Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-05-11
AN ACCIDENT.

lay Il cover f0r George this morning.
Il know, fmadame, today is the 9TH
and l shsG not forget answered the
The frbnt door closed with a snap,
and Mmf de Morancey went out.
As sobn as she found herself upon
the sidewalk she took the direction of
the Champs Elysees and walked for
ward.at H. brisk pace and with iaunty
bearing. 4 1t was a moist April morning.
and thefe was Il scent of fresh, green
leaves ahpd budding trees in the air.
Men oI horseback were hu1Tying to
the Bots, and from the nostrils of their
steeds issued at regular intervals
streams of white breath on the damp
atmosp9 ere.
In the distance, at the end of the
avenue, the Arc de FEtoile reared itself
aloft like a colossal viaduct half hid
den in a clinging mist of fog.
The young lady went straight ahead
with ian air of consciousness on her
facefa naughty, piquant expression,
which seemed to sly to the passersby
I'm going to attend to some business
Of my own, and no one shall stop
mef
In the same decided manner she
crossed the Place de Ia Concorde, went
Ove5 the bridge and passed into the
Boulevard Saint-G ermaine, where the
earlier street cars were already begin
ming to run.
Everything seemed to point to the fact
that she was hurrying to a rendezvous
J H.
early morning hour, and the eager joy
which was now beginning to brighten
her face
She was approaching surely and stead
lily the place of meeting.
Suddenly as she was passing al an
cient hotel of grim aspect and discOl-
Ored walls a cry escaped her lips. At
the same moment 4 fine looking little
fellow of 10 years or so, who had
been walking beside an aged servant
in livery, rushed with Outstretched arms
to meet her and fell on her neck crying,
'A1aman." After making a low, re-
specful bow the old servant turned and
entered the hotel
Nine de MOrancey had been legally
separated from the Count de Morancey,
who had the charge of their only child
George, and she clme thus to see her
son at the stroke of 9 on the 5th Of
every month. On the 9TH of every
month she spent the day with him and
took him back to the hotel after dim
ner. The servant in livery was always
at the door to take the boy back in
the car1fge to the hotel and with him
all l..
his fond mother had heaped upon him
The count himself never appeared
ut the meeting nor the separation. and
things had gone on in this manner for
no less than Is months.
Nine. de MOrancey called cab. She
did not want to lose a minute of this
precious day, for she had to cram with
in its short Il hours all the pleasures
that other mothers have years to en-
JOY 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 Besides this, they had two
meals together, at which he received
everything lie could possibly desire.
And, too, the mothers 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 well? Do you love me very
much? Are you hungry" were a few
out of the torrent of questions she piled
him with.
As they left the table she placed her
self at his orders.
1T 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
Wen go at once"
few minutes later they were walk
ing together hand in hand down the
boultvard.
1t was warm, setaming, damp day.
shine was pouring down on the streets.
cheering alike the hearts of the street
urchins and Of the rich PariSia1S sweep
ing past in their gorgeous landeaus.
Nine de Morancey soon reached the
boulevard. Her son George left her
from time to time to hurry on in adj
vance and see all of the gay shop
windows that he possibly could.
Sometimes he was by her side, some
times he was several windows in ad
vance, sometimes he was a block be.
hind but he always came back to her
to tell in his childish way the result
of his SlirmiShing, and the mother
was just rs happy as if he never left
her side for an instant
Thus it was that by degrees she fell
into a sort of reverie that led far back
into the past. She witnessed again hel
own marriage. with the long line OF
fashionable carriages outside the church
and half the nobility of France recln
ing in them. She saw her husband
proud and pale, shaking hands Will
the crowd of Surging forms that were
congra tulating him.
AS they drove from the Church d,
Sainte Clotilde she saw all the crossing
and corners of the streets black witt
people trying to catch a glimpse of her
self and her husband.