Daily globe., 1882-08-13


They represented the exact amount she
had given Hans. Bewildered, she turn
ed to the letter. Its words explained.
II pay you my debt. Think, my little
love, what 1t cost US, yet earned il,
Marguerite, on the very night of my
debut. have sung, and the people
have listened. I looked about among
ell the faces on all the young and
beautiful women with their eyes fixed
upon me-but nothing inspired me.
Then l thought of YOU and looking
straight into space I forgot them all.
darling. The flowers rained at my
feet. Great ladies tore the roses from
their breast; but ] would have given
them all dearest, for one little, wild
blossom your hand had plucked. They
say l will be rich and famous. can
not tell-the world is tickle. The vii
lage banker will cash your order. But
you need not buy back the little home.
| am coming for you soon, to bring you
to cage, better worthy of my noun
tain-bird.'
Again and again Marguerite read and
re-read the precious words. What car
ed she for the money? 1t had made
Hans great.
."Going back to your native village
you, who have the whole world
at your feet" sighed one of Florence's
most famous beauties, as she looked in
70 the young singers eyes.
Six months had passed since he had
paid his debt to Marguerite, and still
he fingered. He had spent thrice that
amount, since then, on trinket to clasp
some fair lady's arm. Did he, in hold
ing it so lightly, forget that once it had
been girls all? Why, then. did the
sigh the lady uttered find response in
his own breast?
1T is duty which calls me-"
''Dutyr' she murmured '.Are you
sure it is not mistaken dutyp All your
life has changed. Herr Werter. If, in
its early time, you pledged it to some
rustic maiden, think-could she fill its
measure now?'
The beauty's voice trembled. The
cool softness of her flesh pressed lightly
against his burning palm.
''And if l give her up" he said
''what then? You will be mine?"
But the Yes she uttered was hush
ed by the madness of his kisses. .
And Marguerite watched and waited.
He was coming; therefore he did not
write
1t was the second anniversary of the
day that was to have celebrated their
wedding, when the gossips burst into
her room.
''Ha, har' they said, ''did we not tell
you o?"pointing as they spoke to the
paper, which announced the betrothal
of Herr Werter and the greatest beauty
in all Florence.
Leave me-" she said at last, when
they looked to see what she would do.
Il wish to be alone.
But one of kinder heart, after some
hours had passed, stole back into the
| darkened room.
The child lay tossing in delirious few
er, and the physician, when called,
shook his head.
The strain had been too great, he
said. She must die.
On the third day after, as the watch
ers sat about the bed, Il step sounded
on the stairs. A man stained with the
dust of travel, burst impetuously into
the room.
'.Margueriter he exclaimed-"M Mar
guerite!'' Then he stopped, and gath
cred the import of the scene before
him. II did but faltern' he cried, fall
ing on his knees by her bedside. 81
came back, my wild German daisy, to
tell you so. Oh, Marguerite, is it thus
l pay my debt?''
Then, as though the voice must pene-
trate the mists of fever, the blue eyes
opened, wonderful, ecstatic light in
their depths.
Hans" she whispered Hans! for.
| give me for the doubt which killed men'
And with the word-a dagger thrust
in his own remorseful heart-the spark
of life fiickered and went out!
Marguerite was dead! She who had
lived for him died for him. They fount
the baper he had sent her amongst hel
letters.
Thus had lie redeemed his debt! Al
empty slip of paper, worthless to all, tc
return to him, but bearing the Interest
of broken heart.