The Dillon tribune., 1885-05-30
LOVE AND DUTY.

LOVE AND DUTY.
wear ago two young men dwelt in
an;ot house in the Rue Crussol.. in
n.r;s q;1 leading their lives in common.
rhe;r sliS' intimacy, which had begun at col
1ore Lns' was cemented by a similarity OF
.astes and characters.
Panl had been educated for an engi-
,oer. Emile was q notary's clerk. Az
NV nv. having completed their studies they
-, tennd themselves about to begin the
hattie Hattie Of life, and they resolved to pass
together the period OF trials between
school days and the entrance on practi-
os life. when the choice of friends is so
d;a;cnlt. Never a word or action mar
rad I the serenity of their friendship.
panl 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 ut 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 es-
TEEN and confdence-a confidence so
GREAT that one morning in April Paul,
Who had for some time carried on ne
cotiations with an American company
engaged in the construction of a rail-
way, said to his friend:
IAN occasion has presented itself for
me to show what 1 can do and to make
the beginning Of a career. have been
offered the superintendence of the work
on railway in Louisiana. 1 shall be
Obliged to be absent at least year. I
cannot take Hortense with me, and the
thought Of giving her up breaks my
heart In love distrust is a merit. 1
will not confde Hortense to my BROTH
er. 1confde her to you. You will
watch over her as though she were q
sister, and in year, when l return, l
shall find 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 seductions
and beauty of youth, he with all the
ardor OF young man OF 20.
At 70 they made sacriticc--he of his
desires, she of her instincts, keeping in
subordination all their thoughts, all
their wishes, all their conversation, to
md their supreme satisfaction in duty
accepted and accomplished.
When Hortense returned from the
shop and Emile from the office they
spoke Of love, of a divided passion, he
pleading the cause of the absent lover,
she deceiving herself while listening te
On Sunday when the shop and office
were closed and when they went tt
Mendon, to Saint Mande, to fetes, or tt
pleasant reunions, tho passers-by woult
pause to look at the couple. so young
10 beautiful. on whom the sunlight o
happiness seemed to smile, and woult
say:
How charming is love!''
ana Emile's neighbors. lookin:
Trough the window into the room
'.r .uere the happy couple sat, woul'
There is paradiser'
inat paradise was Il hell. Forced t
speak OF love to Hortense, Emile ex
pte!'enced strange sensations, the caus
"rHnlch he sought in vain to ignore.
h. soIced to listen, Hortense said t,
oon,s Ssu that no voice in the worl'
tr"a u.u oetter express the language O
m;s, passion, and that the woman VIII
~as sos oe loved as she could love Emil
thou ha pc very happy. The flame whic
thy. ! wished to fan for another burne
v;thu v;tHhnaout having spoken of their love
efs us t.a'; having Interpreted one anotl
thev 4Sse1ngs S from . gesture or a look
yer.. "aa become afraid even to cor
afr.;a s win each other; they had beco,u
h;s h;u w 70 speak of Paul, of his love an
nonaP' aoPes' His name was never prt
tSS;aced; it would have sounded j
n. Hs ears Ears like areproach.
r,n, J ,oousht at the stationer's a phot,
HortsnM.a ~ an actress. and. showing it
ro, mat is my sweetheart. What d
'oo think of hcre" y
ence. au nortense replied. with inditle
TS Sae is very pretty"
and the two retired to their room
nontSa uen Paul had been gone tv
'"'n' he ceased to reply 10 Emile