The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-10-14
MONA"

Count Raymond De Villemere awokc
from his lethargy and recognized his
physician who was locking at hin
sadly.
"Saved againi" said the patient,
smiling as he turned his head on the
pillow.
"My poor fellow" sighed the doctor,
and as his hearer opened his eyes wide
in wonder he added:
"You are brave man, and it is my
duty to tell you the truth"
"Well9"
"You have all the symptoms OF
Mona"
"What's that2" asked Raymond.
"a fatal malady," replied the medical
man; "you have recovered from the
lethargy, and will be conscious for three
hours, but, at the end of that time, death
will come suddenly, instantaneously."
"Botherl" said the Count.
"Be brave, my friend; arrange your
affairs, you have just time. Now l will
leave you. Good-by."
Ten minutes later, Count dc Villemere,
clad in flannel dressing gown was
calmly making his toilet. When he had
polished his finger nails, and given the
last touch to his moustache, he lighted a
cigar, and casting art-broken glance
at the box, the contents of which he
should never finish, he threw himself
upon couch and reflected. He was far
too brave to fear death, and yet he found
his situation an unpleasant one. The
day before he had been seized with a
violent illness and believing that his last
hour was come, had sent for notary
and a priest, and had burned his letters.
Then he had fallen into heavy sleep
from which he had not expected to
awake. Now he felt like a condemned
man, who, after having hopes of pardon,
suddenly finds himself on the scatfold.
Outside his window was heard the
ceaseless rattle of vehicles IN the Champs
Elysees, and every one seemed full of
JOY and health in the bright June sun
light. He himself felt vigorous aud en-
ergetic, and he could hardly believe that
tomorrow there Tould be a lugubrious
procession, heavy jolting hearse lead
ing the way, then prayers and droning
hymns around his grave. Yet, it was
true, in few hours, his joys, SORROWS
and affections, his whole life would be
forgotten. Stretched comfortably upon
the sofa, he finished his cigar, and in
imagination lived his life again. Long
forgotten events of his childhood were
recalled, then his various love affairs
from the age of fifteen to twenty-five
years, and more distinctly than all, the
first few months after his marriage. He
remembered every detail of those honeyed
moons. All, how happy he aud odette
had been! He had loved her madly and
with fierce jealousy which made them
both laugh.
And it had ended in a quarrel, a rup-
ture caused by his mistake, and an act of
rash folly on the part OF the beautiful
young countess. So they separated by
mutual consent, but they continued to
love each other in secret, and although
they affected indifference and passed
each other with cold bows on the Boul-
evarde or at balls, they did not deceive
their mutual friends.
The thought of dying without seeing
his beloved one again was more than Ray
mond could bear, and the studied cold
ness so long persisted in seemed uaneces-
sary now that he was about to be sep
arated from her by death. What harm
would one step towards reconciliation do
him, even if she made no movement in
responses
He seated himself at his desk, hur-
riedlY wrote brief message, rang the
bell, and sent his valet to the telegraph
office. Then he looked at his watch,
he had two hours more TO live.
"She will have just time to come, " he
said, but then he wondered whether she
would come or not. Would chat fond
farewell touch her heart. or would the
dignity of an offended woman be mex
orable even to the lasil The agony OF
suspense was now added to the anxiety
with which Raymond de Villemere, in