Evening journal., 1892-12-13

''Bahp' said Rose; ''you don't object |
to plaster rival, do your"
ITO the health of Nina" cried Ernest.
Charles looked up quickly. These
jibes cut him to the heart.
"Mina was a good girl" he said.
"That remains to be seen" cried Mari
cite; Il am n good girl too, am not?"
"You will be when you are dead,p
Knocked Ernest,
Charles, - said Mariette, confess that
you love Nina stillw
mo; do notl'
"More than you love me"
ono, no! love YOU
every well, then prove it. There is
that horrid skull that You keep as a
sacred relic. I've seen it grinning up
there long enough. Let us make the
punch in III"
"Ah, that's an original idear cried
Ernest. "Mariette, you have the imag-
ination Of a poet"
$50 be it then," said Charles, and
rising he placed the skull in the middle
of the table.
II am the one TO light it, said Mari
cite triumphantly, pouring the liquor
into this ghastly cup.
Suddenly the punch was afre the
tongues Of blue flame mixing amorously
with the smoke of the cigars. An odor
deadly and mephitic exhaled from the
skull. Phosphorescent flames rose and
fell in strange colors of decay, and the
smoke rose in purple spirals into the air.
Charles felt a shiver clutch him in its
cold fingers from head to foot. Matiette
| showed her teeth in the horrible Joy of
a secured vengeance. The rain fell
heavily outside, the windows shook.
Little by little drunkenness overcame
these ribald beings who jested with the
sacred mysteries of death. Then Mariette
began to sing a song composed by
Charles for Nina, mockingly begging
him not to weep.
AS Charles heard the words of the
song chanted in her pitiless voice, his
heart beat fast, something rose in his
throat, his voice failed and his head fell
heavily forward upon the table. His
| sudden movement overturned the skull,
and the burning brandy touched the
thin folds ef Mariette's dress. Her awful
cry of terror was lost in the flames
which enveloped her.
Charles remained in a delirious con-
dition. Idiotic cries burst from his lips,
and in spite of himself, he rested his
eyes upon the mask Of plaster, whose
eyes remained fixed upon his with a
steady persistence that held his own.
He began to repeat the words Of his
early love and those Of Nina when she
was happy with him, and finally those
that she had uttered when she felt the
end Of all their happiness approaching
Il love you so dearly, my beloved one
l cannot give you up. shall come bach
sometimes at night to speak to you.
Feverish and trembling he drank greed
lily the last glass of punch at his elbow
Suddenly the cast detached itself from
the wall and came forward through Tn,
clouds Of smoke. He felt the swea
start from every pore.
A sigh fell upon the air; he felt it pas
his cheek, moist and terrible; breatl
from the tomb. A cry struggled to hi
lips, but died there. His voice choke,
in his throat. The figure approached
and the student recognized the belove
Of his youth. Silent tears were howin
from the hollow sockets of the eyes, an
as she bent toward him Charles felt he
lips upon his forehead-lips as hard an
cold as marble. Then the phantor
,, raised her hand, pointing with he
skeleton finger to the clock. which wa
at the stroke Of 3. AS Charles felt hi
heart fail in his breast and his veins tur
to ice the vision faded.
Day was just beginning; the first ray
Of bright sun lit up the windows
the little room in the Rue Ores. Charlie
awoke from profound sleep. Helooke
about sleepilY upon the confusion whic
l surrounded him and endeavored to reca
/ the events Of the past night
I "These glasses and empty bottles; tn;
e is natural he muttered, "and l hay
q slept here on the table, but-what tin
d is it,"
0 He walked dizzily to the chime
T The hands were at the hour of
y and the clock had stopped He remer
d bered the frightful vision Of the nigl
and the accident TO Mariette, and
/ hurried to the adjoining room.
d "Mariette, MARKETED" he cried N
s. body answered. Charles opened Il
p door violently. Ernest and Rose we
d upon their knees beside the bed.
/, "Mariettew cried Charles.
.e "She is dead, replied Ernest.
D. "Deadg"
20 "Yes, at o'clock"
"AIina is avengedr' said Charles sin
e. ing upon his lsnees.-Adapted for A
id gonaut from the French of Frederic
te Reiffenberg.
pr
8. when the Prince Called on Tennyson,
sr There is one story that will be histol
ne of a call which the Prince of Wales on
Of made upon Iennyson. He had a ne
1.-.-- ,.-f,l, 1-,,.,r~ ., 41,, ,.-.s.,.,