The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-13
A Companions Story.


Every year.
A Companion's Story.
Had been my own mistress should
never have served Marie Rosis. Butpoy
erty, the need of food and raiment, the
hungry mouths that must be filled, were
too strong for me, and I engaged myself
to her. =
"You are poor, Louise" she said with
slight. French, accent. s"Money is of
no account to mel only ask you to be
faithful. I said that l should travel so
you must supply your brothers and sis-
ter's wants before we 60. | shall be lib.
eral. with you. Take this
AS she spoke, she reached out six, or
eight half:eagles. Idrew back my hand.
"It's too much," I said.
"Allow me to be the judge of that. /
know what will be required of you"
A little chill ran over me. Whstwould
be required of me-? Looked mp to see,
if possible, what meaning lay hidden be-
meath her words. -
tI shall travel as fancy pleases," she
continued. "tOne spot is as pleasant to
me as another. I 60 in search of some.
thing which I have lost. 1t may be here,
it may be there. I have nothing to
guide me in my search. 1t is all blind
chance"
At first I was not happy in my migra.
tory life: / used to long for home-or
what had been home-and for the ca
resses of those I loved. But this did not
last long. Marie Rosis soon grew to be
the world to me, and l her bond slave.
Sometimes we rested for two or three
weeks from our travels, and then went
forward, day after day, and week after
week, without stopping. do not know
how long Ihad been with her, when l
discovered that we were not travelling
alone-that we had follower, who pur.
sued us from place to place with unway-
ering persistence. He did not seem to
be conscious of US. He never address
ed us-he only followed US like shad.
ow.
It was after the stranger came that |
leared what madame was searching for.
A ring that had mysteriously disappear
ed from her finger one night while she
was sleeping. A strange ring, with a
garnet heart for its center-all that she
had left of Monsieur Rosis. / glanced
at her in surprise.
"Was it your wedding ring?"
s'Better than that. Monsieur Rosis
gave it to me whileshe was dying. He
came back to life to give it to me-just
as we turn back when we have forgotten
something"
''He gave it to me, and said that
curse would follow me if I lost'it. / did
not lose tit went away from me; but
I am not happy. Monsieur Rosis was
very hard"
sButyou are not to blame for what you
could not help"
"Ah! but if lover took it?" she said,
shaking her head slowly. II had fallen
asleep in the drawing.room-the day was
warm. When awoke Monsieur's heart
was gone, and the air full of shadows.
I have been searching. ever since for
it." sfs
She began pacing up and down the
room. We were stopping for week at
a hotel in large inland town. Rhis con-
versation had been carried.on in the par!
lor, a long, wide room, looking eastward.
As madame walked, I thought I had
never seen her half so beautiful. While
she went to and fro restlessly, the stran-
ger came noiselessly in and walked be-
side her. She did not notice him but
looked straight out of the window to the
green trees, and beyond them to the wide
sunset. ~
For myself grew angry and heated at
the strangers boldness. If he had any
thing to say to her why did he not speak ?
Whatright had he to dog her steps 80 per-
sistentlyf Atleast would tell madame.
As I started forward to speak, the strange
gentleman raised his hand to his forehead
and l saw something on it that glowed
blood-red in the sunlight. I looked at it
eagerly and cav the shape of heart out
lined on the slender finger. My heart
bounded. Here was the lover that had
stolen madame's ring. 1t should be re.
stored to her, and once more she should
know happiness. Ah, how frightened !
got, thought While my lips were part
ed to speak and my hand reached forth
to touch his m.@ was gone, and | stood
quite alone with Madame Rosis.
"What makes you so white?" she ask
ed, stopping short in her walk.
"Why, he has gonew
"Who has gone? ?"
"The gentleman who walked beside
YOU"
"Indeed, who so bonored me?" she
said, inc.edulously. II was busy with
my thoughts"
"a strange gentleman walked with you
near you-and as l started toward him
he disappeared"
Madame laughed a low, musical laugh,
but saw that the white hand that clasped
her scarlet mantle over her heart was
shaking. Her lips grew white and dry.
"I hope he was handsome"
"Very, with mouth likes q girls"
Her forehead grew phckered into
scowls.
"And what else 2"
"He wore q ring with blood-red
heart"
I pray that may never on earth see
face SO fearful as was madame's at that
moment. I put up quick prayer, tor
thought she was about to kill me. She
clutched both hands about my arm and
held me closely to her.
"How dare you girl?"
ri could not help seeing him." said.
"There he is now outside looking in st
the window 2"
She covered down at my feet and COW
cred her eyes with my mantle. [ do not
know how long stood there, or how long