Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12
CHAPTER Nv.

! asked me where you would DO SO. toio
| supposed there in her bed. Then she
said she would not waste time by getting
up, and wished me 10 tell you that she is
waiting to have it done"
Every well. will go to her directly.
If she is in favorable condition of mind
and body perhaps it would be as well moi
to delay. But first, tell me. You have
held some conversation with her?"
eyes, little.
"And what impression do you form Of
her character
"she is very, very pretty-she is even
beautiful"
laughed. "what has that to do with
her character"
"I infer her character as much from hel
face as from her speech and actions" !"
"Oh, see. And your inference is?"
"That naturally she is a young woman oi
good and generous instincts, but of an i'm
pulsive and passionate temperament.
eyes. Well?"
'Froin what she says, and her manner Of
saying it, imagine that her impulses OF
her passions have betrayed her into the
commission of some-perhsps crime"
"WeTl? Go on"
"And think that now, when it is too
late for retrieva1, her better nature has as
serted itself-has reasserted itself-and she
is consumed by renoTse and horror.
"My good Josephine, you are the
sFrewdest, the wisest, the most penetrating
Of women. Your diagnosis comedies in all
particulars with mine. She has, as you
say, committed some bad action, but she is
not intrinsically bad herself. She would
not suffer SO in realizing her guilt, were
there not powerful elements Of good within
her."
'At any rate, brother, whatever she may
be, whatever she may have done, there is
something about her thatsarouses sympathy
and attracts liking. Little as have seen
of her, already feel myself drawn toward
her; and my heart aches for her."
''That is because yours is the tenderest
heart in the world. Well, we shall have
plenty Of leisure in which to cultivate her
acquaintance, after it is over. She will re-
main here with US not less than . year.
And now, will you 60 with me to her
room?"
"Would she not prefer to see you alone?'
''Why should she? Come, let us CO."
We found her sitting up in bed, waiting
for us. By daylight she seemed to me even
more beautiful than she had seemed by gas
light. The opulence of her hair, the deli
cacy of her skin, the translueence of her
eyes, the fine and yet noble modelling Of her
features, the Expression Of deep sadness that
brooded over her whole ecountenance-it was
the sort of beauty you see in Titian's paint
ings, only less Of the earth, earthly; the sort
of beauty you see in Raphaels, only more
human.
Having wished her good morning, 1 pro-
ceeded at once to my business as physi-
clan; took her pulse and her temperature,
and asked her how she had slept
Perfectly" was Der answer. 81 have
not had such nights sleep for know not
how long. must have lain in absolute
Inconsistencies for fully nine hours; and
what was most grateful, did not dream"
'It is the composing draught, or rather
to drink, which you must thank ex-
planned. 'I am delighted to learn that it
did its work so well. And are you still in
the same mind in which I left you? You
have not reconsidered your determination?"
"Indeed have not. Ny determination
is stronger than ever. When I awoke this
morning and recalled our conversation
could not help fearing that it had never
really taken place. 1t seemed too wonder
full to be true. / feared that had dreamed
it. But this kind lady, your sister. has as
sured me that my fear is groundless; and
now can only say again how deep my graf
itude is, and how impatient I am to have
you Begin"
"My beginning must be in the nature Of
an interrogatory, / reioined "I must re-
quest Of you certain information"
whatever questions you may desire to |
ask will answer"
"Good. My questions shall be few-only |
those formal ones which, as physician, I |
should put to any patient whom / was about |
to treat. First, then, what is your name?''
1 opened nv casebook and prepared my |
stylographic pen for action
i'Mv name is Louise Massarte."
Louise Massarte, % repeated. writing it |
down. '1t is q foreign name, is it not? |
Were you born in this country"
'I was born in the city of Tours, in |
France"
''Native ofFrance," I wrote; then, aloud,
"Of French parents.
Eyes. 1 am French BY blood and birth.
Bat have lived in America all my life. / |
was brought here when was Q years DID,"
"You speak French, then, take it?"
'I speak French and English with equal
ease"
"Any other language?"
"No otlier.''
'HOw oldare you, if you will forgive my
asking?"
81 shall be 26 on the 9Th of August"
care your parents living2'
"Both my mother and father are long
since dead.
"Have you anv brothers or sisters9''
"I was an only chiid.''
"Are you married or singIe?"
t'I have never been married.
"And now, finally, is there any fact or
circumstance which you would like to men
ion and have recorded? for you must bear
N mind, you will shortly have forgotten
connected with your past; and
+ there is anything you will wish to remem-
jer, you had better tell 1t to me now, and
will make memorandum of it."
To my surprise she blushed- crimson.
With eyes fixed upon the eounterpane,
,beeks afame, voice tremuIous and faint:
There is nothing, nothing, that 1 shall
yish to remember" she replied; "nothing
,ut what shall be glad to forget" After
little pause, she added, 81 will tell you
ny whole history, sir, if you require it. 1t
will be hard Tor mel but it is your right to
.now it, If it is your. wish" !"
Ny sister rose, offering by q gesture to
cave the room.
III think 1t would be easier for me to
ell it, if you would stay, Miss Benary," the
'oor young creature faltered.
My child, you must not tell it at all,
Iou must not think OF telling it," put in.
1t would excite you, and pain you, and
atigue you; and any how it is better that
leither my sister nor T, nor indeed any liv-
ng person, should hear it. You yourself
hall have forgotten it in a little while.
Why should anybody else remember it?'
She sighed with evident relief, and mur-
nured Thank you. You are very good"
Ny sister Josephine sat down at her bed
ide and took and held her hand. l,