Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-25
FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
From the Philadelphia Call.


A year ago two young men dwelt
IN quiet house in the Rue Cressol in
Paris, leading their lives in common.
Their intimacy, which had begun at
college, was cemented by 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 a good and
charming girl who dwelt in the same
house. Paul, who was infatuated
with her, was IN no way surprised at
Emile's friendly attentions to his
sweetheart, and Emile, who was ever
ready to wait on her, never thought
of his familiarity being Objectionable
to Paul.
Their friendship was founded on
esteem and Confidence confidence
so great that one morning in April
Paul, who had for some time carried
on negotiations with an American
company engaged in the construction
of railway, said to his friend:
San 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.
I can not take Hortense with me, and
the thought of giving her up breaks
my heart. / cOnfde her to you You
viii watch over her as 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
Emile, grasping his friends hand.
Paul departed, tranquil and conf
dent.
Emile and Hortense were left TO
themselves-she with all the seduc-
tiens and beauty Of youth, he with all
the ardor of young man of TWEEN
ty.
Al twenty they made sacrifces--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 &C
complished.
When Hortense returned from the
shop and Emile from the Office, they
spoke of love, of divided passion, he
pleading the cause of 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, 10 Saint Manda, to
fetes or TO pleasant reunions, the
passer-by would pause to look at the
couple, so young, so beautiful. on
whom the sunlight of happiness
seemed to smile, and would say:
Chow charming is lovew
And Emile's neighbors, looking
through the window into the room
where the happy couple sat, would
say:
There is paradiser'
That paradise was hell. Forced
to speak of love to Hortense, Emile
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
Hortense, so much did he fear that he
would betray himself. He affected
to speak of acquaintances 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 il
to Hortense, said:
''That is my sweetheart. What do
you think Of here"
And Hertense replied with indiffer-
ence: ''She is very pretty"
Then the two retired to their rooms
and wept
When Paul had been gone two
months ne ceased to reply to Emile's
letters This state of affairs continu-
ed until the morning Of the 1st Janu~