Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-25

y
He had managed to procure from
Paul's parents a photograph reduced
from portrait, and had encased it in
a pretty gold locket bearing the initial
of Hortense.
When the young girl saw the por-
trait of Paul she blushed, then turned
pale and began to weep.
EHile departed, and did not return
until the evening was well advanced.
Hortense awaited him, seated by the
fire. She was still weeping.
The open locket was on the mantel.
Emile mechanically turned his eyes
toward it, then uttered a cry. His
portrait had replaced that of Paul in
the locket.
tWhat does this mean2' he ex-
claimed. "Hortense, what have you
done?"
leave mel' she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into her bosom.
leave nae! Do not speak to mel
am mad"
MADE" repeated Emile, really
frightened.
''Ah, you see nothing! You under
stand nothing!" cried the young girl,
a prey to violent passion. "You do
not see that this existence is impossi-
BILE! You do not understand that !
adore you, and that this life of deceit
is killing mel"
And throwing her arms about hina.
she let her head fall with sigh on the
breact of the young man, who trembled
violently.
When he had recovered from his
agitation he disengaged himself from
the embrace of the young girl, and
leading her TO seat, said to her in a
broken voice:
"And I, Hortense, adore you"
''Ah, my God!" cried Hortense, with
great joy.
Let me speak, adore you! I
have loved you for long time.
have struggled in vain against this
| passion. Fool that was! How could
[ help loving you?"
"Ah, my darlingw
"Let me speak. When [ perceived
that this love had taken possession of
my heart the memory of Paul came
to me like reproach. At this mo
ment see him before me, this en-
bo9iment of my remorse."
II love your stammered poor Hor-
tense.
"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, cboked by his tears,
"Why is Paul not here?" said Hor-
tense.
Because he has confidence in us.
Whatever 1t costs me, I'll not betray
it will rather die!"
'And [ will die tool'
They paused, and a strange look
passed between them, like magnetic
current. All their accumulated ideas,
all their emotions, seemed to fix
themselves upon that one thought of
death, which had suddenly presented
itself as a refuge or an explanation.
"Oh, yesm 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 mourn>
fully:
''You wish it,"
Hortense, raised herself to her full
height, and said calmly and solemn
ly:
Sat once"
They threw themselves into each
others arms and remained ia long
embrace. They were about to pros
nounce their own sentence of death.
Early the next morning the post
man presented himself at Emile's door
with letter. He knocked in vain at
the door. No one answered the sum
mons. He was about to go away
when one of Emile's neighbors called
him back, saying that Emile was in
his lodging.
The postman knocked again. Sud
denly the woman turned rale.
did you notice anything?" she
asked IN frightened tone.
mo"
"That odor. It is of gas. Mercy |!
there has been an accidentT
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
he had seen Hortense at the window,
her eyes swollen and red with weep
ing:
"Without doubt" she exclaimed,
they have persisted"
The fears of Fp,i1a's neiuhhor nrove,'
to have been not without cause. The
young people were found senseless
and cold-Hortense on the bed and
Emile in a chair. Every care was be-
slowed upon them, but all efforts to
revive Emile were useless. The
fumes of the charcoal had done their
work-he was dead.
Hortense still breathed, and they
succeeded in reviying her. When she
| came to her senses the officer of the
law proceeded to open before her the
| letter addressed to Emile. It cons
| tanned ONLY the words: