Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-10-23

ogniZed him, so greatly had he changed
he was SO tall, so much improved and
so imposing in his jacket with gilt but
tons. He feigned not to see her, and
passed proudly by her. This made her
weep for two days, and from that time
she suffered constantly.
Every year she returned, passed be,
fore him without daring to speak 70
him, and he did not even deign to turn
his eyes toward her She loved him des-
perately. She said to me: He is the
only man have seen on this earth.
know not if any others exist
Her parents died. She continued
their trade; but she took two dogs in
stead of one-two terrible dogs that no
one would have dared to brave One
day, on entering this village, in which
her heart had remained, she saw young
woman come out of the Chouquet shop
on the arm of the man she adored She
was his wife. He was married. That
very evening she threw herself into the
pond near the mayors house. A be-
lated drunkard tshed her out and car
ried her to the apothecary shop.
The younger Chouquet in dressing
gown came down to care for her, and re-
stored her to consciousness without ap-
pearing to recognize her. Then he said
to her in harsh voice: You are mad!
You must not be so stupidr
This suficed to cure her. He had
spoken to her. She was happy for a
long while. He would receive nothing
for his care of her, though she stoutly
insisted upon paying him. And all her
life passed thus. AS she mended chairs
she thought Of Chouquet. Every year
she saw him through the window of the
shop. She acquired the habit Of pur-
chasing of him supplies Of trifing medi-
cines. In that way she saw him close
beside her. spoke to him, and gave him
money.
LAS told you when l began, she died
this spring. After having related her
sad history. she begged me to take to the
man whom she had loved so patiently
all the savings of her lifetime, for she
had roiled only to put aside and be sure
that he would think Of her, at least once.
after she was dead.
She gave me 1897 francs. left with
monsieur the cure the twenty seven
francs for the burial and carried away
the rest when she had uttered hEs last
sigh.
THE next day | went to the home of
the Chouquets. They were just finish
ing their breakfast. They made me sit
down, and | began my speech in an I'M
steady voice. satisfied that they would
weep. As soon as he comprehended that
he had been beloved by that vagabond,
that chair mender, Chouquet leaped to
his feet with Indignation His wife was
equally exasperated. Chouquet strobe
about the room, exclaiming: This is
simply horrible! Oh, if had known it
when she was alive, | would have had
her arrested by the gendarmes and put
in prisonr was stupefed at the result
of my pious undertaking, but had my
mission to complete and resumed:
"'She charged me to give you her
savings, amounting to over 1900 francs
As what have told you seems to be
wy NAoe'S3 iCCtROlC w O1, IL WOulI, per
haps, be better to give the money to the
pOorr
The man and woman stared at me,
dumb with amazement | took the
money from my pocket. Then | de-
manded. What is yonr decision? Nine.
Chouquet was the first to speak Since
it was the womans last wish, she said,
it seems to me that we cannot well re-
fuse to take the money. The husband,
slightly confused, resumed, We can at
least buy something with it for our chill
dren
Il said, with an air of disgust, as you
please. Then handed him the money.
bowed, and took my departure. That
was the only absolutely unselfsh love |
ever met with in my life, the love of the
poor chair mender for so unworthy a
man, said the doctor in conclusion
Then the marquise, who had tears in
her eyes, sighed
Decidedly, only women know how to
love!'-Theodore de Banville in Newark
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