Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21

| signs and tears.
Emile departed and did not return
until the evening was well advanced.
Hortense awaited him, seated by the
fire. She was still weeping.
The open Iocket was on the manteI.
Emile who was greatly embarrassed,
mechanically turned his eyes toward it,
then uttered a cry. His portrait had
replaced that of Paul in the locket
What does it mean?" he exclaimed.
''Hortense, what have you done?"
Leave mel" she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into her bosom.
leave me! Do not speak to me! /
am madr'
''Mad?" repeated Emile, really fright
ened.
''Ah, you see nothing! You under
stand nothing!' cried the young girl, a
prey to violent passion. you do not
see, then, that this existence is impos-
sible! You do not understand that I
adore you, and that this life of deceit
and constraint is killing mer'
And throwing her arms about him
she let her head fall with a sigh on the
breast of the young man, who trembled
violently.
When he had recovered from his agi-
tation ne disengaged himself from the
embrace of the young girl, and, lead
ing her to a seat, said to her, in brok-
en- voice:
''And |. Hortense, [ adore you.
''Ah, my Godm exclaimed Hortense,
with great joy.
Let me speak, adore you! Ihave
loved you for long time. have
struggled in vain against this passion,
fool that [ was! How could l help low
ingyou?"
''Ah, my darlingn'
Let me speak. When [ perceived
that this love had taken possession of
my heart the memory of Paul came to
me like a reproach. At this very mo-
ment | see him before me, the embodi-
ment OF my remOrse."
81 love youn stammered Hortense.
''Be silent! Such words must not be
spoken. Poor boy! he is calm as he
stands there, trusting in our honor,
counting upon your loyalty, upon my
word, and we -"
He stopped, choked by his tears.
''Why is Paul not here?n said Hor-
tense.
Because he has confidence in Us.
Whatever it costs me, will not betray
it will rather dier'
"And will die toor'
They paused, and a strange look
passed between them like q magnetic
current. All their accumulated ideas,
all their emotions, seemed to fix them
selves upon that one thought of death,
which had suddenly presented itself as
refuge or an expiration.
ooh, yes!" said Hortense, summing
up all her impressions in that second,
81 would rather die than think Of"
She did not finish. She was about to
pronounce the name of Paul.
Emile took her hands, and, gazing in
her face as if he would read her
thoughts, said, slowly and mournfully:
''9ou wish it?''
Hortense raised herself to her full
height and said, calmly and solemnly:
Eat once
They threw themselves into each 9th
er's arms and remained in long en-
brace.
They were about to pronounce their
own sentence of death.
Early the next morning the postman
presented himself at Emile's lodging
with letter bearing the postmark of
New Orleans.
He Knocked in vain at the door. No
one answered the summons. The post
man was about to 90 away, when one
of Emile's neighbors, q woman, called
him back, saying that Emile was in his
lodging.
The postman knocked again. Sud-
denly the woman turned pale
''Do you notice nothing?" she asked,
in frightened tone.
NO"
THAT odor. 1t is of gas. My God!
has there been an accident?"
The porter was questioned and said
that late on the previous night Emile
had gone out to buy bushel of char
coal.
The neighbor remembered that sew
eral times on the preceding evening
she had seen Hortense at the window,
her eyes swollen and red from weep
ing.
without doubt" she exclaimed.
''they have persisted. The authorities
should be warned.
This was done and the door was op-
ened.
The fears of Emile's neighbor proved
to have been not without cause. The
two young people were found senseless
and cold-Hortense on the bed and
Emile in chair Every care was be-
slowed upon them, but all efforts to re-
vive Emile were useless. The fumes of
the charcoal had done their work-he
was dead.
Hortense still breathed, and they
succeeded in reviving her. When she
came to her senses the officer of the
law proceeded to open before her the
letter addressed to Emile
1t contained only these words:
Ny DEAR FRIEND: Receive my wishes
for the happiness both of yourself and
your little wife, for You know that [ am
not fool enough to think that you have
waited for my permi5siOnto make love to
Hortense. DO not regret this little breach
of trust on your part. | have been married
q month. PAUL
Hortense. when she had heard tho