Morris tribune., 1886-04-28
LOVE AND DUTY.

q QuleC uDuSc III tllC AeuO SAuosoA' AZ
Paris, leading their lives in common.
Their intimacy, which had begun at col
lege, was cemented by a similarity OF
tastes and characters.
Paul had been educated for an engi-
neer; Emile was a notarys clerk. Al
ter having completed their studies they
found themselves about to begin the
battle of life, and they resolved to pass
together the period of trials between
school days and the entrance on practl-
cal life, when the choice of friends is so
difficult. Never word or action mar
red the serenity of their friendship.
Paul 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 at 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 confidence-a confidence so
great that one morning in April Paul,
who had for some time carried on ne
potiations with an American company
engaged in the construction OF rail-
way, said to his friend
IAN occasion has presented itself for
me to show what / can do and to make
the beginning of career rhaVe been
offered the superintendent of the work
on railway in Louisiana. shall be
obliged to be absent at least year. l
cannot take Hortense with me, and the
thought of giving her up breaks my
T., Iicfr &c
will not confide Hortense to my broth
en- | confide her to you. You Will
watch over her as though she were a
sister, and in year, when 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 70
At 20 they made sacritice-he OF his
desires, she of her instincts, keeping in
subordination all their thoughts, all
their wishes, all their conversation, to
1 IuelE SdLlo1dS1loh LII NNtoJ
| 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 to
| him.
On Sunday when the shop and office
were closed and when they went to
| Mendon, to Saint Mande, to fetes, or to
| pleasant reunions, the passers-by would
| pause to look at the couple, so young,
| so beautiful, on whom the sunlight OF
I happiness seemed to smile, and would
say:
Chow charming is loVe!"
And Emile's neighbors, looking
through the window into the room
where the happy couple sat, would
say:
''There is paradise
| That paradise was a hell. Forced to
speak of love to Hortense, Emile ex.
perienced strange sensations, the cause
of which he sought in vain to ignore.
Forced to listen, Hortense said to
! herself that no voice in the world
could better express the language Of
true passion, and that the woman who
might be loved as she could love Emile
would be very happy. The flame which
they wished to fan for another burned
them.
| Without having spoken Of their love,
without having interpreted one anoth'
er's feelings from a gesture or a look,
they had become afraid even to con.
verse with each other; they had become
afraid to speak of Paul, of his love and
his hopes. His name was never pro-
nounced; itwould have sounded in
their ears like areproach.
He bought at the stationer's a photo
graph of an actress, and, showing it tc
Hortense, said:
s'That is my sweetheart. What dt
| you think of her?"
And Hortense replied, with indiffer
ence:
| "She is very pretty
| Then the two retired to their rooms
and wept.
| When Paul had been gone two
menths he ceased to reply to Emile''
letters. Hortense had written to hin
twice without receiving an answer. 49,
This state of affairs continued unit
the morning of the 1st of January, wher
Emile awaited the rising of Hortense il
order to wish her a happy New Yea
and TO present his gift.
| He had managed to procure iron
Paul's parents a photograph reduced
from a portrait, and had it encased il
pretty gold locket bearing the initia
of Hortense.
| When the young girl received thu
present and opened the locket, and saw
the portrait of Paul, she blushed, ther
turned pale and began to weep.
| "Why do you weepP'' asked Emile
| in choking voice. 'He will soon re
turn"
! 'sYou do not understand me- re
piled Hortense. II weep, but it is fol
JOY"
| Her pent-up feelings found relief il
signs and tears.
Emile departed and did, not return
until the evening was well advanced
Hortense awaited him, seated by thu
fire. She was still weeping.
The open locket was on the mantel
Emile who was greatly embarrassed
mechanically turned his eyes toward it
then uttered cry. His. portrait hac
replaced that of Paul in the locket.
1 ''What does ID meanp'' he exclaimed
s.Hortense, what have you doneP"
! sLeave me!'' she said, taking TIA
locket and slipping it into her bosom
Leave me! Do not speak to me!
am mad!"
4 "Madp" repeated Emile, really fright
ened.
| "Ah, you see nothing! You under
stand nothing!" cried the young girl,
prey to violent passion. you do no
see, then, that this existence is impos
sible! You do not understand that
adore you, and that this life of decei