The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-14

sire here; but, mon Dieu, what are ali these
things worth If one hasn't the heart to en-
Joy them"
haven't you heheartf"
Because it is living-because IL has feel
ing in it," she replied fiercely. Then, see
ing by my face that 1t was not want Of
feeling that made me dull, she said;
"You know what has happened to the
masterP"
II know nothing. came here to learn
what has passed since went away"
"You saw him this mornings"
"For a, moment. He was smiling, 1
thought"
What, my poor denrl You have heard
nothingH 1t was in the papers"
II have not seen any papers. have
been-a long way from England"
Forgive me, she said earnestly, tnking
both my hands and looking with pity in
my face, "forgive me. thought you must
know, and that your heart had grown hard
and selfish, benumbed with its own pain.
Oh, my dear friend, il it is still sensible to
the misfortunes of others, you have terri
bic grief to bear. From my soul pity
you"
"Tell me all" entreated.
"Mon Dieul You shake like leaf now.
How can soften the blowf What can
say to give you couragef How can be-
ginS"
Tell me all" I repeated. begin from
the day went away"
"Our troubles began then, to be sure. /
was surprised when took in the breakfast
that morning to find the master sitting
alone. Il am afraid mademoiselle feels un-
well this morning., said he. She was ill
yesterday, and last night she did not come
down to wish US good night" See if she
would like cup Of tea in her room.' Then
went up, and finding your room empty
and tho bed unused l called the master,
feeling that he must see this with his own
eyes to believe it. He looked very grave,
but less astonished than l expected. He
only asked if l could tell whether any of
your dresses was missing. / found that
your hat and jacket were gone. That shows
that she has gone out said the master.
We shall know more when she returns
He said that to put an end to my questions
and went back to his breakfast as though
II was quite natural you should go out and
stay away all night. But when cleared
the things away saw that he had not eaten
anything.
''He was working in his atelier when Mr..
Kavanagh came; that was in the after
noon. Good morning, madame SAYS he,
as l open the door; is NJ. Gordon heres'
No, monsieur; he has not been here for
two days, and that is droll, because he has
lately been in the habit of calling regularly
to see mademoiselle every morning. Dear
mel says he; this is curious; for example,
/ went to his rooms this morning by an
pointment and found that he went away
last night and has not returned. He is not
at his club, and, in fact, cannot find him
No., a.
nary says I, for mademoiselle went away
last night and has not yet returned AT
what hourr 1t must have been before
you left How very strangep says he.
why, the hall porter at the chambers says
that a young lady came to see Mr.. Gordon
last night about that time, and from his
description it might have been mademoi-
selle. But, of course, it couldn't have been
her, for they went out together arm in
arm, and NJ. Gordon had large portman-
teau with him."
"A pormanteaur' exclaimed.
1.-THE portmanteau in which he took
away many things that belonged to him,
for when his rooms were searched they
were found all In disorder from the hasty
preparations he had made for long Jour
ney. But have no need to tell you that"
mo, mol don't want to hear anything
about myself. Tell me about Taras"
"Ah, my poor masterl That killed the
joy in his heart, for look you, he loved you
more than you could have believed--more
than l knew, perhaps more than he knew
himself He was no longer merry and
cheerful As he had been; he did not sing
when he came from his atelier And the
house was as If some one lay dead in it. IL
melted ones heart to see him sitting alone
at the table. He would have your cover
laid, and we spoke as II you were coming
back soon. But for my part l felt that
there was more unhappness to come-that
Providence had sent this warning 10 pre-
pare us for still greater calamity. That
was something more than superstition aud
the fancy OF an old women. Before the
end of the month second warning came.
The masters work was destroyed for
second time"
"The group of statuaryS"
"Yes-the beautiful group that he had
toiled at SO long and patiently 1t was in
the kiln. The master saw the fires lit and
staid in the pottery till past midnight
watching the burning. | was sitting up,
for he had eaten no dinner, and / had hot
supper to serve. Well, mon Dieu! he had
scarcely seated himself at the table when
we heard a terrible crash, and boy rum
ming in from the pottery cried out that the
kiln had fallen in."
Had it fallen in by accidents'
fro BE CONTINUED