The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-11-18

whirled on and ON and down the length of
the ballroom, while the music played loud
" and the day finished dying, but from
time to time the dancers returned to pass
again beside Paule's table. l.,r wide open
eyes still followed with eager interest the
dance of the blue flowers on the breast of
the smiling waltzer.
A sorrowful shadow insensibly clouded
the brow of Paule's friend. The flowers
tha: the little one dreamed of having were
really her life. She would never, never
have them. For her all was ended. They
had told him 80 ut the Hospital de la
Petite when he had gone there to seek her.
"Myseood monsieur, +" the inlrmary chic:
had said to him. ''it II merely question
Of time"
The chaplain whom Paule had wished to
see, and who had been the conlidant of her
griefs, had murmured in his earl,
''She IL lost, monsieur, poor child: make
her happy six months-at most"
And the priest, persisting in the belief
that Paule was his wife, had added:
1T IL the duty Of q good husband"
And really, after all, why should she not
have the flowers abe wanted-why should
not he, her friend. crafty the little ones
innocent dealre?
''Waitr' said he.
And a. the dance had ended he rose and
went straight to the shady little thicket
where the one with the bluebells had
taken refuge to rest for a moment with
her breathless partner. The orchestra
played now q dreamy song waltz, to which
some danced and all Joined in the words,
the deep bass Of the men supporting and
strengthening the treble of the grixettes,
the leader Of the band pointing the measure
gayly, and lending his aid to direct and
harmonic this choral and instrumental
concert.
: Paule, leaning back in her chair, de-
lighted with everything, had u tight,
harsh little cough that from time to time
was smothered in her handkerchief. but
the surrounding joy was insensibly infec-
tious; Paule's face soon was radiant with
smile that made her for an instant beam
tiful with youth and health. Then her
friend was back again. q bunch Of blue
bells in his hand.
"You have themr' cried she. you have
the bluebellsv'
Her friend did not answer. but held
them to her. She seized them as child
seizes an offered plaything, with q brusque
gesture, inspired apparently at once by
pleasure and fear-the pleasure of having,
the fear of losing.
But how had her friend secured the blue
bellsi One must truly love much to bs
capable Of a devotion that borders on the
| ridiculous. Two words had told the story
of the happy girl with the flowers.
He wanted them, he said, his voice trem.
sick child. A mad caprice, he knew il
| h,,t co1linrv than hn
could not buy them, and disappointment
would sadden the last hours Of a. dying
one. Then compassionately. before hel
dumb struck escort could bow or say
YES" the girl had pulled them from hel
breast and thrust the, bluebells into his
hand.
| "You have them!'' repeated Paule, and
without asking how he had obtained
them, she took them tenderly in her hot
clasp, carried them to her lips and pinned
them to her corsage. smiling. content anG
proud
Her friend regarded her sadly with
swimming eyes, his gaze vague and alb
sent. Beyo the present, so near, he saw
the morrow. 1t was cruel-terrible.
All, but life was short! And men but
fools to live as If it were long! And fol-
such trifles, too did vitality expend itself
wiseacres and artists use up their wits
lawyers SOW ruin, and politics and war d.
the restl That poor little bloodless body, 8,
pretty, SO frail, nearly transparent, that ,
cold breeze would wlther tomorrow like
leaf without sap-was it not the image o
life, SO brief and fleeting'
Dear little Paule She would last, lik
the bluebells she loved, just long enough
to charm-and to be gatheredl
Meanwhile all about them the music
noise and laughter went on.
Evening now had fallen, and everywher
they were setting the tables among tn
trees and the shrubbery and along tn
banks, brilliant with Venetian lanterns
some Of the boatmen were going away
whole boat trains in fact. but double a
many had come and still were coming.
Paule's friend, seeing the ever deepening
fame in the white little face, led her to-
kiosque that overlooked the Seine.
"Are we going to dine herey" detnande
she happily.
Eyes, dearest; and If you are too niue
tired, as believe, will have the yawl pu
in a boathouse and we will also sleep herr
that you may rest"
Paule clasped her hands delightedly; tn
idea of sleeping on the isle made her smil
Immediately.
"And l shall zee the Seine running undo
the stars all night long" said she.
"But no; you'll be sleeping"
~ Oh no, sleep 30 little"
It was true, she did not sleep. At nigh
the cough killed her, the fever burned he
ceaselessly, without respite. Even nov
with the sun an hour gone, the little hant
kerchief was raised morn and more fr
i | ouauYlv IN the male lima