The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-21
A MODERN MAoDALEN.
Startling Story of Real Life,
Adapted by Ii. q. B.
from the Nerv York Recorder

FTOW tfLe NeU IOfk Hec0fQer.
was strolling along one of the quiet
streets near the Madeleine, enjoying the
perfume of my cigar and the freshness oil
the early morning, sweet with the breath OF
narcissus and jonquils heaped mp in the
little wagons surrounding the flower mar
| ket
Suddenly the door Of an obscure-lookina
house opened, woman rushed out almost
against me. She was young and charming
but slngularly strange In appearance. Her
toilet was elegant, but carelessly arranged
her hat perceptiblY to one side, her neck
ribbon dragged to the left and the pearl pin
fastening her collar was not in she middle.
And yet she was very beautifuI-taH and
slender, with great liquid gray eyes-plead-
| ing, passionate eyes, but her face of trans
parent paleness had the pathetic look of 3
frightened child.
She stopped a moment and gazed up and
down the street as n fearful of being seen.
then hurried on, every now and then look.
Ing back in seeming terror. What was she
flying from-this delicate creature-from
that sordid house at this early hour7 Invol-
UNFAIRLY attracted, / determined to follow
her.
Probably treasured, she now relaxed her
step and could better see the beauty of her
face and the profound sadness of her child
like eyes with their great dark circles be-
meath them We are now in front Of st.
PHILIPPE, my unknown stops. appears to re-
fleet a moment, then slowly mounts the
steps or the church. This surprises me, but
as she enters quickly follow.
Complete darkness, after the radiance of
the outside. Unexpected silence The
smell OF wax candles and the faint perfume
OF evaporated incense succeed the freshness
OF the morning air. AS soon as my ewes ac-
commodate themselves to the change look
for my unknown. There she is. kpeeling.
praying with her head in her hands: ten,
fifteen, twenty minutes she remained mo-
tionless, only now and then a SILVER. or
is 1t a sob which shakes the folds of her
dressl
At length. raising her head, she makes
the sign Of the cross and prepares to go.
Slowly gaining the door she suddenly stops.
as II seized by renewed agony, the palIor of
her face increased, the dark circles around
her eyes more accumulated the sweet calm
of prayer faded from her lips, and some-
thing terrible, almost tragic, burning in her
eyes. Then, with that firm contraction of
feature denoting inhexible resolution. she
quickly descends the steps and hurries to-
ward the embankment. Where is she going9
Many dramatic ideas terminate In my
brains Is 1t remorse urging her on' This
poor penitent, does she feel heaven has no
pardon for such as she. and only the cold
river must be her refuge2
My heart beats strong and fast, as, filed
with these sinister thoughts, 1 swiftly pur-
sue her flying steps. blessing the inspiration
that caused me to follow her. Losing all
idea Of time and place, only remember we
are nearing the Seine.
A jam of vehicles impedes the way: for q
moment lose sight of her-then see her
enter an open door. rush in--and find her
seated at a little table devouring cakes and
cream with the eager. ferocious appetite Of
hungry woman.