The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-25

nIaited in two braids hung-one down her
hack and the other across her bosom. She
stretched out her arms toward Cesar i'm
nloringlv. and then the vision faded into
thin air
busted himself with writing several letters
to friends in Paris. AS he was rummaging
among his papers for an address, his eyes
fell upon a large square, rose-tinted envel-
ope. 1t was the invitation from the Mis-
tress of Chateau de Witt He wondered at
his calmness as he sat there gazing upon
that note which only few weeks ago had
sent such a thrill to his very hearts core
How all was changed. He had touched his
idol and she had tumhled into dust.
"What poor, wretched fool | was to seek
nv happiness there" mnrmured Cesar
Hautot as his head sank upon his breast
"She is too beautiful to be human, far too
beautiful" he added almost in whisper.
A low rap at the door reused him from
his reverie, 1t was Joseph with a bundle of
letters of coincidence. A sudden thought
seemed to strike Cesar Hautot, and taking
up the package, he tnrned the letters over
rapidly, as If searching for a certain hand
writing. Not finding it. he laid them down
with sigh
100 beautiful to be humanp' he repeated
slowly and bitterly.
Toward evening he designated that one
of his horses which he desired to have har
messed to the tilbury, and springing lightly
into the vehicle drove rapidly away. The
servants are watching him intently. WonId
It be IN the direction of Chateau de Witt P
mol Reaching the spot where the roads
forked he turned his horses head toward
Rouen, and soon disappeared in the deem
enng shadows of the twilight
Joseph, the old family servant, had not
failed to notice that his young master was
most fautlessly attired in a body coat
which set off to fine advantage the elegant
proportions of his figure, while his silk hat
and English scarf served TO heighten his
native air of distinction. HIS gloves and
shoes, too, were of that perfection of Quail
ity and fit which the well-dressed man
always insists upon.
Upon reaching his hotel in Rouen he
returned the almost vehement salutations
and greetings OF the proprietor and his wife
with a kindly but marked dignity, which
eifectually shut off the threatened flood of
questions and assurances OF sympathy and
to their great wOnderment and regret in
formed them that he would not dine with
them, but would 90 directly to his room.
The door had no sooner been closed than
he shot the bolt forward and began to pace
the floor without even waiting to remove his
hat and gloves. 1t was evident that his
mind was in a state of unusual agitation
Thus far he had followed his fathers di-
rections with that blind and unquestioning
obedience which the horse Yields to the
twist of the bit. But with a strange and
sudden strength new thoughts had risen in
his mind. Ii the absent are always wrong
are not the dead doubly so? Does not the
plllless logic OF existence oppose the sweet
and tender resolutions of the survivors
Have the dead any right to expect us to he
otherwise than merely just to them? Is not
the world too busy with its own affairs IN
perpetnate prejudice? Why was it neces-
sary for him to come face to face with
Caroline Donet? What would either he or
she gain thereby? Could not NJ. Mondaru
nave an interview with her and explain 10
her the nature and smountof the Investment
to he made for her benefit?
But when the morning came Cesar Hautot
found that good nights rest had fitted
TAR and even smiling faces to the specters
which had alarmed him on Wednesday
evening upon his arrival in Rouen.
Thursday had come. The dav was bright
and the air crisp and invigorating. For the
first time since his fathers death food tasted
natural TO him. Toward 10 o'clock he left
the hotel unattended, not even making in
qulrleS at the office as to the city quarter in
which he might mud the Rue de PEperlan
For some reason which he was unable to ex-
PLAIN in any satisfactory way, he could not
bring himself to stop pasSer-by and ask
the location OF the street he was searching
for. For nearly an hour he wandered
hther and thither through that portion of
the city inhabited by retailers and small
dealers, and was upon the point of return
ing to his hotel, when meeting priest and
bethnking himself of the professional dis
erection OF the clergy, he made bold to ask
the way to the Rue de PEperlan.
He had nearly succeeded in coming upon
It, 1t was the second street to the right. In
a moment he found himself in front of No.
Is. The door was ajar He pushed it open