The morning call., 1891-12-06
THE WIDOW
GAVE A TOOTH.
A Partisan BGauty'S Sacrifice for Sweet
Loves Sake.
Aurelien Soholl Tells Story Of Coquettish
Widow-A Lovers Extravegant Demand.
Unexpected Denoument.
Special fer THE SUNDAY Gait.

not date back to the thirteenth century,
claims that the young widows were buried
with Scribe. This claim. however, is totally
without foundation, as the statistics will
triumphantly show.
What l know is that there was still one
short distance from here not long ago, in
hotel of the Rue Moncesu-a hotel ten
meters square. entirely hidden by elena
It's vine. Her name was Louise and the
marriage ceremony had made her the Com
tesse de Viry.
The Comtesse was % years of age. Her
principal accessory was a little white and
curly DOG, the sole Dourishment of which
consisted of a lump of sugar in the morning
and biscuit in the evening. This dogs
name was Bally.
1t was 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Louise
was skimming along the graveled walk in
the garden, circling about the rose bushes
like a butterfly, and pauSing from time to
time to breathe through her rink nostrlls
the perfume of a newly blown flower.
Bally, full of joy. was pursuing his mis-
tress with merry barks; he seized with all
his teeth the fiounce of the blue muslin
dress which Louise seemed 10 have cut out
of n rainbow and. propping himself on his
claws. pulled away to the full extent of his
strength,
1t was at the height of these amusements
that NJ. Jacques dc Beauehamp entered the
garden. The little widow, on perctiving
him, hid herself behind an orange bush, but
JACQUES ran to her and. surprising her,
kissed her on the forehead.
'Oh. NJ. de Beauchampl" cried she,
that's really too bad"
DAZZLING BEAUTY.
Louise was of medium height. She had
too small feet aud hands, too white shout
dors and too thick hair Of too beautiful a
black. Besides, her teeth wers too wGite.
and sent forth such brightness that whe n
she laughed it was almost necessary TO
look at her through smoked glass! But
how well she bore her title of widow and
in way to do herself honor! The young
girl is generally timid and stupid. She
bushes, following her mothers directions,
Mt a word that is said TO her, and always
lowers her eyes at the proper moment
which is bad for those who don't like to
study eyebrows. The widow, on the con-
trary, has the right to hear everything. and
when one talks to her OF love she, at least,
knows what love means.
Louise leaned on the arm os NJ. de Beau
champ, and they went into the parlor, fol-
lowed by Bally, who east jealous glances
upon his mistress suitor.
Louise ard Jacques made such a - pair
that the marriage was settled. Sis., they
had each a defect: NJ. de Beauchump was
Jealous and Nine de Niry was a coquette.
Louise" said he to her. you fill me
with despair. ou say that you love me
that confession has come from your cherry
lips, but how can l believe you when ] see
YOU smile on everybody? You have too
kind a reception Tor the first man vino comes
along, ana when l see youth society, lively,
viyaclOus and gay, always laughing heartily
in the midst OF a circle OF eager tiatlerers it
is impossible for me to say what tortures
and agODes | endure"
hpf n IN ha a nv rga I'D raef and
ed Louise. 81 am gay, that is true, bat is
that crime? And why should snub me n
who approach me and say things agreeable
TO be heard ?"
THE STRANGE PROPOSITION.
You are a coquette, and your laughter
completes my despair; for If you laugh thus
perSiStently IL is uuly TO show your teeth.
You know how adorable you are when.
laughing affecedly. YOU display your snowy
throat by throwing back your head"
But what must d0!to prove my love to
YOU? It's distracting; that's The whole of
it. Ask of NE what yOu WILL but don't ask
me not to hugh"
Monsieur de Beuchamp took on a solemn
air.
you told me one evening"" said he.
"that you would sacrifice yOur life for me.
/ do not ask so much as that of you; but,
see here, VIII you make me tile happiest of
mem"
lyon have but to speak"
Even at the price OF sutfering"
Even at that price"
Well, make me the sacrifice of one OF
your teeth"
DO you know what you're asking? It's
a piece Of barbarity"
"a single tooth-the very smallest-in
front, and afterwaId you can laugh as
much rs You pl( aSe."
But you'il think me ugly You wont
have anything more to do with mep'
swear 10 you that there is no other
means OF assuring my happness!"
THE DENTIST DOES HIS WORK
The Comtesse rang. Saint-Jean, her valet
de chambre, took her order and returned, a
quarter of an hour later followed by gem
tleman who carried box Of Instruments
Who is that person." demanded NJ de
Beauchamp.
The little Comtesse answered.
" He is Mr.. James. the American dem
tist"
The little Comtesse passed into her bou-
dOir. Bally followed her with dropping
tail, as becomes a dog which is aware that
something grave is about to happen. Louise
returned Il little later, ashamed, Inundated
and handed NJ. de Beanchamp a small tooth
as white as milk, which the latter raised TO
his lips and covered with kisses. Then she
fed and shut herself up In her chamber.
Jacques had the tooth framed in tiny
medallion, and wore ii religiously about his
neck like a sainted relic.
From that day on the little Comtesse was
so gloomy that they took her for a nun.
Very rarely did even faint smile light up
her countenance like a furtve ray OF sun
shine during rainy day. She fled from so =
ciety, and when, 10y chance, she ventured
into II, she was seen apart, seated in a CO r
ner "a serious as an owl, and with h er
mouth shut as closely as a prison door.
THE sTRATAGEM EXPLAINED.
Jacques no longer recognized her, and, to
tell the truih. She h
The poor Contesse is aging" said NAL
evolent people; ''she has greatly changed :;
she is as solemn as funeral procession"
And jacques felt his love flowing away
drop by drop, Ike the water fsom vase OF
flowers.
He comprehended that what he had loved
in her were, above ali things, her smile, her
sprightliness and her gayetv. And ne also
grew gloomy. Then he made efforts to re-
tain his fleeing love, then he sought 10
brain, but only the more did he realize that
he himself had slain his passion.
One day h. reached Mime. de Viry's house
in state OF complete desperation.
Louise" he said as he cast himself at
her feet do you still love me?"
81 have sworn TO love you always
( answered she.
"Wil you prove to me thu sincerity Of
your words ?"
II ask nothing better"
wen, IL you love me, nave your tooth
put back"
What folly is this?" said Louise, weep.
ing. told you that you would love me
no longer. You're just like all the rest OF
the men. Aud yet they reproach us women
with being capricious!'
Louise. supplicate you to pardon me
l curse my blindness-my idocy"
$50 you deplore the weakness with which
l consented to yield to your caprice?"
Il am filled with sorrow, tortured by re-
| morse"
You admit the cruelty of your exac
tion?"
Il shall reproach myself with it until the
| day OF my death"
You would have been happy had I dis
| Obeyed you?"
Il would give anything, no matter what
| had you done sou
The little Comtesse lgave hearty laugh
which disclosed all her teetb-not one wa,
| missiugi
What does this mean?" demanded NJ
| de Beauchamp. turning about with his fin.
| gers the medallion in which was ancrustad