friend who promised
me everything; cannot / kuow no
one here. Yesterday spent my last
coin. Is there anthing for ne but the
river? / know there is not; bat you
look kind, and II could not help
telling you.
The river-nonseDse / said madame,
You will find your friend, or you can
go back to your old home, can you
not? We are not heathen here in
Paris; we'll not let you starge. A girl
50 young should never have trav.
eled alone; but you can return if you
have the expenses for the journey, car
you not?'
The girl shook hor head.
No. she said--'no J can nevor 10
back
You have not been in the habit Of
workingH' said the madame. You
are lady?'
i have never worked at anything
she answered. My father died two
months ago. He was a surgeon. But
/ would work gladly. l would dc
anything to earn my bread
Suddenly an idea flashed upon ma.
| danes mind
AT least, you shall earn your sup,
per- she said. Come with me-
She hurried the girl. into the car.
| riage, and drove away with her, ex.
planning as they rode, the emergency
in which she found herself
you will wear dress Of my grand
daughter's.' she said--a black lace
which may be thrown over your own.
Your splendid black hair needs only
the brush, and l will pin rose in il.
Tomorrow | will find you somo Gun.
ployment. | believe in faces, mademoi
selle, and you are lady and an in
nocent one. No enc can deceive me,
and so / trust as others daro not
And with these words she led the
girl into her home, and up stairs into
her own apartment, where she adorned
her quatorzieme in haste, and led hor
t. the tablc-the loveliest guest there,
lovelier far than even the golden hair
cd Hortense
Absorbed in her duties as hostess,
Madame Verne did not notice, as tho
Others did, a strange thing that took
| place as NJ. Moran seated himself and
glanced towards the strange guest AS
their eyes met, each turned deadly
pale, and each seemed TO find it i'm
possible to look away. 1t was NJ. Moran
who, slowly and with all effort turned
his head towards his betrothed, and
seemed to release the eyes Of the dark
lady who had been introduced into tho
company as Mademoisello Angelique.
Il was a delightful supper. Every
one had something pleasant to say.
There were toasts to propose, and good
wishes to make. Perhaps it was but
natural that the prospective bride
groom should be modestdy silent. 81.
lent he was, at all events; aud sat with
his face fixed in one direction, turned
| away from the QuatOrzieme.
Once only did the strange girl speak
in a whisper to Madame Verne.
This is a betrothal feast, madame ?
| Yes, my child
Your granddaughter, the beautiful
young lady yonder, is to marry NJ.
Octave Moran?
Precisely, in two months.
After this she said nothing more.
The feast went on. At last they were
about to leave the table, and the old
grandfather rose. he had something
! - GOV 70 tho Noun1 cnun1o A n l,olyaI
towards him as he rose. No matter
what the first words were-'you can
guess. Loving ones for the little one
so soon to leave him. Kind admopi
tions to him who was about to take
her into his keeping; but he ended
thus But | give her to you gladly,
my dear Octave
He paused and looked about the ia.
BILE, but no one was looking at him.
As he uttered the last sentence, Octave
Moran had slowly turned his face as
though attracted by some mesmeric in.
huence towards the quatorzieme Their
eyes had met and fixed in strange
stare; the other guests were all star
ing at them.
Suddenly Octave Moran started TO
hIs feet and dashed out of the room.
There were thirteen at the table.
And then what happened?
Something flashed in the hand of
the pale woman at whom all gazed,
aud she fell forward upon the table.
When they lifted her they found
dagger buried in her heart.
Death had been more prompt with
his thirteenth than usual.
They found over 'her dead bosom