Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-04-03


.-e issO, ol preath, into chair
Does that letter not fatter you suficiently.p
Satisfied tell you, Paul, this is wonder
full! Its one OF those things which happen
once in half a century. Now that it has hap
pened, begin to wonder how could ever
have imagined it possible!"
I~.t.'You must go to II. Desnouettes to-mor-
- You must"
"And' IN for a loan ell 2"
you few nalat He might have advanced
notice in his ors; it is the only omission
Money we must have. Sc admirable letter.
go on translating English e~after this, could
y am not going to borrow ~
nouettes.'' ". Des-
Very good; there is another way. o..
me the letter, and will turn it into money.
Times will change in the Quarter before a
man with a comedy accepted by the Odeon
needs to starve!n
'sBy all means take the letter and get the
money if you can. And now, like a good
fellow, give me pen and paper. have three
lines to write-you can guess to whom
'Of course. It's pity we can't spare her
the letter, is it not?"
II will tell her the good news. How it will
rejoice her! Last night after I left you,
Paul, I saw her. We talked Of this very
thing, of the comedy. Like you, Gabrielle
never lost faith in it. She has prayed to the
Virgin every night that it might be ac-
copied"
"Well, it has been, anyhow. Here are the
pen and paper. Wait one moment while
put some water in this ink; it is almost
dry"
Just then there came knock at the door,
1t was Pierre who entered.
cit is the coat of M. Girard,n ne said;
s'Nannette bids me say that she has done her
best, though tailor would doubtless have
been more skillful."
elbow, my coat!" said Raoul; tswhat, then,
was the matter with lay ,coats, ~
monsieur has, then forgotten" said the
servant; ''the sleeve was torn from the wrist
right up to the shoulderl''
At this moment 1 had my back turned to-
RaouPs bed, being engaged at the wash stand
in dropping water into the ink bottle. A sud-
den cry of alarm from Pierre startled me:
"Quick, Monsieur, quick!-he has faintedl
My God, he is deadr'
come of deathly pallor; his eyes were closed;
bis lower jaw dropped down; bis right arm
hung faccid over the bed.
"Gracious heaven!" I cried in alarm; ''what
is wrong with him? Quick Pierre, dip this
cloth in cold water-then run for brandy
run your fastest Here is-oh my God, Ihaye
not soul"
"Say not a word more, Monsieur I viii
hasten-I will fly will bring the brandy
Let Monsieur be at ease-there is no need of
the money'-and here this paragon of SER
wants had rushed off and down the stairs be-
fore could say o word. I had passed my
arm under Raoups head, and was bathing his
brow with the wet cloth. Before Pierre came
back he had revived, to my intense relief.
He opened his eyes, and looked me wildly in
the face. II lad forgotten that!n he said, in
voice quite unlike his own, and with shudder
I could feel.
Forgotten what, my dear Raoulg' but
again his eyes had closed, and his head
dropped back on my shoulder.
Pierre returned after a short absence with
the brandy. We made Raoul drink some.
presently he came out of the second faintng-
fit, and looked at US curiously.
''What is wrong?" he said.
''Monsieur has tainted, said Pierre; FIon- Z
sieur feels better now, is it not so?'
"The good news has been too much for you,
dear Raoul," l said; ''you are certainly IN
well. Shall I bring doctor to see you.n
con no account. am better now-qrlite
better" The tone in which he said this was
very decided. Gas you say, it is no doubtthe
sudden joy that has overwhelmed me. I shall
sleep now, and tomorrow shall be quite re-
covered"
He seemed disinclined to talk further l
sat beside him, watching, till he fell asleep
There was something in his manner and APP
pearance that puzzled me and made me
anxious, for had never seen Raoul like this
before. l began to fear lest this might be
the beginning of a serious illness, and yet, on
the evening before, at the cafe of La Source,
he had seemed to be in his usual health
There was nothing that I knew of weighing
on his mind he had had no quarrel with
Gabrielle; the comedy had been accepted. 1t
must, I thought, be the sudden coming Of
good news, acting on temperament naturally
high-strung. Raoul had splendid physique.
His figure was 1.-the and slim, like an
athletes; indeed, he had quite reputation at
the gymnasium in the Rue de la Sorbonne.
But irregular dining will try the best con-
stitution; and Raoul, like many writing men,
was a creature of nerves. In this way, sitting
by his bedside, l explained to myself his
fainting fit and random words. Soon saw
him slumbering peacefully. This reaSsured
me- and retired to rest