San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-21

edged duty. When Hortense would
return from the studio, at the end OF
her lesson, Emile would go to meet
her and conduct her home. They
talked of love and mutual affection,
he supporting the cause of the absent
lover, she allowing her heart to be
deluded by the soft music of his
voice, which filled her soul with in
sidious delight. On Sundays, when
there were no lessons, and the studio
was closed, he accompanied her to the
environs of Paris, to fetes and to
places of amusement, and the passers-
by, stopping to look back at this
couple, SO young and SO beautiful, on
whom radiant happiness seem to
smile, exclaimed:
1.-TWO lovers All, they are in par
adise."
This paradise became hell.
By dint of speaking of love to the
young girl, Emile felt awaken in him
a magnetic echo, a world of strange,
nameless sensations, the power and
nature of which he tried in vain to
disregard, and which responded to
his mental conflict by imperious de-
mands and vehement defiance.
By dint of listening to Emile, Hor-
tense was forced to the secret con-
fession that there was no other voice
in the world that could speak the
language of passion SO well, and that
the woman who should receive such
love would indeed be happy.
The fire which they intended to
fan for another, burned them to the
quick, and their scruples, their duty,
and their VOWS to the absent one
could not quench it. Without be-
traying their feelings by word, look
or gesture, they gradually avoided
each others society, and never dared
to speak of Paul, his love nor his
hopes. His name was never men
toned. 1t would have sounded like
reproach ringing in their ears.
Emile soon stopped showing Hortense
any little attentions, so afarid was ne
that she would discover his secret.
He talked to her of acquaintance he
pretended to have made and of love
affairs that never existed. He bought
photographs of pretty women at the
stationer's, and showing one of them
said:
'.That's my sweetheart. What do
you think of herr"
Hortense answered, with feigned
Indifference: "She is very pretty"
Then they separated, retired to
their rooms and wept bitterly. For
two months Paul had not written.
EmiIe's letters were unanswered.
Hortense had written twice, but re-
ceived no reply.
Matters had reached that pass on
the morning of that fatal first of Jan
uary. Emile awaited the appearance
of Hortense to offer her good wishes
and presents for the year. He had
succeeded in procuring from Pauls
relations his photograph reduced from
a portrait, and had it set in a gold
locket bearings Hortense's initials in
a spray of diamonds. When the young
girl received the present she opened
the case, and seeing Pauls photo
oranh. hi flushed, turned. pale and be-
gan to weep,
"Why those tears?" asked Emile,
almost ready to sufocate. He quick
ly recovered himself.
"You do not understand me-" said
Hortense. 81 weep, but it is from
pleasure" and she burst into sobs.
Emile went away and did not re-
turn until near evening. Hortense
waited for him, seated by the fire
place, and still weeping. The locket
partly open, was laying on the man
tlepiece. Emile perplexed by her APP
pearance, mechanically cast his eyes
upon it and uttered an exclamation.
His picture had taken the place of
Paul's.
"What does this mean?" he ex-
claimed. "Hortense, what have you
done?"
"Leave me-" she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into her dress.
leave me; don't speak to me- am
going mad"
"Mad?" repeated Emile, really
alarmed.
Don't you see2 Can't you I'M.
derstand anything?" the girl cried
out, a prey to violent agitation. "Do
YOU not see that this kind of life is