The morning call., 1893-08-13

uedi tdole ciOso 10 MIN, ana ran singing
into the tiny kitchen to bring him some of
her famous soup. and on the table she laid
two plates and two wooden spoons and
/ some hot kwaSs and roasted potatoes, long
ago stored for this very occasion. All the
while she talked on any wild rubbish tn at
came into her head, and laughed over the
| want of some old luXuries.
But look. my Felix. l have got two of
everything. one for you and one for me
and what more can we want? And look,
dear heart, here is letter for you. directed
/ to you; it came inclosed in one OF my let
ters."
She put it close beside him. and his poor
numb fingers touched it strangely, He
looked at tie direction. half shook his
head and did not open it.
Number Ninety-niue." he murmured.
He had never had letter all these long
years. aud it could not be meant Tor him:
But Doris knew. BY and by he would
understand that-that he was Count Felix
kapnski: After time she said:
Now. Felix, all Is ready. VIII You ask
the blessing? Why. you've haven't sat
down to such dinner for-years. have
we? DO you remember Luskina. our
cook? Clever as he was. was his soup like
mine? l can compete with any one now!
Taste it, dear Felix"
He took spoonful, then looked round.
and then he took another.
XMAS SOUP"
Didn't tell you so, Felix?" and Doris
laughed her old merry laugh, aud Felix
smiled. Oh, heaven! how that smile did
her good!
Afterward Doris cleared away the meal
and came and sat down by Felix. close be-
side him on a stool, and she put his hand
round her neck and kissed it till the kisses
seemed to enter into his soul, and he re-
turned the pressure.
Doris felt her heart beat wildly then, for
Felix was beginning to live.
Suddenly the cat. who had been sleeping
sOundly. woke up and stretched himself
and gazed curiously at the intruder. arch
ing his back Mt him. This cat had been
Doris only companion for so long that it
felt jealous OF the stranger. and Doris ex-
planned the fact TO Felix, and he, STOPPING
down, lifted the animal into his lap and
StrOk ed its warm coat.
us it ycur Cat. Doris?" he said.
mo. no, Felix, not mine; it is our cat"
''Our car," he replied. do you think
they will let us keep it ?"
Doris nearly cried at these words, but to
prevent herself doing this she jumped up
again and began preparations for going 10
bed. The big bed in the corner there
she had bought little by little; first the
wooden frame, then the straw mattress,
then the feather bed. all with view to
Felix's first night at home.
Felix" she said, Felix. my darling.
you must come to bed and rest. Don't
think of anything but what is for your
good, You have been wanting rest for a
long time"
YES long time," he said
But it will be al the sweeter now:
There wasn't bed like this one in all"
She paused. for she saw her husbands
eyes fixed on her as If waiting for the
next word, so she c0ughed and never fla
lshed the sentence.
Darkness fell on the settlement of ex-
lies, and ,he wide snow mantel over ST.
IBERIA gIistened in the moonlight. The
great forest rested from its labors, and
the rivers were silenced by the embraces
Of the lce-maldenS.
III the eXile's cabin the moonlight
passed in through a slit in the curtain and
played on the big bed WHICH Doris had
bought piece by piece. delighted up the
face of Felix and woke him. He looked
round the room and noticed the hanging
flashed suddenly upon him. He was in
a home of his own. He turned In his
bed and saw Doris, who had fallen asleep,
and then Felix became conscious that she
was firmly claspiDg one of his hands. The
cat snored softly by the stove and he re-
membered. A great JOY entered into his
heart and he called his wife softly by her
name.
"Dorisv'
Doris did not wake, for she had been so
weary with work.
"Dors!' he called again. and sat up
little 10 gaZ. on her face.
Still she did not wake, and then the
exile released his hand and slowly pulled
up his sleeve. and with his finger traced
the tattoOed letters on his arms.
Doris" he called again, and Doris
started up.
ooh. my darling. what is the matter? ?"
she said. You are at home; no one can
hurt you"
'AI home; yes-yes. Doris. my wife,
look He held his bare arm toward her.
Yes, my Felix. l know it. IL is the
name of her whom YOU loved so long-so
long all this time. You have been so true
so true. Oh Felix. there is no one like
you IN all the world"
He put his arm round her and realized
that she WAS his. He had not realized it
last night, but now his heart beat fast and
it seemed to suffocate him.
Doris"
Yes, Felix. darling
when | die let them put your name
here on my heart"
He drew her shining head down upon
his breast and gave a little sigh. such IL
soft, happy, contented little sigh.
III you please, your excellencv," said
the head official at the fortress the next
morning. ''lf you please, Number Ninety
nine died last night. They often do when
they are liberated. It is best to keep them
their full term."-AlI the Year Round.