The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-09-08

fsnle eagerly stretched cut beF THO III
tie hands.
! vsni some blnebell.l said sbe. and ID,
beui ss II 10 seiEs them.
Bat The couple whirled op II wss near
ing the end Of the qnsdriile. and tbe,
wbirlsd on and ou sod down the length o.
the ballroom, shile the music play Iloudi
ly sud the dsy hnshed dying. bat from
time 10 lime the dabcsrs returned 10 psss
sssin beside Psul.'s table. Her vide open
eyes still follow the flowers 90 the bre,st Of
tie smiling wsl,zer.
A torrowful shadow insensihly cio,ded
the brow OF P.nle's friend. The hswsrs
that The little one dresmei OF having we're
really ber life. She would never. never
have them. For hsr oil vas ended. they
bad told him 90 At the Hospital do ID P,te
when bs had gone there TO seok her.
Ny good monsieur. the infrmaiy chief
bad esid 10 him, 1t is merely question OF
time.
The chaplain whom Psule had wished 10
see, and Who bad been the confdstt Of her
erirfs. bad murmnred 10 bis ear:
She is lost. monsieur, poor child make
her happy six months-at most.
And the priest, persisting in thu belief
that Psnle was his wife, had added
II is the duty Of q good husband.
And really. after all. why should sbe,aot
have the flowers she wanted why should
no, be, her friend. crafty the little ones
innocent desirel
Waitl said be.
Aud as the dance had ended he rose and
vent straight TO the shady little ,hicket
where the one with the buebells had TAXI
en- refuge to rest for . moment with her
bresthlsss partner. The orchestra played
now q dr'smy song waltz, to which some
danced and oil joined in the words, the
deep bass Of the men supporting and
strengthening the treble OF the grzoitas,
the lead Of the band pointed the measure
gsyly, and lending bis cid TO direct and
hsrmoniz' this choral and instrumental
concert.
Pauls leaning back IN her chair, delight,
ed With everything, bad tight. harsh lii,
tie cough that from time to time WAS
smothered 10 her Handkerchief, but the
surrounding JOY was insensibly infectious,
Psule's face soon vas rsdisnt with smile
that made her for an instant beautiful With
youth aud health. Then her friend was
back again. bunch OF bluebells in his
hand
You have them! cried she, you have
the bluebellr
Her friend did not answer. but held
them to her She seized them As . child
seizes an offered play ythiug, with brusque
gesture, inspired apparently at once by
pleasure and fear : the pleasure OF having,
the fear Of losing.
But how bed her friend secured the blue
bells2 One must truly love much to be
capable OF o devotion that borders on the
ridiculous. Two words had told the story
OF the happy girl With the Aowere.
He wanted them, he said, bis voice trem
bling with dread OF q refussl for poor
sick child. A mad caprice, be knew il
we'll, but no one was selling them. he
could not buy them. and disappointment
would ssdden the last hours of dying
one Then mpassionately. before her
dumb struck escort could bow or say yes,
the girl had pulled them from her breast
and thrust the bluebells into bis hand.
You have theml repeated Psule, and
without asking how be had obtained them,
she took them tendtrly in her hot clasp,
carried them TO her lirs and pinned them
to her corssge. smiling content and proud.
Her friend regarded ber sadly with
swimming eyes. bis gazs vague and absent.
Beyond the present, so near, saw the NOR
row. 1t was cruel terrible
Alb, but life was short And men but
fools to live as If it were long And for
such trif,s, too did vitality expend itself.
wiseacfes and artists use up their wits,
lawyers SOW ruin. and pot and war do
The restl That poor little bloodless body.
20 pretty. so frail, nearly transparent, that
a cold bret q, would wither tomolros like
= leaf without sap wss II not the image
OF lille. so biirf aud Aeetine9
Dear little Psulrl She would last like
the bluebells she loved, Just long enough
to charm and 10 be gathered
Meanwhile all about them the music.
noise and laughter went on.
Evening new had fallen, and everywhere
they wtrs setting the tables smong the
trees and the shrubbery and slons the
banks. brilliant with Venetian lsnterp;
some OF the boatmsn we're going away,
whole bost trsius in fact. bnt double as
many had come and ,tilI we're coming.
Paule's friend, seeins the ever deepening
n sme 10 the white little face. led her to
kios ne tbsi ov, rlooked the Seine.
Are We going to dine herei demanded
she hsppils.
Yes, desrest; and II you sre too much
tired. as believe. ] will have the yawl put
In bostbouse snd we will also sleep here
hst you may rest.
Psuls clssped her hands drlightedly; the
idsa OF sleeping on the isle rasde ber smile
And ! shall see the Seine running under
the stars sll night long. ssid she.
But no; you II be sleeping.
II Oh DO. | tlsep 80 litls.
II vac true, she did not sleep. Al might
the cough killed her, tbs fever burned ber
without respite. Even now,
With th~ sun 40 hour gone. The little band
kerebirf ~ss r.ised mcre and more ire
queutly to The pale lips.
a. A "A