Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-07-21
WHAT A LETTER TOLD.

New Years day, 1879, will long bt
remembered in that quiet little house
in the Rue Crusol, where, eight days
ago, there were only smiles and hap
piness, but where, to-day, all is desc
lation and horror. On the SECOND
floor, where 80 many merry birds
twittered 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 coffin is being borne away tc
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 fol
the following Thursday.
One year ago two young men lived
there in that familiar intimacy which
commenced at college, and cemented
by similarity of tastes and charac
ter, occasionally produces strong
and sincere affection. Paul was
studying el gineering; Emile was O
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
undisturbed by single unkind word
or action. Could it, then, have been
other than sincere and strong, faith
full and devoted?
Paul was engaged to 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 a
railroad, said to his friend:
"An opportunity presents itself by
which l can prove my ability, and es-
tablish myself in my profession. The
superintendence of railroad in
Louisiana is offered me- / shall be
obliged to be absent for at least q
year. I cannot take Hortense, and
the thought of leaving her breaks
my heart. In love, jealousy is vir-
tue. I will not confide her to my
brothers caro-, but I place her in
your charge. You will guard her as
you would a sister, and in one year
when return, l shall find her faith.
full to her promise, and l 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 alone--she, with all
the charms of youth and beauty; he
with all the fervor of q 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, he
accompanied her to the environs oi
Paris, to fetes and to places of amuse
ment, and the passers by, stopping te
look at this couple, so young and &c
beautiful, on whom radiant happiness
seemed to smile, exclaimed:
1.-TWO lovers! All, they are in para
disc"
This paradise became hell.
By dint Of speaking of love to the
young girl, Emile felt awakened in
him q magnetic echo. q word o1
strange, nameless sensations, tht
power and nature OF which no triee
in vain to disregard, and which re
sponded to his mental conflict by i'm
perious demands and vehement de
fiance. TT
By dint OF listening to Emile, Hor
tense was forced to the secret comics
sion that there was no other voice II
the world which could speak the Ian
Uuare of true passion 80 we'll, ane