Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-07-11

s 81 nt when Ills Mig and horrors threat
NY Gmid soul I'd lasso,
IcrsyeAyo that hts the foe,
And tilize the basso AAnol
lERT PREH ]. \
81 4 SKETCH III zoKA.
The count was afftt elonged 70 one
Of the most illustrated families 81 France
and possessed large fortune. Being
ffdiscontented with the government, he
occupied himself ia various ways; wrote
articles for the reviews, threw himself
into business, and became enthusiastic
in agriculture and The fine arts.
The countess is forty-s yet the
Gloveliest blonde OF Raris.E Never has
she looked handsomer Age seems to
purify her complexion. In ripening,
she has the roundness Of fine fruit.
When she enters q parlor she appears
like 9 rising star, and women Of twenty
are Jealous Of her. .5 81. .s s.& +
Nothing can be said of the household
Of The count and countess since their
marriage. tits even said they lived to-
gether happily for six years. In, this
time they had a son, Roger, who is
Lieutenant; and daughter, Blanche,
whom they married off last year. In
later years they lived in separate quar-
tiers, yet remaining good friends, with
great self-control, often consulting to-
gether, and all right before the world.
3 One night the countess returned from
a ball about 2 o'clock in the morning.
The waiting maid, after undressing her,
says. "'The count is indisposed this
evening"" ss -. -
The countess, half asleep, turns her
head lazily. "Ah!" rnurmurs she,
yawning, and adds: awake me to-
morrow at 10; Igo to the dressmaker. :"
The next day at breakfast as the
count does not appear, she makes some
inquiries, and afterward decides to go
to his room. She finds him in bed very
pale but very dignifed. Three doctors
have already been there and talked in a
low tone; they left prescriptions, and
will return at night. The count is cared
for by two servants, who. are grave and
quiet; sitting the noise of their2heels on
the carpet. The great chamber gives
you the idea of cold severity. No linen
is disturbed, no furniture deranged.
This is amalady proper and ceremonious.
f'You suffer, then my friend ?" asks
the countess, as she enters.
The count makes an effort to smile.
"Oh!a. little fatigue" replied he ct
only require rest, I thank you for dis
turbing yourself" ! h.H...'G
Two days pass. The room remains
stately. Everything: is in it's place;
the drugs disappear without spotting
the furniture. The shaved faces of the
domestios are decent; they do not per-
NIT themselves to express sentiments of
unrest. However, the count knows
that he is in danger, He has requested
The truth from the physicians, and he
leaves them to act without a complaint.
He remains most of the time with
closed eyes, or looks fxedly as though
he rehected his solitude.
In society the countess says her hus-
band is suffering. She has not changed
her manner of living, eats and sleeps
and walks at her usual hours. Every
morning, noon, and night she goes her
self to ask the count how he jis.
=. "Well, are you better, my 'friend?"
''Yes, much better; thank you, my
dear Mathilde.."' Sss $ [-.. ~. s-.sz$.
eff you desire it I viii remain near.
you" ...... WI.
t'No, it is unnecessary. Julius and
Francis are sufficient. And what good
would it do to fatigue yourself ?" 5.@
s5i Between them is an understanding !;
they have lived apart and will die apart.
The count has had the bitter enjoyment
of desiring to leave the world without
having round his bed the annoyance Of
q comedy Of grief. He cuts short as
much as possible, for himself and the
countess, the private interview. His
last wish is to disappear properly, as a
man of'the world, without disturbing
any one. 4 sssgs 5,sg4@s <Ss {.5 ss /
zSa One evening he can hardly breathe J.
ho knows he will not live through the
night. When the countess comes to
make her accustomed visit, he says to
her, forcing o smile:is /, Nj S ~
] Do not go ont; I do not feel we'll"
!. He would guard her from the tattle5
OF the world. She installs herself in
the room. The doctors do not leave.
Two of the servants finish their duties
with impressive silence. They have
sent for their children, Roger and
Blanche who keep near the bed BY the.
side Of their mot her he night passes
III this way. In the morning the last
sacrament is brought, and the count!
takes lit before them all, SO as TO ,I,att-,
ronize religion. The ceremonial IS over
and now he is ready.
But he does not hasten + he seems to
recover, his strength, in order to avoid
a clamorous end. His breathing, in the:
vast, severe apartment, gives the brok-
en- noise OF clock which is out of order 4
He is we'll bred man who is departing.
And when he has embraced his wife and
children, he falls back toward the wall
dead. Then one CT the doctors closes.
the eyes, saying IN low voice, " Il is
finished. II. ..s3
. There are signs and tears in the si-
51ence, as the countess, Roger, and
Blanche fall on their knees and weep
between their joined hands. 81 Soon af-s5
terward the children take away their
mother, who at the door, wishing to
show her despair, swaps to and fro.