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

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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 a 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 on
practical life. when the choice OF
friends is so difficult Never 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
Emie's friendly attentions to his sweet
heart, and Emile, who was ever ready
to wait on her, never thought of his
familiarity being objectionable to
Paul.
Their friendship was founded on es-
TEEN and contidence-a confidence so
great that one morning in Apri. Paul,
who had for some time carried on ne
gotiations with an American company
engaged in the construction Of rail
way, said to his friend:
HAn occasion has presented itself
for me to show what | can do and to
make the beginning of a career. !
have been offered the uperintendence
of the work on railway in Louisiana
shall be obliged to be absent at least
year. | cannot take Hortense with
me, and the thought of giving her up
breaks my heart. In love distrust is a
merit. will not confde Hortense to
nv brother. | confde her to you.
You will watch over her as though she
were sister, and in year. when | re-
turn. | shall find her pure and worthy
of me-she will be my wife"
"You can depend on me, replied
Emile, grasping his friends hand.
PaRl departed tranquil and conf
dent.
Emile and Hortense we're left to
themselves-she with all the seduc-
tions and beauty of youth, he with all
the ardor of a young man of twenty
At twenty they made sacrfice-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 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 Of
flee we're closed and when they went
to Mendon, to Saint Mande to ietes,
or to pleasant reunions, the passer-by
would pause to look at the couple, SC
Young, so beautiful, on whom the sun
light OF happiness seemed to smile
and would say:
elbow charming is love"
And Emile's neighbors, looking
through the window into the room
where the happy couple sat, would say
".There is pal adlseF
That paradise was hell. Forced
to speak of love to Hortense, Emile
experienced strange sensations, The
cause of which he sought in vain t.
ignore.
Forced to listen, Hortense said tt
herself that no voice in the worlc
could better express the language o
true passion, and that the woman who
might be loved as she could low
I Emile would be very happy. Th
fame which they wished to fan TO
another burned them
/ Without having spoken of theil
love, without having interpreted ON
anothers feelings from gesture or
\ look, they had become afraid even t.
converse with each other; they ha'
/ become afraid to speak of Paul, Of hi
love and his hopes. His name wa
never pronounced; it would hav'
sounded in their ears like reproact
n He bought at the statloner's
I photograph of an actress, and show
n ing it to Hortense, said: ~>"
/ sThat is my sweetheart. What d
| you think of her?"
| And Hortense replied, with indiffel
ence: s.~s sra 'Yassf NJ ..
'She is very pretty $S
I Then the two retired to their room
and wept. aee
|sF When Paul had been gone tv
months he ceased to reply to Emile
letters. Hortense had written to hir
twice without receiving an answer,
This state of affairs continued unit
the morning of the lst Of January
when Emile awaited the rising c
Hortense in order to wish her haE
by New Year and to present his gif
Hs had managed to procure fror
Pauls parents photograph red uce
from q portrait, Sand had it encased l