Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-06-19

have struggled in vain against this
passion. Fool that wasl How could
/ help loving youi"
"Ah, my darlingl"
'Let me speak. When l 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-
bo3inent of my remorse.
81 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, choked 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
i'll will rather diet"
"And | will die too"
They paused, and a strange look
passed between them, like a 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 refuge or an explanation.
"Oh, yes!" said Hortense, summing
up all her impressions in that second
II 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 hei
thoughts, said slowly and mourn
| fully:
you wish it?"
Hortensei raised herself to her full
height, aud said calmly and solemn
Sat once"
They threw themselves into each
others arms and remained in long
embrace. They were about to pro
nounce their own sentence OF death
Early the next morning the post
man presented himself at Emile's door
with a letter. He knocked in vain al
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 II
his lodging.
The postman knocked again. Sud
denly the woman turned rale.
did you notice anything2" she
asked in frightened tone.
"No."
That odor. 1t is of gas. Mercy
! there has been an accIdent"
The porter was questioned, and said
that late on the previous sight 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 Emile's neighbor prove,'
to have been not without cause. The
young people were found senseless
and cold-Hortense on the bed and
Emile in a char. 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.
Horton still breathed, and they
succeeded in reviving her. When she
came to her senses the officer of the
law proceeded to open before her the
letter addressed to Emile. 1t con-
tanned only the words:
My Dear Friend: Receive my wishes
for the happiness both of yourself and
your little wife, for you know that
am not fool enough to think that you
have waited for my permission to
make love to Hortense. Do not re-
gret this little breach of trust on youl
part. have been married month
PAUL.
Hortense, when she had heard the
letter read, rose and ran to the chair
in which lay the corpse of Emile, anG
holding the letter before the face oil
the lifeleSs man, exclaimed:
Is it not funny, this farce2"
Then she turned away breaking
into loud laughter. She was mad