Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-13
TIE FATAL FLOWER.

49,
Gus savant, whose studies of poisonou.
plants had made him famous. 1t was MOI
his fame, however, which attracted Ana
tole to the doctor, but his nobility of heart
and almost paternaf kindness. And nov
suddenly, without any preparation, the
young man heard this terrific prognostica
tion from the lips of SO great an authority
Unhappy boy" continued the doctor
"what have you done?"
Nothing that I know of" stammered
Anatole
"Think. Tell me what you have drunk
what you have eaten, what you have in.
hailed ?"
The last word was like ray of light tc
Anatole. That very morning he had re-
ceived a letter from a friend who was
travelling in India. In this letter he found
flower which the tourist had plucked or
the banks of the Ganges, an odd-looking
little red flower, whose odor, he remem.
bered, seemed to him to be strangely
pungent. Anatole looked in his pocket
book and took therefrom the letter and the
flower which he showed to the savant.
There is not a doubtp p exclaimed the
doctor. at is the Pyramenensis Indica, the
fatal flower, the flower of blood p
'You really think 500"
'Alasi | am certain"
"But it is not possible that it should
prove fatal to me. | am only % years
old, am strong and in the best of health. "
'At what hour did you open this fatal
letter?
Sat 9 o'clock this morning."
swell, tomorrow morning, at the same
hour, at the same minute, in full health
as you say, you will feel a peculiar pain
in your heart, and that will end all"
and you know of no remedy, no means
OPP
None" said the doctor
Then, claspihg his head in his hands,
the savant fell into chair, overcome with
grief
The emotion of his old friend convinced
Anatole that he was indeed doomed. He
departed at once; he was almost insane.
A cold sweat on his forehead, his ideas
confused, walking mechanically, Anatole
went forth into the night, unconscious Of
what was passing about him. For a long
time he walked thus, then, coming to a
bench, he sat down.
This rest did him good. Up to that
moment he had been like a man who has
suddenly received severe blow on the
head. At last, however, his mind seemed
TO clear, and he began to gather his scat,
tered ideas.
My situation" he thought, +" is like
that of man condemned to death. Such
aperson, however, can still hope for mercy.
But row long have l to live?'
He looked at his watch
Three o'clock in the morning. 1t is
time to go to bed. What! l go to bed
Give to sleep the last six hours of my life
than that to do. But what? Why,
have my will to make"
Not far away was restaurant which
was open all night. Thither Anatole went
" Waiter, bring me bottle of cham.
payne and bottle of ink" he said, as he
seated himself at table.
He drank a glass of champagne, and
looking at the paper lying on the table be-
fore him, sid to himself:
ITO whom shall | leave my income OF
thirty thousand francs? ] have neither
father nor mother. Among the people in
whom am interested there is only one tc
whom | care to leave my money-Nicette.'
Nicette was Anatole's second cousin, a
charming girl of eighteen years, having
golden hair and large dark eyes. Like
him she was an orphan, and this similar
bereavement had long since established q
bond of sympathy between them.
His will was quickly drawn up. He left
everything to Nicette.
That done, he drank second glass Of
champagne.
poor Nicettew he thought, 'she was
very sad the last time | saw her. Her
guardian, who knows nothing beyond the
wind instruments which he teaches pupils
of the Conservatory to play, did not dc
right in promising her hand to q
brute, bully, whom she detests. She
detests him all the more because she loves
some one else, if | have been able to un.
derstand her reticence and her embarrass
ment. Who is this happy mortal?
know not, but he is certainly worthy Of
her since she has chosen him. Good
sweet, beautiful, loving, Nicette deserves
the best of husbands. All if she might
have been my wife 1T is outrageous to
force her to marry man she hates, to ruin
her life by intrusting such 4 treasure to
a brute. But why may not | be Nicette's
champion? | will be. / will undertake
the matter tomorrow morning. But to.
morrow will be too late; l must act a,
once. 1t is an unreasonable hour to see
people, but as | shall die in five hours
cannot consider their convenience. 1t is
decided Ny life for Nicettew
Anatole left the restaurant and FASTENED
to the house of NJ. Bouvard, the guardian
of Nicette.
1t was o'clock in the morning when he
rang the bell. Once, twice, three times he
rang. At last NJ. Bouvard himself, as.
tonished, his night-cap on his head, opened
the door.
whats the matter?" he asked. az.
there fire?''
"No, my dear NJ Bouvard," replied
Anatole. 81 have come TO call on you"
AT this hour?"
"All hours are good in which one car
see you, NJ. Bouvard. But you are in
your night-clothes; you had better return
to bed"
"That is what am going to do.n And
then, leading Anatole to his chamber, he
continued: But lsuppose, since you have
aroused me at this hour, that you have
something important to say to me-"
Every important 1t is necessary, NJ
Bouvard, that you should give up the idea
of marrying my cousin Nicette to NJ. Cap
denac.'
"Never. never p
You must not say never ~
My resolution is taken; this marriage
shall take place"
at shall not take place"
"Well, we shall see. And now that you
have my answer, ! will not detain you
longer"
'.You are not very amiable this morn.
ing. NJ. Bouvard. But am not offended
and as am persevering remain
'Stay, if you will. ], however, shall
imagine that you have departed and
shall say no more" Then, turning away,
NJ Bouvard muttered: "Who ever heard
OF such thing To disturb peaceabls
man, rouse him from his sleep to talk
about such nonsense p
Suddenly NJ. Bouyard jumped into bed
Anatole got the Professors trombone, il
which he blew as though deaf person
were trying TO play it. The sounds il
emitted were internal.
"My precious trombone the gift of my
puniis - exclaimed the Professor az eavx