Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-08
"Froan thiShoasr yo1 are free"

~l~A4EF-
s'Frono this hour yow are freew
Raoul fell back on his bed; he had tainted.
The warder who had accompanied me ran
for water, and I sprinkled it on Raoul's face.
In few minutes he revived, and looked at
me with a smile.
''The shock has been too much for you," I
said.
"Gabrielle"- answered-ssdoes she know
am innocenta'
ct have but now left her. You shall your
self see her this night"
"Ah, Paul." he said, s'you are indeed
friend-but now tell me what has been dis
covered-ten me ALI can bear it.
81 shall tell you all afterward. IL the
meantime you must come with me. But
expect surprises-Raoul, do you think you
are strong enough to bear excitement?n
81 will go with you at once to Gabrielle
I am strong again, my friend. All, Paul, if
you had passed such weeks of horror, you
would not wonder at my weakness-you
would know all that is meant by that little
phrase am free!"
I do not very well know how got out of
that prison. I only know that Raoul leaned
on my arm, and that I walked beside him in
an ecstasy of joy. A cab was waiting for us
at the gate. Raoul took his seat without ask
ing any question. He seemed to confide him
self silently to my direction. twas as if he
lived and moved in a dream. At last, when
we had driven some distance, he spoke:
"How is it that we are not yet at Cab
r1elle's. tnougnt you were 10 take me TO
her at once?'
fanence, panence, my dear haoul," an
s"ereo' you iorget you are no1 as YET look-
ing ike yourself. Your connnemenb, your
suHering, nave aiOered you. we snail see
iane. humane soon. buO, nrs', you musO
ne MADE once more hR1e tne haou OF former
Gays; Az present. you are 1 unsnaven, you are
no0 dressed properly. Inc s,gn6 OF you' SO
cnangeo' lnign' aiarm NaDlieie, VINO kho"ss
LOU a.e Ilgn., IaS1 ~ saloi you are
more coilsieeraIe t4'an I, l. Du' can you VOL
oer az 10y nnPa1ieno
firso 1oo , nun 70 q 4alrdressers on 'ne
bouleVara o1. Mlcne,. mere ms long plack
nalr was 1liliiheo ano 1le las' weeks grown
OF pearo removed linen we grove 10 tne
rue Daupnlne ana entered our olo cnamDer,
saere we mao oeen so nsappy 'oge'ner' ~"
where had been so wretched alone. The
honest servant and his wife Nannette poured
out their congratulations, but Raoul seemed
scarcely to hear them. When he crossed the
threshold he shuddered and passed his hand
DeIore nus eyes, as II TO smut out sight OF
horror: l fanaed that some shape-some
scene that he had beheld In that room In his
dreams, mad again arisen before hlm. Then
he once more relapsed into kind of stupor.
confess began to feel alarmed about Raoul.
When the servant and his wife had left us,
showed Raoul a suit OF evening dress, laid
out on his bed.
Now" said, you viii obhge me by put
ting on these at once. There is not moment
to spare unless you wish me to break an ap-
polntment.
Raoul gave me puzzled look.
what does this mean !" he said; II do
not understand"
"You Will soon. Remember your promise
you were 10 obey me IN everything Tor thus
one night Ii you DO not, warn you, Raoul,
shall not be the only one whom you Will dis
appoint"
haoul asked no TURNER questons, but al
lowed events 10 develop themselves as
wished.
When he had dressed, we went downstairs
The cab was still waiting, and we again en-
tered 1t: IN rev minutes 1t drew up before
large nu1iong, Ghe 1ron5 OF wnlcn was one
blaze OF ngnt. inere we dismissed the cab.
1T Is the Odeon THEATRE" said Raoul.
an see-ou5 Gabrielle"
allowed MN no Time Tor reflection. led
MN up the staircase and through the cor
rldor 10 Inc stage-boxes. knocked at the
door OF one OF these, opened it, and half
pushed haouI within. linen closed the door
and waited.
After an interval OF few minutes the door
was Teopened, and Raoul drew me into the
box. l found myself with my friend and
Gabrielle Dumalne. The light was dim, for
the curtains OF the box were drawn, but it
was not SO dim that L could not discern the
change that had come over the faces OF these
two since l had last looked upon either.
Gabrielle was radiant with happiness, the
serene, pure happiness which is born only of
sorrow. I had seen her before in her mo-
ments of gayety and in her time of anguish,
but had never seen her looking SO lovely as
she did then. 1t seemed as if her trial had
not only tested her heart, but had in some
subtitle way heightened her beauty and given
it new dignity and Sweetness soft witch
cry, calm, spiritual rapture born Of deep
ened thought and proved devotion.
need not repeat here what Gabrielle and
Raoul said to me as we three sat, holding
each other by the hand, in the darkened box
in the Odeon. Suffice it to say that they so
exaggerated my share in restoring Raoul to
liberty that, protest, it was almost relief
to me when the door opened, and there ap-
peared M. Sapinaud, leading in Mme Du-
maine. Then there were fresh congratulate
tions and we were stilPin the midst of a con-
versation, joyful, but on the part of the
ladies' fearful also, when bell rang and