Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-03-20

inevitable day when, as he expressed
1t, ''he must make ready to 60 below"
M. Mayeux had neither relations nor
friends. His family had all passed
away, NJ by one; and as for friends,
NJ. M.yeux consoled himself with the
belief that he had no enemies.
Recollcctions are the friends of those
who have M others. NJ. Mayeux
cherished his .vcUllections. They
ere all, for the m.lst part, very sad
or very bitter. Bus TO the poor rec.
luse even this bitterness seemed CRATE
ful, like the pungent flavor of Il me
dicinal tonic.
The bunchback's thoughts often car.
ried him back Ia "A certain occasion in
his past life when he had suffered
deeply. 1T is the only time during
which J can say that | really liycd!'
he repeated la himself by way of solace.
AT that period Mayeux had a pretty
cousin named Madeleine, whom he
loved devotedly. The unfortunate
man had brought himself to
avow his love and ask her tn become
his wife. He vas afraid. He said TO
himself; ''She will only laugh at me"
Every day he saw his cousin and
talked with her. When they parted
he would 20 back to his lonely room,
shut himself in, and weep long and ST.
lently.
Madeleine noticed that her cousin
Mayeux was often sad, but she had
never suspected the true
One day he said To himself: Made
leine knows that | am good and hon
est, and that | love her. Why should
not she, kind and gentle as she is, love
me in spite of my uglinessf
Heput on his new clothes and repair,
ed in haste To the house of Madeleine's
mother. He reached the door and
stopped. pale and out of breath, his
heart beating violently. Just as he
was about 10 knock, the sound Of
voices within reached his ear. Made
ieine and her mother were talking 10.
gether.
Mon Dieu!' exclaimed Madeleine.
1T is hard at first Ia realize how ugly
he is! | was looking at him the other
day. He is a monster! Poor Ma.
yeau!' and she laughed heartily.
Her words and the laugh that fol.
lowed them smote Mayeux TO the
heart. lie stiiied the sobs that were
choking him and rushed quickly
down the steps, repeating to himself;
Idiot. fool! could you not have i'm.
agined this! wretched creature, whose
deformity is ~repulsive even to your
friends, learn TO see yourself as others
see you! You are hideous, know that!
and in this world it is not enough 10
be honest and kind; one must be hand
some too, remember! True, it might
answer your purpose only to appear
so; for after all. II is the outside that
people care for. Gro, hunchback.
where you a hide your humpl'
While he was muttering this inco-
herently, he reached the quay, with.
out being conscious of the direction
lie had taken. There he stopped,
looked down for a few seconds at the
quiet water beneath, was seized with
what might have been a fit of vertigo,
and threw himself into the Seine.
Some one standing near saw him fall,
jumped in and rescued him. When
he came 10 himself he said in a gentle
tone:
Il was about to be so happy! But !
thank you. nevertheless. Perhaps you
have saved me from committing a
crime"
A few months Later Madeleine mar
ried a rich tradesmaa, Mayeux went
TO the wedding. At church, after the
nuptial mass was en,fed, he remained
for some time on his knees. his face
buried in his hands, while the process
sion passed down the aisle.
"What, Mayeuxi You here" ex.
claimed some one in the tirong.
DO not disturb him. said another;
she is saying his prayers"
Mayeux was praying, in truth. He
was in tears.
From that day VI. Mayeux became
the sad and solitary man whom | have
described. He regulated his life like
"A watch, and became "A mere machine.
But the machine thought and suffered.
Every morning he repaired TO his
office at the same hour. The way led
through the gardens Of the Tuileries.
Mayeux carried his frugal breakfast
with him, and often stopped to share
his bread with the swans in the great
central fountain.
I'm the course Of time these swans
learned to recognize the sound of his
voice. They would glide up when he
called, and take from his hands the
morsels Of bread he offered them.
They even allowed themselves TO be
caressed by the poor hunchback, who
liked 10 pass his thin hands softly over
their white aud glossy plumage.
Trey at least love me. and do not
know that | am deformed, he thought.
Mayeux gave them all names that
were associated with his childhood.
He called one James, after a brother
who had died long since, and to whom
be had always been tenderly attached.
One day when he entered the Office
in an absent minded way, smiling 10
himself, another Of the clerks asked
him:
"What are you thinking about, Ma
yeuxf'
my swans he replied.