The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-03-13
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AA1ftGkne b43A Xxi N1&z&u
Mayeux was often sad, but she had
never suspected the true reason
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 uglinesF
He put on his new clothes and repair
ed in haste 10 the house OF Nads1eiae's
mother. He reached the door and
stopped, pale and out OF breath, his
heart beating violently. Just As he
was about TO knock, the sound OF
voices within reached his ear. Made
leine and her mother were talking to-
gether.
Mon Dieu.' exclaimed Madeleine
1t is hard at first 10 realize how ugly
he isl was looking at him the other
day. He is a monsteri Poor Ma
y,eau r and she Laughed heartily.
Her words and the laugh that fol-
lowed them srnote Mayeux la the
heart. He stifed the sobs that were
choking him and rushed quickly
down the steps, repeating TO himself:
idiot! fooll could you not have inn
agined thisl wretched creature, whose
deforrnity is epulsive 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 to
be honest and kind one must be hand
some too, remember True, it might
answer your purpose only to appear
so; for after all, 1t is the outside that
people care for. Go, hunchback,
where you can hide your hump!'
| L. NJ
herently, he reached the quay, with
out being conscious of the direction
he had taken. There he stopped,
looked down for 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 TO himself he said i'll "a gentle
tone:
Il was about to be 50 happy! But |
thank you, nevertheless. Perhaps You
have saved me from committing
crime"
A few months later Madeleine mar
ried a rich tradesman. Mayeux went
to the wedding At church, after the
nuptial mass WAS ended, 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 throng.
''Do not disturb him." said another;
''he is saying his prayers"
MayeuX was praying, in truth. lie
was in tears.
From that day NJ. Mayeux became
the sad and solitary man whom l have
described. He regulated his life like
watch, and became mere machine.
But the machine thought and suffered.
Every morning he repaired to his
Office at the same hour. The way red
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.
In 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 to pass his thin hands soft y over
their white and glossy plumage.
They 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 brother
who had died long since, and to whom
he had always been tenderly attached.
One day when he entered the office
in an absent minded way, smiling to
himself, another of the clerks asked
him:
What are you thinking about, Ma
yeuxl"
My swans" he replied.
The bystanders all laughed. They
thought him weak minded creature,
Soon after this, Mayeux was ping
TO his work at the department as usu
7 al, when he observed large e,owt
:, gathered in front of well known pic
ture dealers shop. They were laugh
ing and shouting, and the hunchbacl
: thought he recognized his own nam,
:. called aloud. He stood OH his tiptoe
and at last discovered the object tina
;. was exciting 50 much merrimen
: among the spectators.
Poor Mayeux!
What he saw WIS his own portal
!, "a likeness of himself, but highly car
featured, and beneath it his name
e Yes, it was this that the rude thron'
i were gazing upon with evident en- JOY
ment and derision. The unfortunat
man recognized the picture only to-
e we'll. It was he himself.
e The artist, doubtless some one VIII
u was present on the occasion of the as
= sault upon the Louvre, and who ha
Il seen Mayeux there, depicted tn
hunchback armed with a big red UNI
l. brella with which lie was showerin
u blows upon a soldier of the Swis
Guard, lying dead at his feet.
q It was thus he had chosen to repre-
IS sent Mayeux-Mayeux, who had de
l. Tended this soldier from the savag
fury of his enemiesl
q The artist had made striking pi<
e ture. The haggard face wore a wicke
q and sardonic expression, and the car
IS caturist had not forgotten any bud
4 erous details that distinguished n
Is Mayeux's costume His short Trousers
long coat and ample cravat all wei
II there. Underneath was this inscri]
(. ton:
- NJ. Mayeux, granddaughter of PlnchinelIo, sla
lie ing dead soldiers during the glorious days
st July. Qirst Series OF the Adventures of N. NJ
IN yeau)
ne Mayeux could not repress a CT,
!! Some of the rabble turned around
e. end, seeing this grotesque little huncl
er back. they only laughed the louder
Mon Dieu" they exclaimed 9TH
r. is he! 1t is Mayeux himselfP'
y, And as the unhappy man, overcou
with shame and despair, burst int
in tears, they shouted:
"a "Ahal Hes in rage! Look
him, in tears! Don't weep, Mayeux
ty The hunchback collected all
ed strength, and ran off at full speed, fc
he lowed by the jeers of the crowd. E
II, took the street leading to his ow
de room, and shut himself up there. 81
u heart was broken.