The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-02
LA BELLE ELISE.

| and giant cucumbers.
Mime. Perreaur' called out the cobbler
from his corner by the Lion dor. How
| fares the world in Paris? Has Boulanger
| returned, and when is it that Louise Michel
| shall be crowned"
| She heard nothing, saw nothing, tread
| ing her way automatically among the glis-
| tening tins and market melange that filled
| the square and overdowed the narrow
| sidewalk, clasping a rusty black sachel
| firmly in one hand and stout bingham
umbrella in the other as she hurried on.
The searching sun revealed the white
| seams OF her shabby dress, the rusty Grape
on the meager, pinched little bonnet that
| conveyed whole drama Of misery in it
self, the lines Of silver sparkling in her
| yellow hair-a pathetic figure with her
white, worn face and shriveled, calloused
hands that mutely spoke of years of unre-
| mitting toll.
Yet had she raised those dropping eye
lids that trembled in the glare you would
have seen a pair of pale blue eyes filled
with dreamy liGht-the eyes of one who
goes forth TO meet a lover. And it was a
lover Nine. Perreau was hurrying 10 meet.
One whom she had loved for twelve long
years, and loved still and would love until
| the end-her husband.
She was known as La Belle Elise in the
days when they went to live in the stucco
village adjoining Monsieur lie Marie. But
one August day, and excessively warm,
Jean returned from his work in the Care
du Nord earlier than usual He com
planned that his eyes panied him. In a
week he was blind. They left the little
nd
they entered the narrow door of the ruined
hunting lodge that stood ON a bit of waste
land at the foot of the hill.
Here La Belle Elise bravely took up the
toll of two. Jean did not suffer, you may
be sure. They were still happy, foolishly
happy. He hardly noted the change. He
did not know, while he was dining on the
same savory ragout, that his wife, with
eyes of love bent upon bin, was choking
over crust. How could he, being blind?
Soon after he was asleep and the moon was
bright she worked at some coarse sewing,
and on market days furnished bouillon and
coffee in the early morning 10 the market
gardeners. So Years passed, and La Belle
Elise wasted and whitened and lost her
roundness of figure, and grew sharp of
chin and shriveled Ike flower scorched
in the sun.
Mime. Perreau, people began to call her
now and then poor Mime. Perreau; but Jean
saw no change. How could he, being blind?
She was still La Belle Elise to him, as
fresh and fair as on that day he had first
seen her face shrined in the flowers of a
kiosk on the Boulevard NalakoG. He saw
her still with waves of ripping golden
hair and eyes like the sapphire flowers that
bossomed in the wheat; the solid round
throat and dimpled arms, the slender,
graceful figure The memory was fresh as
on their marriage day.
By the side of madame's lump of bread
one morning lay a huge envelope, bearing
the Paris pOstmark. The last letter had
been a demand for money, the payment of
an old debt contracted by her husband
That was six years ago. She opened the
letter with trembling fingers. Baptiste
was dead had absorbed too much of the
stock of his diBgy cafe in Montparnasse.
A good thing for his wife. But he had left
5000 francs TO his cousin Elise, and that
was better still.
She said nothing to Jean about the mat
ter at the time, though the secret burned
her. After he was asleep she fingered long
in the moonlight thinking it all over.
Jean shall have this" she communed
Jean shall have that" Never a theught
of herself. Yet it was years since she had
bought new gown, aud La Belle Elise
of other days was such daintily clad fig
ure. Now il was Jean always
Dreaming still Of her prospects and plans
for him she fell asleep with the moonlight
glory on her face
\ ready excuse was found for her trip to
Paris Everything she did Jean believed
was right. He was not ungrateful, poor
fellow
So it was q month before madame found
herself again on the bills Of Montmorency.
Small wonder that she did not see the
market people today, that she moved ST.
lently through their midst, as if guided by
an unseen hand, for that rusty sachel
clasped tightly in her hand jingled 5000
francs in good gold Of the republic.
1t was more than mere money to her.
1t was light for his life-that poor sightless
life so dear 70 her
She was on the hilltop now. The gray
walls Of the house rose ike shadow be-
fore her. Was that MS face at the Window
She was not sure, her eyes were 50 dim
with happy tears.
How the coins ratified in the sachel with
a ring OF triumph Is she ran. half stun
bling down the incline. Foolish for a WON
Ian of - TO be % chiliishly delighted, com
ing home 70 blind hussand. Where is
il that You are going, madame" called out
hoarse voice.
Mere CacpDiae. with face ike baked
apple, was cutting sticks IN the hedge
"Why-wly, 10 TIE house-to jean
staring at the Cnar,,C, stopping form o.
he old woman af1riclte1ly-
Gone, said Mere ChOrpine lscoDically,
mapping OF a boush wI-h cracking
and
Gomez vaE-ely. gomez
"l.eis, oui. you know OF the good DIR.
.3G-lels"
Madame nodded, still dizzy with what
chad heard
t-c called Cd = Jean while you were
ore TEsy rad q long talk together. lie
ia that Il. Jea7 c31ld Be erred
The o-ter .o0-sd az ne blankly ard
5he5. b1t i- WIS z1cre Ike . sob.
tni - Zen"
They went a<sy together, and for two
weeks n Jean az been 81 the doctOr's
house"
Madame reached OFT trembling hand
and steadied herself against the hedge
Cared % she ua-Ir1au-ed. cured Then
lie VIII see ny frce-this worn and ugly
face Of mine. be VIII not recognize Il
Belle Elise. WY" with a low laugh,
why, / VIII have - make M husband
acquaintance ali over gain Thank yOn.
Mere CAoppine- Thank you II viii 20
70 the doct0rs Thank you
The on vr--y-a- ---ur-Fr1 enc T-Ery ffs-Trre