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

quick, and their scruples, their duty,
their vows to the absent one could
not quench it. The flames spread
and devoured them. 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 and his
hopes. His name was never men
toned. 1t would have sounded like
reproach ringing in their ears.
Emile soon stopped paying Hortense
any little attentions, so afraid was he
that she would discover his secret.
He talked to her of acquaintances
which he pretended to have made
and of love affairs which never ex-
listed. He bought photographs of
pretty women at the stationers and
showing her one of them, said:
"That's my sweetheart. What do
you think of herw
Hortense answered, with feinged
indifference: "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 unanswered.
Hortense had written twice, but re-
ceived no reply.
Matters had reached this pass on
the morning of that fatal first of Jan
uary. Emile awaited the appearance
of Hortense to offer her his good
wishes and presents for the year. He
had succeeded in procuring from
Paul's relations his photograph re
duced from a portrait, and had set it
in a gold locket bearing Hortense's
initials in spray of diamonds.
When the young girl received the
present she opened the case and see
ing Paups photograph she blushed,
turned pale, and began to weep.
"Why these tears" said Emile,
almost ready to suffocate. He quick
ly recovered himself.
"You don't understand me-" said
Hortense. II 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 lying on the mantle
piece Emile, quite perplexed by her
appearance, mechanically cast his eyes
upon it and uttered an exclamation.
His picture had taken the place of
Paul's.
"What does this mean7" he ex-
claimed. "Hortense, what have you
doneW
leave me- she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into'her dress.
leave me; don't speak to mo- am
going madp
"Mad" repeated Emile, really
alarmed.
Don't you see? Can't you under
stand anything7" the girl cried out, a
prey to violent agitation. ''Don't you
see that this kind of life is impossi-
BILE? Can't you understand that /
love you. and that this lifo of false
hood and restraint is killing met" and
throwing her arms around him she
hid her face on his breast and sobbed,
while he trembled like one shaking
with fever. 1t required a few mo
ments for this intense emotion to
subside; then, making a violent Of
fort, he disengaged himself from her
embrace, and obliging her to sit
down, said, in broken voice:
''Hortense, love youp
"Oh, Emile!" interrupted Hortense,
overjoyed.
"Let me speak. love you. For
a long time have vainly struggled
against the feeling, which has over
whelmed me, fool that 1 WAS. How
could one help loving youa When /
felt that intense love taking posses
sion of my heart, the memory of Paul
rose up before me like reproach.
At this very moment it causes me
deep remorse"
"But I love you," faltered the girl.
'Be still! Those words are a
crime. Poor boy! He is so full of
trust; relying on our honor, counting
on our fidelity, on my word, he"
He stopped, overcome by emotion.
'sBut why is he not herei" Hor-
tense asked, suddenly.
Because he has confidence in us.
I will not betray him for any consid-
Grafton. Death soonerp'
They paused, and strange, thrill
ing look was exchanged between
them. All their thoughts and emo
tions seemed to be fixed on that idea
of death, thus abruptly invoked as
menace, a refuge and an expiation.
"Yes," said the young girl, crowd
ing all her long pent up feelings into
that one second, Il would rather die
than think Of" She did not finish.
She was going to pronounce PauPs
name. Emile took her two hands in
his, placed himself in front of her,
and with a penetrating look scanned
her face, in search of confirmation of
the desperate thoughts just expressed.
"Would youw he asked slowly,
with determined energy.
Horte1se rose, and with solemn
affection, exclaimed: "Instantlyp
and falling into each others arms,
they renamed in long embrace.
This was their death sentence.
= =
The following morning, at an early
hour, the postman appeared at the
door with a letter bearing the post,
mark of New Orleans He knocked
and rang without avail. No one an
swered, and he was going away when
neighbor stopped him, saying
E.o:Jo ,yoc NJ bO,,n rNlnxy vopo on1