The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-03-30
| AT TINS very moment II causes me deep re-

AT TINS very moment II causes mo deep re-
morse"
But love you," faltered the girl.
| BE still! Those words are a cri mo.
Poor boy! He is so full of trust; relying
on our honor. counting on your fidelity. on
my word, ho"--He stepped, overcome by
emotion.
but why is he not hereY' Hortense
asked, suddenly.
Because he has confidence in us. J
will not betray him for any consideration.
Death socner!"
They paused, and TRANCE, thrilling
| look was exchanged between them. All
their thoughts and emotions seemed to to
fixed on that idea of death. thus abruptly
| invoked US n menace, a refuge, and An
| expiration.
"Yes," said the young girl. crowdine all
her long pent-up feelings into that one sec.
ond, Il would rather die than think Of
| She did not finish. She was going to pro-
noupce Pauls name. Emilio took he'll
two hands in his, placed himself III front
of her, and with penetrating look scanned
her face, in search Of confirmation Of the
desperate thought Just expressed.
| would you?" he asked slowly, with de-
termined energy.
| Hortense rose, ana With solemn affection,
| exclaimed: "InstantlA!" aud .liihs into
each others arms, they remained Iii n loni
ami tce. Ths: was x,he;r :. a'h s''u'' re
The following morning, at an early hous,
the postman appeared at the door with a
letter bearing tho post. mark of New Or
leans. He knocked and rang without avail.
No one answered, and he was going away,
when neighbor cpped him, saying that
Emile was ut home. They rang and
knocked again. Suddenly the neighbor
turned pale.
do you smell anything?" she asked,
frightened.
| "No, he replied.
THAT smell! Charcoal! My God! could
anything have happened?"
| The concierge was called, and said that
the night before, very late, Emile had gone
out to buy sack of charcoal. The neigh
Dor remembered that the evening before at
different times, she had seen Hortense at
from crying.
There is no doubt about it," she OK.
claimed; They have persisted. We must
send for the magistrate.:
The magistrate on arriving forced open
the door. The woman's predictions were
only too true. Emile was
lying extended on lounge. Hortense
on chair, both cold and
insensible. Restoratives were Immediately
applied. Alas! all their efforts to revive
Emile were useless. The carbonic gas had
done the work. He was dead. Hortense
still breathed They succeeded in restor-
ing her. When she had recovered her
| senses, the magistrate proceeded to open
before her the letter addressed to Emile.
It contained only the words:
My DEAR EMILE: I hope you are we'll and
happy-you and your little sweetheart-for
you know very we'll that am not 80 foolish as
to believe that you are waiting for my permits
sion to fall in love with Hortense. Don't your
conscience trouble you for breaking your
promise. I have been married q month.
PAUL.
Hortense, on hearing this, rose. ran to
the lounge where lay the body of Emile.
and showing him the letter, with feverish
excitement exclaimed:
Look, Emile, look! Isn't it an excellent
| joke?"
Then she burst into peal of hysteric
laughter.
She was insane.-Adopted for the Ar
| Q0maut from the French.