St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-05-20

In few sad words she told him hi
sweet nurse was dead, that she had dice
as she had lived, beloved by all who
were privileged TO be near her. There
was no positive disease, the doctor hao
said, but some shock or grief of years
before must have undermined her health
and the life of self-sacrificc size led had
not been calculated to lengthcn the frai
strand of her life Gently and without
struggle it had snapped, and she had
dropped and died with the early violcts.
Touched and saddened, our traveller
turned down the steep street to the lower
town. More than ever he wondered
what had been the history of the brave
beautiful woman who had nursed him
seven years before.
Turning the corner of the Place Cha
teaubriand, he ran against man.
"Pardon, monsieur!'
"Pardon. monsieurn'
The EXPLANATIONS were simultaneous.
Looking up the two men recognized
each other.
"Ah, my dear Doctor!" exclaimed my
husband
"Saprsti, my dear Lieutenant! What
are you doing in st. Malo"
The young man having properly &c
counted for his presence in the old
Breton town, and made known to DR..
Nadaud how glad he was to see him
again, the two went off together to
lunch at the Hotel de Bretagne, where
NJ. Blout MAX O'Rell'1 had left his
luggage.
Having refreshed themselves with a
light French dejeuner, the doctor and his
former patient strolled out of the long
aining-room into the central courtyard of
the hotel, which the sun had not yet
made too warm, and there, installing
themselves at little round table, under
a huge laurel, they smoked and sipepd
their coffee.
Il will tell you all KNOW" said the
doctor, in reply to a question from his
companion. ut seemed almost breach
of confidence to tell you Sister Gabrielle's
story while she lived. for | knew that
she had come away out of the world on
purpose to work unknown, and to bury
all that remained of Jeanne DAlcourt.
When she first came she seemed not at
oil pleased to see me; no doubt because
my presence reminded her of Caen, and
of the scenes that she had turned her back
upon forever"
"Well," continued DR.. Nadaud, "the
D'Alcourts had lived for generations in
a fine old house, on the Boulevard de
l'Est, and it was there that Jeanne was
born. Next door lived my sister and her
husband, NJ. Leconte, the chief notary of
the town. and Il man we'll considered by
all classes of his townsmen. 1t is the
old story of affection knotted together in
the skipping lope, and proving to be as
unending as the circle of the hoop. My
sister had girl and boy The three
children played together, walked out
with their nurses together, and were
hardly ever separated, until the time
came for Raoul to go to Paris to school,
The boy was fourteen when they parted;
Jeanne was only eleven; but the two
childrenss love had so grown with their
growth that before the day of parting
came, they had made a solemn little com
pact never TO forget each other.
Eight years had passed, during
which Jeanne and Raou saw little of
each other
"'rhe first time the boy came home he
seemed to Jeanne no longer boy, and
the shyness which sprang up between
them then decpened with each succeed
ing year.
1.-The boy was allowed to choose his
profession, and he chose that of sur
gerry. News reached Jeanne from time
tie time, through his sister, of the prom
Using young student who, it was said,
bid fair to win for himself great name
some day
at the age of twenty-five Raoul left
Paris. His parents, who were growing
old, wished their son near them; and
steps were taken to establish him in
practice in Caen.
Thine passed on, and Raoul had been
six months in partnership with old DR..
Grevin, whom he was eventually to sue
coed. when Nine D'Alcourt fell i'll of in
of the lungs, and 80 it hap |
pcned that the two young people often
met beside the sickhed, for the elder
partner was not always able to attend
the patient, and his young aide Was
called upon to take his place.
''By the time that Nine D'Alcourt was
we'll again, both the young people knew
hat the old love of their childhood had
in their hearts through all
he years of separation, and was ready
10 burst into flame at touch. But no
word was spoken.
cit was Raouls' fond hope to he one
lay in position to ask for Jeanne as his
wife, but he knew that BY speaking be-
ore he was in that position he would
'nly destroy all chance of being listened
% by her parents.
'The touch that should stir the flame
soon came.
zone day in the summer following,
nasty summons from Nine D'Alcourt
ook DIR. Grevin to ,Jcanne's bedside, and
few moments examination showed him
hat the poor girl had taken diphtheria.
tfter giving directions as to the treat
nent to be followed, he said he would
eturn late in the evening, orwould send
I. Leconte.
1T was Raoul who came.
"With horror he saw that the case was
lready grave, and great pang went
trough him as he spoke to Nine. DIAL
curt of the possibility Of its being nee
ssary to perform tracheotomy in the
corning. When morning came, in fact,
IL next day: Jeanne hoped with deep,
'nging, passionate hope.
1.-THE day after, however, it was evil
ent that nothing could save the girl but
ne operation, and was quickly decided :
} try the last chance.
1.-THE rest is soon told In that SUI
RENE moment, as Raoul made ready for
he work. the two vOunf ncon]e told all