The Press., 1893-03-16
placed the skull in the middle


 of the table.
 II am the one to light it, said Mari cite triumphantly, pouring the liquor into this ghastly cup.
 Suddenly the punch was afire, the tongues of blue flame mixing amorously with the smoke of the cigars. An odor deadly and mephitic exhaled from the skull. Phosphorescent flames rose and fell in strange colors of decay, and the smoke rose in purple spirals into the air. Charles felt shiver clutch him in its cold fingers from head to foot. Mariette showed her teeth in the horrible joy of 8 secured vengeance. The rain fell heavily outside, the windows shook. Little by little drunkenness overcame these ribald beings who tested with the. sacred mysteries of death. Then Mariette began to sing 8 song composed by Charles for Nina, mockingly begging him not to weep.
 As Charles heard the words of the song chanted in her pitiless voice, his heart beat fast,- something rose in his throat, his voice failed and his head fell heavily forward upon the table. His sudden movement overturned the skull, and the burning brandy touched the thin folds eff Varieties dress. Her awful cry of terror was lost in the flames which enveloped her.
 Charles remained in delirious con- dition. Idiotic cries burst from his lips, and in spite of himself, he rested his eyes upon the mask of plaster, whose eyes remained fixed upon his with a steady persistence that held his own. He began to repeat the words of his early love and those of Nina when, she was happy with him, and finally those that she had uttered when she felt the end of all their happiness approaching: s'1 love you so dearly, my beloved one. cannot give you up shall come back sometimes at night to speak to you." Feverish and trembling he drank greed fly the last glass of punch at his elbow. Suddenly the cast detached itself from the wall and came forward through the clouds of smoke. He felt the sweat start from every. pore.
 A sigh fell upon the air; he felt it pass his cheek, moist and terrible; breath from the tomb. A cry struggled to his lips, but died there. His voice choked in his throat. The figure approached, and the student recognized the beloved of his youth. Silent tears were flowing from the hollow sockets of the eyes, and l as she bent toward him Charles felt her lips upon his forehead-lips as hard and l cold as marble. Then the phantom raised her hand, pointing with her skeleton finger to the clock, which was at the stroke of 3. As Charles felt his heart fail ill his breast and his veins turn | to ice the vision faded.
 Day was just beginning; the first rays | of bright sun lit up the windows of the little room in the Rue Gres. Charles I awoke from profound sleep. He looked about sleepily upon the confusion which surrounded him and endeavored to recall | the events of the past night.
 "These glasses and empty bottles; that is natural" he muttered, land I have slept here on the table, but-what time is it?''
 He walked dizzily to the chimney The hands were at the hour of 3 and the clock had stopped. He remem bered the frightful vision of the nigh, and the accident to Mariette, and he hurried to the adjoining room. | ''Mariette, Mariette!' he cried No body answered. Charles opened the door violently. Ernest and Rose were upon their knees beside the bed, "Mariette!'' cried Charles,
 "She is dead," replied Ernest. "Dead?'
 l "Yes, at 3 o'clock"
 ''Mina is avenged!' said Charles sink, ing upon his knees.-Adapted for Ar. | gonaut from the French of Frederic de Reiffenberg.