Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-10
AN ACCIDENT.

Nine de Morancey was standing in the
hall talking to her maid. She was prepar-
ing evidently to go out, for her hat was on,
and her pretty hands were incased in be-
coming kid gloves.
Annette" she cried, don't forget to lay
cover for George this morning"
II know, madame; today is the 5th, and
shall not forget" answered the maid.
The front door closed with a snap, and
MIME. de Morancey went out.
AS soon as she found herself upon the
sidewalk she took the direction of the
Champs Elysees and walked forward at
brisk pace and with jaunty bearing 1t
was a moist April morning, and there was
scent Of fresh, green leaves and budding
trees in the air.
Men on horseback were hurrying to the
Bots, and from the nostrils of their steeds
issued at regular intervals streams Of
white breath on the damp atmosphere
In the distance, at the end of the avenue,
the Arc de PEtoile reared itself aloft like a
colossal viaduct half hidden In a clinging
mist of fog
The young lady went straight ahead with
an air of consciousness on her face-a
naughty, piquant expression, which seemed
to say to the passersby, Pm going to at
tend to some business Of my own, and no
one shall stop me-"
In the same decided manner she crossed
the Place de In Concorde, went over the
bridge and passed into the Boulevard Saint
Germaine, where the earlier street cars were
already beginning 20 run.
Everything seemed to point to the fact
that she was hurrying to a rendezvous
the speed at which she went, the early
morning hour, and the eager Joy which was
now beginning to brighten her face.
She was approaching surely and steadily
the place of meeting.
Suddenly as she was passing an ancient
hotel of grim aspect and discolored walls
a cry escaped from her lips. At the same
moment fine looking little fellow OF 10
years or so, who had been walking beside
an aged servant in livery, rushed with out
stretched arms TO meet her and fell on her
neck crying "Maman." After making a
low, respectful bow the old servant turned
and entered the hotel
Mime. de Morancey had been legally sep
arated from the Count de Morancey, who
had the charge Of their only child, George,
and she came thus to see her son at the
stroke Of on the 9Th Of every month. On
the 5th Of every month she spent the day
with him and took him back to the hotel
after dinner The servant in livery was al
ways at the door TO take the boy back in
the carriage to the hotel, and with him all
the presents, toys and candies that his fond
mother had heaped upon him.
The count himself never appeared at the
meeting nor at the separation, and things
had gone on in this manner for no less than
Is months
Nine. de Morancey called cab. She did
..fe
day, for she had to cram within its short
IL hours all the pleasures that other moth
ers have years to enjoy in.
Her boy had to be kissed, caressed and
fondled; he had to be played with and to
answer all sorts of questions about his life,
his health, his joys and his troubles. Be
sides this, they had two meals together, at
which he received everything he could pos
sibly desire. And then, too, the mother
heart wanted to hear her son chatter away
as he felt most inclined and tell her all the
thousand and one things that entered into
his life.
And all this had TO be condensed into a
few short hours.
During breakfast Nine. de Morancey
watched her son in perfect idolatry.
Are you wellY Do you love me very
muchp Are you hungry" were few out
of the torrent Of questions she piled him
with.
As they left the table she placed herself
at his orders.
ut isn't late yet; tell me what you would
like to do, dear"
The child hesitated, with his mouth still
full.
walk down the boulevard and look at
the shops" he said at length.
"All right, answered the mother. "We'll
go at once"
A few minutes later they were walking
together hand in hand down the boulevard
1t was warm, steaming, damp day. The
mists had risen, and the warm sunshine was
pouring down on the streets, cheering alike
the hearts of the street urchins and of the
rich Parisians sweeping past in their gor-
geous landeaus.
Nine. de Morancey soon reached the boul-
evard. Her son George left her from time
to time to hurry on in advance and see all
of the gay shop windows that he possibly
could.
Sometimes he was by her side, sometimes
he was several windows in advance, some
times he was block behind, but he always
came back to her to tell in his childish way
the result of his skirinishing, and the
mother was just as happy as If he never
left her side for an instant.
Thus it was that by degrees she fell into
sort of reverie that led her far back into
the past. She witnessed again her own
marriage, with the long line of fashionable
carriages outside the church and half the
mobility Of France reclining in them. She
saw her husband, proud and pale, shaking
hands with the crowd Of surging forms that
were congratulating him.
As they drove from the Church de Sainte
Clotilde she saw all the crossings and cor
pers of the streets black with people trying
TO catch glimpse Of herself and her hus-
band.
And then she saw again the days of her
honeymoon and the birth of her son George
They both had lived and grown. Then
came her objectionable mistake, her hus-
bands awful anger and their separation,