Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-04-08

And thinking'of this he forgot the crime
: that had made him desperate, to recall
their common childhood, their merry plays
in street and wood, and the frank hand
clasp at parting in the certainty Of meeting
| again. Never more could this return, and
suddenly between his fingers, like water
bursting from scaled fountain, the tears
began to flow.
At the same moment wheels grated on
| the gravel and he turned his head toward
| the sound.
From the open door she leaned toward
him, half out in her eagerness, in rustling
of silk and lace, the tip of her little shoe
resting on the step of the footboard;
| through her veil she had recognized him.
"Ah, thank God!'' she cried, sit is you!
| it is you En-, we'll? tell me''
He dared not responds it was such a
| terrible thing that he had to say. His
chin dropped to his breast; he was mute.
haggard, in the shame of his murder
Speak, speak, l beseech you'll You do
Wounded?"
II am not wounded, no." said he at last.
She sprang to the road.
| 'But heb
| 4"Well, go on; he''-
| SIS dead!' stammered he.
! She clasped him in her arms and chung
to his neck.
81 love you, I love your she cried. "You
were right to kill him; you are brave and
strong! If you think it troubles me that
he is dead you greatly deceive yourself.
never loved him, neverl Go you hear?
| Women are mad at tiines-you know that
| yourself-and lose their heads; but it is
| the head, the head always, and not the
heart. 1t is you that adore, you that
have always adored! Come, let us go; get
| in with me and let us worry no more for
| those that are living Or dead! Come. come,
| say; it is you, and you only, that lover
| He considered her, thunderstruck.
| Then, for this death that desolated his
soul, he the offended, she the accomplish
of the offender, experienced neither regret
nor sorrow. On the contrary, she rejoiced
in it, she was happy! She avowed it and
declared that never, never had she had
love for him who, because of her, was lying
dead
He regarded her still, regarded her in
| tently, with strained, fixed gaze.
'eBut come, do comel' she pleaded, the
veil raised now, and SO charming and per
fumed, holding up her red, dewy lips all
eager to be kissed. Come, let us go!'
He answered YEARLY, his air vague,
wandering like one in a dream.
"Yes, yes, let us go; behold me- but
am still little nervous and do not wish to
drive, but to walk"
'Let us walk, them" returned she gayly,
slipping her hand in his arm; "and mean
while you will tell me details Did you kill
him Immediately? Did-did the combat
| last long? Did you-but see you, why don't
you answer? You tell me nothing; never
theless it is very natural that should wish
to hear"
eyes, yes" said he again, II know-very
| natural'
They were entering at the moment one
of the river bridges. He stopped, looked
about him.
s'Do you see it," said he, 'sthere to the
left, behind that fringe of poplars; that
little red brick dwelling with two weather
vanes? 1t stands Il few PAGES beyond the
street that skirts the river bank"
Il see it; yes, just beyond there"
1T was there in the garden behind that
house, that the duel was Fought
"Yes, yes; go on!"
st was there, in that garden, in the
main alley, that he fell'-
with cry, perhaps-he was not brave
brave, you see, ike YOU!
| II did not hear him."
Sand you will take me to see that gar
| den?"
"Yes, tomorrow or the day after; but
stay; you can see from here, think; yes,
from here, close to the railing. Now bend
forward, a little farther, little more still,
behind the poplars, remember-see"
| She uttered cry-too late!
"a q boJ o,7crbf ba, o,,d ono
quick heave and toss had cast her from the
parapet of the bridge, whirling through
the air in great fluttering of skirts and
ribbons to the deep, yellow waves beneath.
| AS for him? A malefactor now, who,
not content with killing a man in duel,
had drowned woman in the Seine, he
TRANQUILITY continued his way to give him
self to justice in the neighboring village
Translated from the French of Catulle
Mendez by E. G. Waggoner for Short
| Stories.