The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-20
In THE JAWS
OF DEATH.
LGrnina Writes Wildly Of a Night
Adventure on the Seine.
A Romantic Couple on the Isle Of Bougival
The Rising of the Waters-The Jour
ney for the DoctoE
Special fer The SUNDAY CALI

larged by the distance.
ms one took place at the gates of Paris
upon an arm of the river which every San
day sees the amateur boatmen enjoying
themselves, pulling the oar and feather
ing with genuine elegance-one of those
charming hooks concerning which one is
curious only in summer. when the water is
framed with verdure and sparkling with
sunshine.
But one merely passes by there the i'm
preston left upon the memory is delicious
"a gentle stream, which scarcely quiverS
beneath the caress Of the oar, with banks
rounded like woman's arm, here and there
frightened by little cottages, so completely
hidden by the foliage that the windows can
only with difficulty be seen.
Oh. how nice it would be to live here!
signs the oarsman, casting loving glance
at the young lady seated at the tiller.
And she, not less sentimental. makes
answer:
All, yes. it would be nice, indeed"
But, as generally monsieur, during the
week is due at his Office or his store about
o'clock in the morning. and does not re-
turn home until toward in the evening it
seems very difficult to locate in this pretty
little SPOT, which, though it appears so near
L
two hours Journey.
Two categeries of individuals can realize
this dream-artists and old men. The first,
because they toll at home and have to de-
liver their work only at long intervals; the
second, because they are out of the circula-
ton.
THE DESIGNER AND HIS PRIZE.
1t was thus that Paul D., WHO had
been married but few months and was
harnessed 10 great work of designing, the
execution OF which, the clements having
been collected, eXacted solitude and thought,
had Joyously inferred himself in one of
these rustic retreats on the celebrated Isle
of Bougival .
He had drawn a pretty prize in the lot
terry OF marriage-a chestnut-ha!red prize,
with curls upon her forehead, sweet smile
and gentle nature, although romantic,
passionate rather. but in the best sense of
the word.
Paul had created a little desert for his per-
sonal satisfaction. Certainly, with the few
thousand francs which lie had devoted to
the purchase of his cottage, cheap acquisi-
ton by reason of the difficulty of commune
cations, he might have established himself
opposite bridge or not too far from rail
way depot. But not had pleased him and
his wife also to separate themselves from
the indiscreet and importunate world. For
the two and for another soon to come they
had organized the most delicious coSter
that could be imagined.
They took no notice of passers-by.
When occasionally. on week days, a group
Of three persons strolled in melancholy
fashion upon the sand. Paul exclaimed:
80 it seems we can't be undisturbed!"
And madame joined in the chorus.
They were at that happy period of life
when ''you and ~ constitute an entire uni
verse.
l spoke of third soon to arrive The
two recluses had resided on their Isle for a
Inv
courageous friend, when baby came to
them.
AT once the solitude-wa peopled-an in
FAINT is whole world. Its little exigen-
cies, It's pretty ways and even its clamors
so completely fill the house and life that
there seems II o longer to be an empty corner
left.
THE TREACHERoUs AUTUMN.
Madame. who adored her husband, also
adored her infant 1t was in her wifelv ex
istence like renewal of that spiingtime
which was not yet ended. a redouDlng of
exquisite sensations.
The baby progressed finely. 1t had had
the charming instinct to arrive at the be-
ginning of summer and hence the nourish-
ing mother had experienced all the lows
which nature lavishes on those who love
her: the sunshine, the breeze, the trees,
even the hue of the water. all had united to
enframe the little one in an adorable beati-
tude. be grew like vigorous plant, which
caused Paul to say TO his wife: You see
how good the country is for him."
The summer passed, as absurdly happens
every year; the autumn was mild, and the
red leaves seemed to surround the infant
with warm reflection, as If the waning
sunshine had left the trees a special heat
But autumn is treacherouS; hence toward
November rain began TO fall with monot-
ony the very calmnesS of which was exas-
peratlng.
Paul and his wife were not exasperated.
however-far from it. Very amusing, in
deed, they found that rain which they
looked at through tightly closed windows,
amid the heat of excellent stoves, which
roared briskly. And the Seine-it took on
aspects highly interesting for designer.
1t swrlled and rose to the assault of the
banks with, in its center, whirlpools which
reminded one of the Maelstrom in minia-
ture. 1t rose, and every morning Paul, VINO
upon the opposite bank. which they styled
the continent, amused himself by measur-
ing its progress.
THE BABY's COUGH.
But suppose the water should reach the
cottage? No danger OF that. 1t was above
its highest level. Perhaps the flood might
get into the cellars. Bah! it wouldn't
damage what wine they had. The water
rose. 1t invaded the little garden. 1t was
amusing. They were still more alone
among the isles. As to the meat and veget-
able dealers, Paul visited their shops every
of a genuine originality.
Now the muddy Seine was as yellow as
saffron. Branches of trees masses OF reeds
and shapeless things whirled about in it.
In the garden the food had seized upon
forgotten old chair, and had sent it dancing
as far as the bridge. Oh how they had
laughed TO See it leap!
December added still more to the pictur-
sequences of the situation. 1t was we'll
that the cottage was considerably raised.
rp of
Six steps further up and 1t would enter the
first floor.
Paul no longer went out except to get the
indispensable provisions. His wife had,
indeed, been trife uneasy at seeing him
row In the midst of the current. which, in
truth, was very strong. But he was an ex-
pert oarsnan, aud she had recovered her
tranquility.
One evening--it was in January-the baby
all AT once began to cough. 1t was
a harsh, hoarse cough, something sudden,
severe and treacherous. The mother ran
to the cradle; the infant was still cough
ing Inc young couple looked at each
other; they knew not what it was, but
word which rose to their lips. The infant,
as IL TO 1orce them to an admission, gave
another hoarse rattle. The Group! A
doctor!
PAUL STARTS OUT.
An! II Is exceedingly simple when one is
IN toWn-ln an inhabited center. A doc
tor, parbleu! il man, then, could not go
after the family physician he could knock
at the door of the nearest one. Should he
be absent there was another around the
corner. There, not second occupied house
on the whole isle.
The cough was persistent ard impervi-
GUS. IL was summons like the bugle call
OF distress. 1t was 10 o'clock. The house
was surrounded by water. The sky was
ipky. Without it was bitter cold.
wei, said Paul, PPM going to Bougiyal
after the DOCTOR"
The wife had taken the baby in her arms;
she had sunk into fauteuil, soothing it,
talking to it in an anxious voice.
Paul went out; the boat was moored to
the porch; the oars were in place, the boat
hook also. II was very dark. but he had
made the trip SO often that he felt no I'M
easIness. He feared only that the doctor
might be from home
ssIl \