Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-07-20
WHAT A LETTER TOLD.

WHAT A LETTER TOLD.
New Years day. 1879. will long be
remembered in that quiet little house
in the Rue CruSol, where. eight days
ago. there We're only smiles and hap
piness, but where. to-day, all is desc
lation and horror On the second
floor. where 50 many merry birds
twittercd among the foliage of hang
ing baskets filled with growing plants
and flowers, giving the windows the
appearance of bright and fragrant
bowers. lawyers, mourners and Off
GERS of justice have entered, and
while a coffin is being borne away to
Pere Lachaise and carriage is roll
ing toward Maison Blanche. legal
seals are affixed to everything to the
cages and swinging baskets. and lit
tie placards stamped in black an
nounce the administrators sale for
the following Thursday.
e. X
One year ago two young men lived
there in that familiar intimacy which
commenced at college. and cemented
by q similarity of tastes and charac-
ter. occasionally produces a strong
and sincere affection. Paul was
studying Ell gineering; Emile was a
notary's clerk. They had been school
companions, and meeting again at
the beginning of the battle OF life,
resolved to pass through that period
of trials which intervenes between
the happy days of boyhood and the
experiences Of after life, when it is so
difficult to form new ties. The per
feet harmony of their friendship was
undistnrbed by a single unkind word
Or action. Could it, then, have been
other than sincere and strong, faith
full and devoted?
Paul was engaged to a sweet, SIM
pie girl, and though very much in
love with her, he never thought of
being astonished that Emile should
converse with her On the easy terms
of familiar acquaintance, while Emile,
who would have thrown himself into
the fire to save the young girls fan,
never dreamed that his want of for
mality should surprise Paul Their
friendship was founded on esteem
and confdence-a confidence so great
that during the early part of April
Paul, who had for some time been in
communication with an American
company for the construction of q
railroad, said TO his friend:
IAN opportunity presents itself by
which l can prove my ability. and es-
tablish myself in my profession. The
superintendent of a railroad in
Louisiana is offered me. 1 shall be
obliged to be absent for at least a
year. I cannot take Hortense, and
the thought of leaving her breaks
my heart. In love, jealousy is vir-
tue. l will not confide her to my
brothers care, but l place her in
your charge. You will guard her as
you would sister, and in one year,
when I return, shall find her faith
full to her promise, and / shall make
her my wife"
"You can depend on me-" Emile
said, simply pressing the hand of his
friend. And Paul departed, free
from care, and full of trust.
They were left aloDe-she, with all
the charms of youth and beauty; he,
with all the fervor of a young and
tender heart of twenty years, sus-
ceptible to all the uncomfortable
emotions Of affection. Emile and
Hortense renounced all selfish inter
ests and pleasures in order to con-
centrate all their thoughts, all their
purposes, all their wishes in the su
preme qualification of performing an
accepted and acknowledged duty
When Hortense would return from
the studio. at the end of her lesson
Emile would go to meet her and con
duct her home They talked of love
and mutual affection, he supporting
the cause of the absent lover, she al
lowing her heart to be deluded by
the soft music of his voice, which
filed her soul with insidious delight
On Sundays, when there were no les
sons, and the studio was closed, h,
accompanied her to the environs O
Paris, to fetes and to places of amuse
ment, and the passers by, stopping t.
look at this couple, SO young and 81
beautiful, on whom radiant happines
seemed to smile, exclaimed:
1.-TWO lovers! All, they are in para
disc"
This paradise became hell
By dint Of speaking of love to tn
young girl, Emile felt awakened il
him a magnetic echo, a word O
strange, nameless sensations, tn
power and nature of which he trie'
in vain to disregard. and which re
sponded to his mental conflict by i'm
perious demands and vehement de
fiance.
By dint of listening to Emile, Hol
tense was forced to the secret confes
sion that there was no other voice j
the world which could speak the Lar
guage OF true passion SO well, an
that the woman who should receiv
such love would indeed he happy.
The fire which they intended t
fan for another burned them to th
quick. and their scruples, their dut,
their vows to the absent one coul
not quench it. The flames sprea
and devoured them. Without b'
traying their feelings Ivy word. loo
or gesture. they gradually avoide
each others society, and never dare
to speak of Paul, his love and h
hopes. His name was never mel
toned. 1t would have sounded iii
reproach ringing in their ear
Emile soon stopped paying Horten,
anV litflA attentions co afrai1 vaS