The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-25

barely wide enough to pass in. and closed it
behind him. Upon reaching the third-story
landing it was so dark that be had 10 feel
for the bell-pul. He caught his breath as
the sharp. metallic jingle sounded through
the corridor.
The door was opened by pleasant-faced
woman in the ffties, neatly clad, her wavy,
irou-gray hair parted over smooth, white
forehead.
Mile Caroline Donet?" stammered Cesar
Hautot.
Il expect my daughter every moment,
sieur not step inside and take a seat?"
Hautot obeyed as trembngly as a culprit
night enter an execution chamber. 1t cost
him quite an effort 10 lift his foot over tba
threshold. But once inside he succeeded in
freeing his heart from the wrinkle which
had come into it, There was an air of ex-
| quIsite neatness about the room. and it
seemed to exhaie an mdescribabe perfume.
like nest built of fragrant grasses.
As Cesar Hautot sat down upon the sofa
which Nine. Donet indicated to him with
nervous wave of tile hand, he became con-
scious Of several things without absolutely
receiving any distinct Images upon his
brain. he knew that a portrait of his
father was hanging on the wall of this ar
tistically furnished little parlor-a coIored
photograph which his father had had made
IN Paris the year of the EXPOSITION, and he
also knew they were expecting his father
leading into the adjoining room was OPEN
ana the pOrtiere drawn partly back, and
there stood little table already set with
snowy white linen and bottle OF red and
bottle of white wine
And when the son plucked up courage to
take closer lock his conscience Smote him
l. suddenly and Sorely. and he half rose TO flee
from place which now took on the very
guise OF shrine. He felt as If his pres
ence was pr0faHi ng it, as his eyes rested on
the armchair nlapeU front of sbn fra f,r
his iather, and lie saw that some thoughtful
Dand had even removed the crust from the
bread at his fathers place at the little table.
he turned his gaze away and his eyes filed
with tears.
AT this moment there was a noise of
RAPID footballs in the corridor. and smoth
cred cry of " M otherl mother!"
ne next instant young girl charmingly
olau IN street costume OF gray cloth burst
into the room and threw herself into her
mother arms nv
" Mother! oh, motAerv she sobbed
'here' terrible news! Gaspard has been
shot while out hunting. 1t may kill him. /
must see him, mother. | m1stI Do Won
think M. Cesar would admit me to his bed
side?" " MS oeu-
Calm yourself, my darling" said Nine.
Donet, we are not alone"
Caroline gave start and wheeled snd-
denly about. 'uu
Male. Donet l am Gaspard Uantot,s
son, came from the visitor in low solemn
tone.
NJ. Cesar cried Caroliue, stretching
out her gloved hands toward him
The same, mademoiselle."
linen you have come to take me To him
haven't you, NJ. Cesar?" pleaded CO..
line, with her big blue eyes turned fniI
upon her visitor. oh how good Of von"
how kind of you! Gaspard ALWAYS told ne
that you were goodness and kindness
itself Come. come, NJ. Cesar, let ns
lose no time ' 10
Mile Done!," interrupted the toll
sad-faeed man, II come to tell You that
my father is" v" ''"'
The word died away in his throat uo
could not get 1t across his lips.
De1d? gasped Caroline.
Cesar Hautot bowed his head in silenca
with muffted grOan Caroline staogerad
back into her mothers arms. Nina
Donet, aided by Nj. Hautot, half lad
hall carried her daughter to the sofa and
IN quiet motherly way removed her hat
unbultoned her jacket, and then in kneel'
ing posture began to take off her gloves
There, M. Cesar" said Nine. Donat
In low but perfectly natural tnna
OF voice, "chafe her hands. please wbiIa
get her glass of wine" N'io
But the instant these hands.-soft whita
ana dlmpled as babe's-were laid within
his, Cesar Hautot felt them SHINING frn,n
ms grasp. lie dared not close his unnn
Them. They dropped out of his .grasn mt
oarollne's lap just as a handful Of cold
might glide from the nerveless fingers of H.
euiprlt taken In the very act of theft
HOOD OF tears served TO ease the noor