The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-06-28
TIE FATAL FLOWER.

/ You are dead man, said the Doc
tor, looking fixedly at Anatole.
AnatoIe was astonished.
He had come to spend the evening with
his old friend, Dr. Bardais, the illustriou.
savant, whose studies of poisonous plants
had made him famous. 1t was not his
| fame, however, which attracted Anatole
to the Doctor, but his nobility of heart
and almost paternal kindness. And now
suddenly, without any preparation, the
young man heard this terrific prognostica-
ton from the lips of so great an author
ity.
"Unhappy boy, continued the Doctor,
''what have you done2n
Nothing that know of, I" stammered
Anatole.
"Think. Tell me what you have
drunk, what you have eaten, what you
have inhaledr'
This last word was like a ray of light
to Anatole. That very morning he had
received a letter from a friend who was
travelling in India. In this letter he found
flower which the tourist had pIucked
on the banks of the Ganges, an odd-look-
ing little red flower, whose odor. he re-
membered, seemed to him TO be strangely
0urgnant. Anatole looked in his pocket
book and took therefrom the letter and
the flower which he showed to the
sayant.
''There is not Doubt" exclaimed the
Doctor. at IS the Pyramenensis Indical
the fatal flower OF bloodr'
''You really think sogn
ssAlasi I am certain.
'sBut it is not possible thst it should
prove fatal to me. am only twenty-five
years old, am strong and in the best of
health"
AT what hour did You open this fatal
ietterln
cat . O'Clock this-ssaar1sinsr-, j.
Welt tomorrow morning, at -<fst
same hour, at the same minute, in full
health, as you say, you viii feel a peculiar
pain in your heart, and that will end all. y
''And you know of no remedy, no
means Of
'sNone, F" said the Doctor.
Then, elasping his head in his hands.
the savant fell into a 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 xT-oc ,,aee,,,r. ,I,c,,4 H., - -
time he walked thus, then, coming to
bench, he sat down.
This rest did him good. Up to that
moment he had been like a man who has
received a 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, sis like
that Of man condemned to death. Such
a person, however, can still hope for
mercy. But how long have to liveln
He looked at his watch.
''Three o'clock in the morning. 1t is
time to GO to bed What 90 to bed?
give &c sleep the last six hours Of nv lief
No. have certainly something better
than that to do. But whati Why, I |
have MY Will to make
Not far away was a restaurant which
was open all night. Thither Anatole
went.
Waiter, bring me pot of coffee and
4 bottle Of INK" he said, as he seated
himself at table.
He drank cup of coffee, and, looking
It the paper lying on the table before
him, Sid
'sTo whom shall I leave my income of
30, 600 francsl I have neither father nor
mother Among the people in whom l
my interested there IS only one to whom
cave 10 leave my money-Nicette.
Nieette was Anatole's second cousin, a
girl of eighteen years, having
yolcsSsl hair and large dark eyes. Like
lin she was an orphan, and this sigailar
had long since established
,ond Of sympathy between them.
His viii was quickly drawn up. He
eft everything to Nicette.
That done, he drank a second cup of
Office.
Poor Nicetteln he thought, eshe was
Iery sad the last time saw her. Her
Guardian, who knows nothing beyond the
gind Instruments which he teaches pupils
+ the Conservatory to play, did not do
ight il promising her hand to a brute.
July, whom she detests. She detests
i'm all the more because she loves some
ne else, if have able TO understand her
sticenee and her embarrassment. Who
J this happy mortall know not, but I
e Is certainly worthy Of her since she
as chosen him. Good, sweet, beautiful, {
wing, Nicette deserves the best of hus-
ands. All if she might have been my /
-ifel It is outrageous TO force her TO
larry man she hates, TO ruin her life by
ntr7isting such treasure to the care of a
rute. But why may not l be Nicette's j
hampionl win be. will undertake {
ne matter tomorrow morning. But to-
lorrow will be too late; l must act at (
nee. 1t is an unreasonable hour to see
eople, but as / shall die in five hours l
lnnot consider their convenience. 1t is
ecidedl Ny life for Nicette"
Anatole left the restaurant and hastened
, the house Of NJ. Bouvard, the guardian
+ Nicette
It was 4 O'Clock in the morning when I
e rang the bell. Once, twice, three
mes he rang. At last NJ. Bouvard him !
If, astonished, his night-cap on his h
cad, opened the door.