Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-09


"Why do you weep?" asked Emile, |
in choking voice. "He will soon re.
turn"
"You do not understand me" re-
piled Hortense. 81 weep, but it is for
joy"
Her pent-up feelings found relief |
in slghs 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 locket was on the mantel.
Emile who was greatly embarrassed,
mechanically turned his eyes toward
it, then uttered a cry. His potrait
had replaced that of Paul in the lock.
ct.
"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! l
am msd!'
"Mad?" repeated Emile. really
frightened.
"Ab, you see nothing! You under.
stand nothing!" cried the young girl,
prey to violent passion. ;'You do
not see, tnen, that this existence is
impossible to you. and that this life OF
deceit and constraint is killing me!'
And throwing her arms about him
she let her head fall with sigh on
the breast Of the young man, who
trembled violently.
When he had recovered his agi-
tation he disengaged himself from the
embrace of the young girl, and, lead
ing her to seat, said to her, in a
broken voice:
And |, Hortense, | adore you"
"Ah, my Cod" exclaimed Hortense,
with great joy.
Let me speak, adore you! l
have loved you for a long time. |
have struggled in vain against this
passion, fool that l wasl How could
l help loving your"
: "Ah, my darling!"
"Let me speak When perceived
that this love had taken possession of
my heart the memory of Paul came tc
} mo like reproach. At this very mo-
ment see him before me, the embodi,
, ment Of my remorse.
81 love you!'' stammered Hortense
BE silent! Such words must no
4 be spoken. Poor boy! he is calm a
p he stands there, trusting in our honor
a counting upon your loyalty, upon m.
} word, and We"
He stopped, choked by his tears
e why is Paul not here?' said Hor
: tense.
Y because he has confidence in us
Whatever it costs me, will not be
/ tray it-I will rather dle!'
They paused, and strange 1901
j. passed between them like magnetic
current. All their accumulated ideas
o all their emotions, seemed to fix them
: selves upon that one thought of death
Il which had suddenly presented itself q
a refuge or an explation.
e "Oh, yes!" said Hortense, summin
j, up all her impressions IN that seconc
r 81 would rather die than think o
r -
e She did not finish. She was abou
: to pronounce the name of Paul.
Emile took her hands, and gain
e in her face as if he would read he
y thoughts, said, slowly and mournfully
e ."Yo wish it?'
r, Hortense raised herself to her flu
G height and said, calmly and solemnly
CAT once"
f. They threw themselves into enc
1t others arms and remained in a lon
s, embrace.
Y They were about to pronounce thei
20 own sentence of death.
l. Early the next morning the post
g, man presented himself at Emile
lodging with letter bearing the post
mark of New Orleans.
g He knocked in vain at the door. n
m one answered the summons. Th
Y: postman was about to 60 away, whe
one of Emile neighbors, woma1
ID called him back, saying that Emf
le was in his lodging.
le The postman knocked again. SUE
to denly the woman turned pale.
"Do you notice nothing?" she aske
to ln'a frightened tone.
Id 'zNo."
of THAT odor. 1t is of gas My Go
10 has there been an accident?"
We The porter was questioned and sa
ne that late on the previous night Emf
or had gone out to buy bushel of cha
coal.
ir The neighbor remembered that Sc
ne eral times on the preceding eveni1
a she had seen Hortense at the windo
to her eyes swollen and red from wee
I'd ing.
lis without doubt" she exclaime
as "they have perished. The authoriti
We should be warned"
h. This was done and the door was c
a ened, =, '.,...
W. The fea,s of Emiles neighb
proved to have been not witho
do cause Tie two young people we
fo,ol eop,oloe, opd oold-Hortar