The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-07-23
PUTTING SELF AWAY.

| "A HuullllCl hdD III n IihNGO WuCu
the choleraplague was at its height.
A sad day tor Louis Beaufort, al
though he was journeying home
ward. Paris had already been left
far IN the rear, and each moment
was hurrying him on to Man StIlles
-"plague.stricken Marsellles," the
Partisan papers had called it, and
he shuddered at the recollection.
The morrow was to have been his
wedding day, and pretty Marie
Chalmet his wife. Bat that might
never be now. His hot hand clutch
ed Il tiny tear stained note. Rev
erently lie smoothed it ont and read
for the hundredth time, its touch
lug words:
"Dear LOaiS-Aunt Juliette has
the cholera, and ! haYe gone to
nurse her. DO not blame or praise
me. 1t is only putting self away.
But our wedding must be postpon-
ed. DO not try to find me until
the danger is past. Stay in Paris.
Ii should die try to forget that
you ever loved MARIE"
Louis Beaufort's heart was like
lead in his bosom. Already it
seemed that she WAS lost TO him
forever. Poor, selfsacrihcing Ma,
rie! But he was going to fluid her
he must What would lite be
worth without her
Lyons was reached AT last. Here
an omnibus train, filed TO over
flowing with refugees from Mar
seilles, slowly passed by. Fear was
written everywhere on the sea of
swarthy uuclean faces. 1t was
sad sight. All the up trains were
crowded, while he had but few tel-
low passengers. What towards
fright made of brave men! Then
his thoughts went back TO Marie.
How frightened she must be
''Puttihg self away ?" Why, she
was putting away health, happiness
aud perhaps life itself! Oh, il was
terrible Surely God would not
ltltlllb SuCl II ndCIluCt1
He was flying along the shore of |
the Rhine now, aud the slope look.
ed parched and burning. Wearily |
be contrasted it with the green
fields of the North. How hot it |
was growing, and how muddy the
river looked.
He took from his breast pocket a
-iny picture of Marie and began to
study the delicate features. What
/ child she was, yet she had dared
% face the dreaded cholera! Put
ing sell away," she had said. The
words came to him like a death.
Inell, and he again turned to the
despairingly.
Near Aries, he passed whole
ielGs of tents, occupied by soldiers
md others who had fled from Mar.
eilles. What long aud dreary
ide it was! He never forgot it.
For the first time since starting, he
glanced at his watch it was just
TX p. II. NJ. Calmet, Marie's aged
.IduUldIntig Ndo uOM ClOSluB ulS
mall shop, but where, III all that
tricken city vas Mariel The sus-
,ense was maddening. Already he
night be too late! But if she had !
,een spared, she would yet be made
lis wife. This was his soul CON-
ortiug thought.
Then, by-and.by, after miles of I
wifi travel the train glided iuto
Louis Beaufort caught
.limpses of its familiar streets.
hey we're still filled with busy
eople, hnrrying to and fro. The
ep0t was crowded. He saw many
Tell remembered faces, and he hur. |
led away in the gathering gloom
est old friends should detain him.
Ie glanced about him on every
ide, but could see no change. All
be finest shops in the Rue de la
'aunebiere we're yet open. Still
0 sign of the plague. But the
ceue soon changed.
He hailed passing carriage, and
-as driven to Marie's old home in
he narrow and squalid Rue Gals /
erie. All, what sights and smells 4
Q met on the wayi Filthy, tower. I
lg roOkeries, swarmiBg With idle &
leD, and Dauic.strickeu women 8