The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-29

"a, 1910
HE is wonderfully constant-for him." re.
marked the first speaker.
He Is infatuated, simply that. And she
cares about as much for him as for last
The rest Of the sentence Ia whispered into
the ear Of his companion, who stares, theI
laughs.
GAS sure as I am that you are you, mon
cher. ! recognized her at once, and, what Is
more, saw that she recognized me"
"And the man, what like was he p
"Some poor devil. Student, clerk, EN-.
| ployee. One returns to ones first love, you
see; at heart she Is a Orisette still, and per-
haps--. Chut! they are beginning"
The curtain rises on the last scene OF LA
| Refine PapillOnette"
Listlessly enough Andre watches the move
ments on the stage, which Is crowded with
gay and varied groups, until q sudden break
| In the music and expectant stir among the
| audience announce that ia Fernando" is
| about to make her entrance on the scene
| There Is moments pause, then the band
strikes up a dainty, tripping measure, and
greeted with q burst OF applause that makes
the theatre ring--"Queen Butterfly hutters
on the stage.
Again and again the applause rings out
danseuse; but Andre, after one glance, averts
his ewes with shudder, for this dancer, with
false color on her cheeks and lips, and jewels
In her bare white bosom, Is like a horrible
travesty of-PrimrOse.
In spite OF himself he looks at her again,
and now his heart begins to throb with q
nameIess dread, and he turns suddenly cold,
as II an icy hand had clutched him.
As she approaches the footlights he sees
seooud row nj eeata fill thew come tn his sand
pause.
Then with shock that he feels through
all his frame, he recognizes her. 1t Is Prim-
rose.
Light as thistle-down she flutters forward,
her arms, to which gauzy wings are attached,
outspread, her little feet seeming scarcely to
touch the boards. The dancers conventional
smile Is on her lips, but her eyes, which are
fixed upon her lovers, have the look OF soul
in pain. In oil the crowded theatre she sees
only him, and he sees only her.
Mechanically, as it seems, she comes on,
her eyes are riveted to his face, till she Is
close to the ghts-recklessly close, 80
that there 10 murmur OF apprehension
to her to keep back.
In the same moment the murmur rises to q
cry OF horror, as glare OF light and q sheet
Of flame leap up suddenly round the airy
figure; Uttering shrek upon shrek she
How he reaches 1t Andre never afterwards
knows, but before any one else can approach
her he is on the stage, he has seized her In
his arms and Is wildly trying to beat down
the flames with his bare arms. A baize
covering Is thrown to him, he wraps her in
1t and throws her down, and holds her down
In spite OF her frantic struggles, till the
flames are extinguished.
Then he lifts her-poor scorched butterfly
and carries her to her dressing room.
The doctor Is already there, and the room
Is crowded with horror-stricken and COM
passionate faces. The Marquis de Perny's
ia not among them. 1t Is q painful scene,
and the Marquis avoids painful scenes on
principle
Primrose Is conscious. Her eyes are wide
open, and very bright, but there is blush
pallor on her face, and her features are drawn
and pinched.
The doctor gently lifts the wrapper. The
flames have spared her face, her feet, and one
hand and arm. The rest
After one glance he replaced the covering.
he says.
anxious eyes, and reads her sentence OF death
upon 1t.
She puts out her unwounded hand to her
lover, who kneels at her side, miserably
watching her.
II have kept my word" she says, with a
rose Is. Come closer. There is something
want to say"
"Not now, not now" he falters.
when, II not now?" she asks signifi-
mon ami" she whispers, at was all true
that told you-the first time we met. The
woman who took me from my mother was
dancer. When / left her WAS quite
alone"
A faint flush creeps to her white cheek.
"Yet was 1 only happy when / could get
away for an hour or two In my old poor dress,
like did-that day-raise my head!'
She draws a few laboring breaths and goes
on: II ought never to have met you again,
you, and when l learned to love you"
A spasm OF pain interrupts her; she shud-
ders in his arms. He turns fiercely on the
doctor.
"Give her something; do something" he
says hOarsely.
But when the surgeon approaches she turns
her head resolutely away.
NO. no." she repeats with the ghost of her
old willfgl manner; Il will not be stupefied.
He has to bend close now to catch the
Dear. 7 want you to say, If you can, I for
Out of the depths OF his breaking heart he
says them, while his tears fall on her face like
rain.
"Primrose-for Gods sake-do not leave
mel Live for me, oh, live for me-"
She shakes her head with piteously ten
der SMILE
II would not II I could dearest; it Is better
better as it is"
Sue Sue puts up her hand and strokes his face.
Don't grieve; forget me- Yet not-quite
Think OF me--sometimes-in spring when
the primroses are growing
Her voice dies away In an inarticulate MUIR
mer, but her hand still seeks his; and her
eyes dwell upon his face till the film Of death
gathers over them.
What Happens When Christmas Falls on