St. Landry democrat., 1893-03-25
A LOVE TEST.

'1t is real calamity" said Nine. d
Lepreneuse, the mother, ''to have thi
mad dog run at large. No one dares g
OUT
Last evening again." added he
daughter, che bit two children comm.
from school. The despair of their par:
ents is indescribable.
GLOW frightful! Is there no means O
making the bite harmless, doctor?'
asked Nine. dc Lepreneusc, addressing
young man of 80 years.
"There is first the cauterization with
hot iron," replied the doctor.
"rhat is horrible, )" exclaimed Mile. d.
Lepreneuse; ''there ought to be anothe
way"
when the region permits it," contin
ued the doctor, lone can apply ligatur1
above the bite, wash the wound, and burr
it with caustic liquid. Whatever tht
process, it should be quick, before it i.
too late. All inoculated liquid penctratcs
with great rapidity in the blood. Sew.
eral experiments have been made on this
subject"
"Tell us some," interrupted Mile. dc
Lepreneuse.
For wound in the hand" continued
the doctor, lone applies solution con.
tanning a substance easily recognized
soon after bleeding the opposite hand,
one finds the inoculated substance in the
blood, it having already pervaded the
| SYSTEM"
"Then," said CASTOR de Maurebois,
cousin of Mile de Lcpreneuse, "when one
is bitten there is no hope except at the
Pasteur Institute?'
"Ihere is preventative, " replied the
doctor, whose immediate employment
gives excellent results, but it is rein-
quished now.'
''Doubtless it neccsSitates some serious
Inconvenience, does it not?" asks Karl
Marlenzi, one of the guests of the
chateau.
Very serious,' replied the doctor.
"Iell US about it, nevertheless,' said
Karl.
1T is suction,' replied the doctor.
'Onc must concentrate oneself and suck
the wound at once. This operation pre-
sents great danger. The operator is al
most certain of being inoculated with the
virus, the lips being the chosen spot.
The delicacy of the mucus which covers
them facilitates absorption. This way,
relying upon devotion, is little en-
ployed."
"You do not believe in devotion, doc
tor?' asked Nine de Leprcneuse
II did not say that, matlcmoiselle. |
believe it is prudent not to count on it
too much"
Il am OF your opinion" added Nine.
de Lepreneuse.
"What"' cried her daughter, "you
doubt it2 You'll The pcrsonilication of
devotionw
. eyes, my child, to doubt is one of the
bitter fruits of experience"
This conversation took place one beau
tlful summer day in the park of the Cha
teau de Leprcncuse, situated short dis
tance from Paris in Brie. Nine. de Lc-
prencuse lived here with her daughter,
Yveline. Since her widowhood she had
renounced the world to devote herself
exclusively to the education of her only
child. She was still very beautiful and
young, and her daughter was her exact
copy. Yveiuc was IS years old. Hav-
ing been brought up in the country, she
spent her life outdoors Her face was
fresh and rosy; her eyes bright and pen
etrating. She charmed every one by her
natural grace
She had just reached the marriageable
age and the guests of the chateau were
more or less suitors for her hand
CASTOR de Maurebois, Yveline's cousin,
was an orphan, and since the death of
his parents had lived an idle existence in
Paris. He was 33 years of age, bald
distingue. In his spare moments he
operated at the hourse and was associ
ated with broker at whose house most
of his money was deposited.
At 80 he was entirely blase, all pleas
ures ceased to interest him, his health
was broken down. Gambling and pure
blooded horses had diminished his for
tune. He felt the need of reposc and
decided to marry. He remembered he
had cousin somewhere, who ought to
combine all desirable conditions. One
day he arrived without warning at the
Chateau de Lepreneuse. At the sight of
lvellne he was at once her suitor.
Karl Marienzi, one of the guests, was
the son of celebrated writer, friend of
the family of de Lepreneuse. He was 20.
His face was very expressive, his hair was
black and long. He had written an
opera in one act, which had had great
success. From an early age he was
constant visitor at the chateau, spending
several months there during his vaca-
ton. He was very intimate with the
young girl and loved her passionately.
The doctor was o countryman. His
father, an old friend of the house, had
always been the physician of the family,
his son succeeding him. Theyoung doe
tor was slight, alert, and active; his face
grave and tender. As a physician he
was serious, charitable and possessed
the entire confidence of Nine. de
Lepreneuse. He loved Yvelinc, and prof
tied by tho least indiopvoitivn vi lrvi
mother to renew frequently his visits.
The lovers were together on this day.
Madame Lepreneuse, knowing she was