The morning call., 1891-01-25

seized upon by the fprocitv of the dramatic
inventor, for the writer of plays, bothered
by one OF his actors, suppreSSes him with
less remorSe than a professional assassin
would suffer. Blanche however, did not
push wickedness so far as to kill Henri; but
he was taken to the south by his parents,
step neeesstated by an interesting affection
of the lungs.
At Cannes, where he dreamed under the
bay trees. gazing at the blue sky, there was
DO dividing wall 10 scale at night in order to
place his letters IN the little grotto where
the spring murmured and get those written
by Jeanne therefore Henri was compelled 10
maintain silence TO the gre relief Of his
little poetess, who was at the end oil her in
spiration. Blanche hoped that no longer
having anything either to write or read,
Jeanne would naturally console herself and
would forget a Henri who failed to make
himself manifest in any fashion. But, on
the contrary, the young girl read over again
the old letters, nourished herself upon them,
and necessarily recommended to taste their
treacherouS intoXicaton.
DISASTROUS EFFECTS.
Soon, as if under an hallucination, de-
voured by deep and invisible illness, she
Prev thin, became as pale AS wax, ceased to
eat and to speak. She promenaded all
alone, no longer confding even in Blanche,
and they saw only her excessively large
eyes. On being consulted the physician of
the school could not conceal his uneasiness.
He had To deal with a malady that he was
unable to falhom. and saw the charming
young girl waste away without knowing
with what disease she had been stricken.
Mme. Meslde was compelled To come for
Jeanne and take her home, but there also
she was mute weak and Indifferent to every
thing Soon she no longer had the strength
to stand and took IL her bed. Then, holding
her daughters icy hands in hers and show
erlng kisses upon her, Nine. de Meslide i'm
pored the young girl to cOnfide in her.
Without struggle, without resistance,
without waiting to be further begged, as her
mother feared she would, Jeanne told of
her love for Henri, of the letters, of all the
little school romance. There was no need
to counsel her to be reasonable, as she de-
manded nothing; she wished for nothing,
she was dying; and very gladly, thinking
that later she would rid herself of the young
man, who could have no mind OF his own,
the unhappy mother went to search for that
Henri, the sight Of whom alone could save
her child
But where was she TO find lover she did
not know, and who, without doubt, had
caused his letters to be borne by the sylphs
he Olivier sisters very easily proved that
it was impossible to slip into the school,
that their neighborS had no young son, ana
that II any audaclOuS fellow had tried to
Scale the lofty wall, he would lnfallibly have
been devoured by Tom, the huge dog, that
nj night was unclaimed III the garden, almost
fasting and sharpening his cruel fangs. But
this uncertainty did not last long. Blanche
de Castan, frightened, made confession,
told everything to her mother, who enlight-
ened Nine. de MeSlide.
They thought then they could cure Jeanne
by telling her the whole truth. by convincing
her she had loved dream, ard Blanche,
from whom they eXacted this sacrifice, made
complete confession TO her friend, she'd
ding the White tears Of repentance in floods
But the pale invalid only saw in this taldy
uVnNaI a comedy a daVlcea franna1 IN
calm her She to whom the love OF the in
visible Henri had seemed SO genuine and 50
manifest saw but a chimera in the reality,
so true II Is that Illusions alone appear re-
liable to the winged aspirations that tor
nent ouf souls.
ANOTHER DECEPTION.
They hal no longer any choice. To make
last effort they were forced to again have
recourse 10 falsehOod, and, by the advice of
the llluStrjous practitioner who WAS Doctor
ing little Jeanne, they decided to show her
counterfeit Henri \ young nephew of Nine.
de Castan, who had arrived from Guada-
Ioupe 10 nniSh HIS studies In Paris, whose
name was Henri. and who sufficiently re-
sembled the parsonage created by Jeaune's
imagination, seemed just the party TO play
this role, for which the grieyed ard repen-
tant Blanche gave him all the necessary in
stTuctIouS. Greatly affected aud troubled at
the thought of what he was about to do, the
kind-hearted and enthusiastic young man
was conducted beside the bed uuon which
lay Jeanne as white as a corpse, and, seiz-
ing her hand, he stroye to speak, but could
not, for at the sight of the young girl he had
felt a sudden and ineXplicable love for her
Sprluglng up in his breast.
81 you have come at last" said Jeanne,
in scarcely audible whisper, but in the
whisper there was note of joy that filled
with hope all the anxious witnesses of the
scene. The poor girl was completely de-
ceiyed. She gazed on Nine. de Castan's
nephew Tor moment, and then fell into a
calm ana peaceful slumber When she
awOke she displayed unmislakable signs uf
returning strength and animation. From
that instant her recovery was rapid; in due
tine the counterfeit Henri was able to press
his suit and the betrOthal of the youthful
pair speedily followed.
Jeanne was never undeceived, for her
real lover made his story agree at all points
with that OF the ideal adorer He entered
Saint-CyV and became a soldier. Jeanne
has now been his wife for several years, but
Is still firmly persuaded that her husband is
the same Henri who, in her school days, de-
posted his ardent love letters in the for
saken grotto where the little spring mur-
INJURED. THEODORE DE BANYILLE.