The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-11-25
THE TOSS OF A COPPER COPPER
Story Of My Experience with Two Lovers.
BY ALEXANDRA DUMAS. JR.

Why punish myself? Would my becom-
ing Casimir's wife be a punishment
What juggling with words was this? I
was deeply agitated, dissatisfied with
Casimir, with Rene, with myself above
all, for the two others were quite inno-
cent. Casimir loved me and was jealous.
He was afraid he was going to lose me.
He let me see it; it was very natural
he should. Rene had guessed our love,
OWNED our intentions. He had told me
so frankly. He praised the man that I
was in love with. Why shouldn't he,
since he wasn't in love with me him
self? Why should he love me? He
had other things to do. He was to re-
turn to Africa to fight, to stop some bit
of murderous lead. while Casimir and
were amusing ourselves at the opera.
l must confess some men really do
deserve credit. Look at this young man
Of thirty, a handsome, intelligent fell
low. fighting out there in No Mans
Land, just escaping death in a hospital
ward, and perfectly satisfied to come
and spend his sick leave with his mother
like simple college boy at our country
home! No woman is in his life. No,
not one! He receives no letters, he
writes none. He will soon join his regi-
ment to begin anew life Of fatigue,
obedience, toll, devotion, remuneration,
to end in getting shot in some out of-the-
way corner, and dying like an animal,
without careful attention, without tender
nursing. Isn't il admirable?
Icould not bring myself to ask mamma
to authorize Casimir to propose. But I
did the next best thing. AS he only
came out to the country twice a week,
1 found out a way to have him there
all the time. 1 told Rene freely and
frankly everything in regard to my in
tention of marrying Casimir, and by
SO doing / made 1t possible for me to
as if he were present. l knew I could
trust Rene, that he wouldn't mention it
either to mamma or to his mother.
Wasn't I right in doing SO: Suppose my
marriage shouldn't take place-an sb-
surd supposittcn, but everything is pos
sible-Rene's lips would be sealed Tor
ever.
In thus making confidant Of my
cousin would have the satisfaction OF
seeing how he took it-what effect it
had upon him-for while out walking
the day before with his mother, who
was absolutely ignorant of my intent,
she had bet drop certain words, from
which l concluded that she was feeling
how the land lay, as the expression is
feignet not to understand. Could she
have had, thought I, some scheme in
view in ahus visiting us with her son?
To tell Rene everything would be to
end his hopes then and there. Would
it not 5e more lOyal' But all this time
there was nothing forbdding me to
keep an eye on him, to observe how he
acted. II was ever in his thoughts he
must have had splenHiE control over
himself. He didn't draw a muscle. He
thanked me for my confidence in him,
and asked me to preserve it always and
under all circumstances Under all cir
cunstances? Did he feresee something
which 1 did not? Did he have a differ
ent opinion from me IN regard to CAST
mir: l made up my mind to observe him
Nery closely whom they were together,
to see if he manifested any spite, any
GOODNESS.
He grasped his hand with genuine
cerdiality, and from the moment he
learned of my affection for Casinir he
appeared to take the greatest interest in
him. It's quite likely that he haf never
given me a thought and that he is not
IL his mothers scheme at all; that he
locks upon me as his little cousin. as u
little girl, in fact.
Meanwhile Tn delighted with the
efect of my frarkness. Casinir has
completely gotten over his alarn and is
perfectly at ease with Rene. They've
become the best of frieLds. .aad take