San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-09

softly, and held out her hand to me.
took it as it was offered and let it go
again.
She did not ask me any more, nor did tell
her. OF what use was it to say that three
times had that woman tried to murder me
when crazed by drink, till her own people
had had her shut upl Or why should say
to my bon garcon that had only that day
received letter from the doctor at the asy-
lum telling me tia: my wife had escaped, and
he did not know where she was; could tell
him Of any haunt in which she was likely &c
be fcundl
saw no sense in telling all this to Suzon.
When man at the age of % marries wo-
man thirteen years older, and finds out soon
after that, besides being addicted to drink
ing, she is of unsound mind and makes pleas
ing attempts to murder him, she and her
doings are not subject on which he is likely
to dwell So held my tongue.
never thought she could find me out in
my pleasant land, though she had been there
once with me, long ago; never thought that
in her mad hatred she would remember how
l invariably spent the spring months there
after my winters work. But l fancied
should find her in Rome.
what are you going to dor asked Su-
ION.
Work" she said quietly.
She never spoke of it, but l knew she
painted for her bread, and that she had no
idea Of saving money, but lived from hand to
mouth. So l was anxious about her.
could not trust myself to think about it. /
would keep au courant with her doings; that
was all could do for her, though l knew
she was horribly poor, and the life of beau
tiful woman in Paris is not easy in that case.
I'VE will have one more walk before 60"
said to Suzon, and she said YES"
So the next day we walked up the terraced
high road, up and up till we reached the
olives and the wheat, and then the bean
fields, and, wandering on at our own sweet
will, were happy and innocent, God knows.
We sat down at last on the long grass at
the edge of the cliff overhanging the seq,
where little wind came up to us.
We did not speak of its being our last day;
we talked as usual, comrade to comrade,
while nightingale somewhere about kept
trying his voice in broken ecstases.
1t was like heaven.
lay on the grass; Suzon, not far off, read
Leopardi aloud. Why she chose that phil
osophie de desespoir, she who had still Ia joie
ceased to hear her voice.
do not sleep AZ night, and, like all people
who have insomnia, am utterly unable some
times to keep from falling into deep sleep,
especially in the open air.
And so did that day.
And while slept that woman must have
been creeping up to us. For started, dazed,
from my sleep to see Suzon struggling in the
grasp Of q mad woman on the very verge of
the cliff!
Of course l knew who it was. l was on
my feet like flash, but not i'll time; for be-
fore could reach her l saw my comrase
Eung out over that awful height.
And then two men who had been working
in the fields came running and caught my
wife lid not wait to hear them tell how
they had seen her creep up to me, not seeing
| was not alone; how, just as she held the
knife at my back, Suzon had leaped like
cat and caught it from her hand, and how
that she devil had turned on her. All that
heard afterward Now | ran down that
zigzag path to the shore and knelt by my
little coIlrGde.
thought she was dead, for nearly every
bO.e il her body was broken and her eyes
were closed i'll stupor l CROPPED for her heart
with ny hand Il who had never touched herr.
She was alive, for felt it stir, and then she
opened her eyes and looked at me.
She knew me, but she did not, | think, re-
member where she was or whathad happened
The poor lips tried to speak and failed
Try again, my darling, ma cherie" l
cried. Tell me, are you in pain" Though
did not think she was, for her back was
broken.
Say it again." she whispered.
''T-Gat!" wondered InICspair called
her h. every name | had for Ecr and had
nevc.' u II except to my own soul
IA c4rrie, ira rose blonde, mon amour"
Via. YOU sa:d-I was always-to you!"
she ga'Ded frc.tG.ly.
Mon caG.GlGole, mon bon garcon," l said,
hardly able to geo out the words.
Don gar the murmUr died in her
throat and her eyes closed. Presently | could
10 longer feel her heart.
And when ! knew she was dead | took her
in ny arms and carried her up to the little
plateau, full Of wondering peasants, where
the gendarmes We're taking away my vile.
But | did not see them; went straight to
her house even to that chamber where had
never thought to enter, and laid her on her
bed
l never kissed her. was her comraGe,
not her lover
1t is two years since then.
My wife is shut up once more, safely
watched, now that it does not matter
l am a: my work. Sometimes l am SC
tired that l can hardly undress at night, to"
tired to s,eep.
But this spring l longed so for my cd