The Worthington advance., 1882-03-30

OucerS OF 1Usnco nave entered; and WHllo q
f1in is being borno away to Pere I.achaise,
and q carriaego is rolling toward the Maison-
Blanche, legal seals are affixed to every
thlng-to the cages and the baskets; and
little placards, stamped in black, announce
Thursday.
Ono year ago two youES Men lived there
III that familiar intimacy which, commenced
at college and cemen!ca by Il similarity Of
tastes and character, occasionally produces
strong aud sincere affection Paul WAS
studying engineering; Emile was notary's
clerk. They had beon school companions,
aad meeting again at the beginning OF the
battle Of life, resolved to pass together
through that period of trials Which inter-
vencs, botween TIE happy days of boyhool
ind the experiences of after lie. when it is
&c difficult to form new ties. The perfect
harmony Of their friendship was undis-
tarbed by Il single unkind word or action.
Could it, tlen, have been other thau SIM
rero and strong, faithful and devoted.
Paul was engaged TO sweet simple girl,
a':ii though very much in love with her, lie
uover thought OF being astouished that
Emile should converse With her on the easy
erms OF familiar acouaintauco: wniie Emile
uho would havo thrown himself into the
dreamed that his want OF formality could
surprise Paul. Their friendship was found.
I'd on esteem and conti1cnce-a confidence
so great that during the carly part of April,
Paul, who had for some time been in CON-
:nunication with IN American company fo1
;he construction Of 4 railroad, said to his
friend:
An opportunity presents itself By which
can prove my ability, and establish my
self in my profession. The superatond-
luco Of a railroad in Louisiana il offered tc
ele. I cannot take Hortense, and the
thought of leaving her breaks my heart. In
love, jealousy is u virtue. I Will not con-
tide her tc my brothers care, but place
her in Your charge. You will guard her as
you would sister, and in one year, when
return, I shall find her faithful to her prom
ise, and shall make hor my wife"
You can depend Oh me-" Emile said,
simply pressing the hand Of his friend.
And Panl departed, free from care and full
81 trust
They were left aloue-she, with all tho
charms OF youth and beauty: he, with al
The tervor OF young and tender heart Of
:wenty years, susceptible to all the uncon.
Hortense renounced all selfish interests and
pleasures in order to consecrate all their
purposes. oil their wishes in the supreme
aratif cation of performing IN accepted and
acknowledged duty. When Hortense
would return from the studio. at the end of
Der lesson, Emile would go to meet her and
conduct her home. They talked of love
aud mutual affection, he supporting the
cause OF the absent lover, she allowing her
heart to be deluded by tho soft music of his
9oioe, which filed her soul with insiduous
delight On Sundays, when there were no les.
sons, and the studio was closed, he accom-
panied her 10 the environs of Paris, to fetes
md to place Of amusement, and the pass.
ers-by, stopping to look st this couple, 80
young and 50 beautiful, on whom radlent
happiness seemed to smile, exclaimed:
Two lovers! All, they are in paradise. >
This paradise became hell.
by dint OF speaking of lovo to the young
girl, Emile felt awaken in him magnetic
echo, world OF strange, namcless sensa-
Mons the power and nature Of which he
trled IN vain to disregard, and which re-
sponled to his mental conflict bv imperions
demands and vehement defiance.
BY tllnt OF listening to Emile, Hortepse
was forced to the secret confession that
there wa no other voice in the world that
ooa!d speak the language Of true passion so
we'll, and that the woman who should re-
ceive such love would indeed be happy.
The fire which they intended to IAN for
another burnedthena to the quick, and thei
scrup'es, their duty, their VOWS to
the absent ono could not uuencb
it. The flames spread and de.
voured them. Without betraying their feel
:ngs by word, look or gesture, they eradu.
lily avoided each others society. and ueye,
dared to speak of Paul, his love, and his
hopes. His name was never mentioned
1t would have sounded like reproach ring
ing in their ears. Emile soon stopped play.
ing Hortense any little attentions, SO afraid
was he that she would discover hie secret
He talked to her of acquaintances which he
pretended to have made. and or love atialra
which never existed. He bought photo.
graphs OF pretty women at the stationer's,
and showing her ono of them said:
think of herr"
ence: "She is very pretty"
Then they separated, retired to their rooms,
and wept bitterly. For two months Paul
had not written. Emile's letters were un-
answered. Hortense had written twice,
but received no reply.
Matters had reached this pass on the
morning OF that fatal first Of January.
Emile awaited tho appearance of Hortense
to offer her his good wishes and presents
for the year. He had succeeded in pro-
curing froLa Paul's relations his photograph
reduced from q portrait, end had set it in a
gold locket, bearing Hortense's Initials in q
spray OF diamonds. When the young Rir
received the present. she opened the case
and seeing Pauls photograph. she blusllel
turned pale, and began to weep.
Why these tears?" said Emile almost
ready to snffocate. He quickly recovered
himself.
You don't understand me. said Hor-
tense: II weep. but it is from pleasure, >
and she burst into sobs.
Emile went away. and Iii not return uu-
til near evening. Hortense waited for him,
seated by the fireplace, and still weeping.
The locket partly open, was lyinp on the
mantelDiece. Emile. quite perple1ed by
her appearance, mechanically cast bis eves
upon 1t, and uttered m exclamation. His
picture had taken the place of Paul's.
What does this mean? he exclaime I.
hortense, what have you done?"
Leave me, she said, taking the 1ocket
and slipping it into her dress. Leave me:
don't speak to mel am going mad!'
"Mad!" repeated Emile, really
alarmed.
Don't you see? Can't yop understand d
anything?' the girl cried out, a prev to
violent agitation. Don't you seo that thia
kind OF life is impossible? Can't you un-
derstand that love you. and that this life
Oh 1aisenood and restraint is killing me?'
aud throwing her arms around him she h;d
her face ON his breast nnd sohhed w,h;,a