The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-10-07

When at work the urn stood on
his writing table, and he thought
hog in life and in that byyone tine
he had written and pondered and
she had sat quietly beside him
or sewing TRANQUILITY, 81
lentIy, without disturbing him.
Six months passed, heightened
to "A year, and now and then il hap
pened that Durande forgot the urn
aud left it on his table al night |
instead of carrying il to his bed
loom. Finally he enshrined i, for
good on his office table. Not that
the memory Of his wife was less
than at first, but because in time
it was borne in upon him that a
funeral deposl, like this was an.
sanitary, unhealthy in a sleeping
room.
Nevertheless every day it was
surrounded, as usual, with lilies
and roses, his wite's favorile flow.
ers.
The one year heightened 10 two,
and Dnran4e had returned to his
bachelor lite.
'lis wrong TO bury voursell
alive thus" said his friends and
his wife's relation "begin, 90 in
10 the world again"
Durande yielded, once more
went out, frequened the quarters
of his brother officers, Joined in
their jollilying, and actually one
evening carried them all home
with hlm TO a banquet in his own
apartments. The wine was good,
The champagne sparkling, laughter,
songs, uproar the order Of The
night; when the supper ended
they all adjourned to The private
Office, where the moriuary shrine
stood alone upon the table, severe
and mournful.
Revelry ran riot, in the midst
OF which Durande suddenl v recall.
ed the ''presence Of the Dead" as
he was wont to call the urn, caught
i, up hurrie'lly, darled from the
room and deposited 1t in an upper
chamber. piled with bachelors
hitter Of old books, boots and lire.
arms.
Next morning, determined that
PROCLAMATION like that of the previ-
Gus night should not happen again
he resolved to turn this lumber
room, where he had temporarily
deposited The precious remains,i ,in-
TO a mortuary chapel, and gave or
ders for a cathedral window and a
niche and altar to be placed be
meath ii.
There the urn was again en-
shrined, but the lilies and roses
had given place to immortelles
Some days later, perceiving thai
these had lost color from lack o
air and light, Durande had them
changed for carlands OF Serves anC
bisque of the cosllest character
and thus the urn stood peacefully
in this calm retreat.
Two years of widOwhood length
ened to three, and Dusande tool
unto himself a second wife. Why
he couldn't have told you. Ger
tainly II was not a cas- of drsperait
love, though he new Nine. Du
rande was a charming woman.
No, he had but one excuse fo
retilling the empty niche in HI
hfe-Mme. DURANGO the secon
was exceedingly like Nine. Du
rande first, with one exception
she was jealous. A jealousy tina
caused her to look with suspicion
on every one, word or gesture, ant
the knowledge that he still retain
ed tender memories Of the dea,
would have caused her lempestu
Gus anger.
Durande no longer dared to kee
the Urn in conspicuous place
1t wss quietly and secretly a thir
time removed from Its quarter
and re,erently stored in 4 spar
room in the mansardc. Matter
grew better as time wore O,
Peace and happiness reigned vii
the young couple, and more tha
J. once Durande, in this atmospher
n of renewed content, was on tn
$ verge OF unbosoming himself an
e confiding to his vile the mystery {
e The urn. Alas his courage alway
i failed him.
$ lr due time a son was born
! the house of Durande, and MN
: Durande found it necessary
! clear out and use the room wheI
Q the urn lay forgotten. As for d.
! rande, The joy OF a new mac
y father dissipaied all remorse in h
3 heart, and TO celebrate The chri
; tening with due pomp and splel
II dor, invitations were sent far ar
wide for a magnificent dinner.
n "But, my dear" said his wife
q he came in from the barracks Il
u day of The great event, "don't .
y to your dressing room till you ha,
's seen The table, the flowers arran
ed with my own hands,"
r. Arranged! A great heapi,
:. - cluster of blood red 'roses-in .
Z :, antique, strangely familiar Rom,
u u urn, which held the place of hon
- on the sumptuous board!
Durande bent closer. His vi
ia saw him start.
10 "Yes," said she complacenil
v. +" lis yonrs, you dear old stupi
ID to throw away as you have do
The hnndsOmost thing col1eC,e ed