Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-06-19
FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
From the PhiIadelnhIa CAL.

From the Philadelphia Call
A year ago two young men dwelt
in a quiet house in the Rue Cressol in
Paris, leading their lives in common.
Their intimacy, which had begun at
college, was cemented by a similarity
of tastes and characters.
Paul had been educated for an en-
gineer; Emile was notary's clerk.
After having completed their studies
they found themselves about to begin
the battle of life, and they resolved to
pass together the period of trials be
tween school days and the entrance
Of practical life, when the choice of
friends is so difficult. Never a word
or action marred the serenity Of their
friendship.
Paul was in love with good and
charming girl who dwelt in the same
house. Paul, who was infatuated
with her, was in no way surprised at
Emle's friendly attentions TO his
sweetheart and Emile, who was ever
really to wait on her, never thought
of his familiarity being Objectionable
TO Paul.
Their friendship was founded on
esteem and conlidence-a confidence
so great that ono morning in April
Paul, who had for some time carried
on negotiations with IN American
company engaged in the construction
of n railway, said to his friend:
IAN occasion has presented itself
for me to show what / can do and to
make beginning Of a career. | shall
be obliged to be absent at least year.
can not take llOrtense with me, aud
tho thought of giving her up breaks
my heart. ! ConliGe her 10 you. You
will watch over her ms though she
were a sister, and when ! return, and
lind her pure and worthy of me-she
will be my wife"
You can depend on me, replied
Enile, grasplng his friends hand.
Paul departed, tranquil and conf
dent
Emile and Hortense were left to
themselves She with all the seduo
ti0ns and beauty of youth, he with all
the ardOr of Il young man of TWEEN
ty.
AT twenty they made sacrifices he
Of his desires, she of her instincts,
keeping in subordination all their
thoughts, all their wishes, all their
conversation, to find their supreme
satisfaction in duty accepted and ac
complshed
When HortCnse returned from the
shop and Emile from the Office, they
spoke of love, of divided passion, he
pleading the cause 81 the absent lover,
she deceiving herself while listening
To him.
On Sunday, when the shop and
office were closed, and when they
went to Meudon, To Saint Manda, to
fetcs or to pleasant reunions, the
passer by would pause to look At the
couple, SD young, so beautiful. on
whom the sunlight of happiness
seemed to smile, and would say:
GLOW charming is loveW
Aud Emilc's neighborS, looking
through the window into the room
where the happy couple sat, would
say:
'"rhere is paradiseW
That paradise was a hell. Forced
experienced strange sensations, the
cause of which he sought in vain TO
ignore.
Forced to listen, Hortense said to
herself that no voice in the world
could better express the language Of
the true passion, and that the woman
who might be loved as she could love
Emile would be very happy. The
flame which they wished to fan for
another burned in them.
Emile ceased his kind attentions to
llortense, so much did he fear that he
would betray himself. He affected
to speak of acquaintance that he had
not made and of love affairs that did
not exist.
He bought at the stationer's pho
tograph of an actress, and, showing it
To- HortenSe, said:
That is my sweetheart. What do
you think of herr"
Aud Hertense replied with indltfer-
ence: ''She is very pretty"
Then the two retired TO their rooms
and wept
When Paul had been gone two
months he ceased to reply to Emiles
letters This state of affairs continu-
ed until the morning of the 1st Janus
AIRY, when Emile awaited the rising Of
Hortense III order to wish her happy
new year.
, He had managed to procure from
Paufs parents photograph reduced
from portrait. and had encaSed it in
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.
Ea.ile departed, and did not return
until the evening was well advanced.
Hortense awaited him, seated by the
lire. She was still weeping.
The open locket was on the mautel.
Emile mechanically turned his ewes
toward it, then uttered crv. His
portrait had replaced that of Paul in
the locket.
What does this meant" he ex-
claimed. "Hortense, what have you
done"
Leave mel" she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into her bosom.
Leave mel Do not speak to me! /
am madm
"Madi" repeated Emile, really
frightened.
"Ah, you see nothing! You under
stand nothing" cried the young girl,
prey to violent passion. You do
not see that this existence is impossi-
blei You do not understand that 1
adore you, and that this life of deceit
Is killing mel"
And throwing her arms about him,
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 a seat, said to her in a
broken voice:
"And /, Hortense, adore YOU"
"Ah, my Ged !" cried Hortense, with
great JOY.