The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-12-25

Ou6 uIGM uHT CudlI blll BIG w al
directly vis-a-vis; then, brushing back
her hair and disclosing her firmly
shaped contour, she fixed her eyes on
me and said:
Before / commence my narrative
must beg of you to reply to one or two
questions. "
with pleasure p"
First, when were you in PARISH
LET me see. About 1868. +"
Eighteen hundred and sixty eight?
Are you sure5'
Positive"
Bebe seemed lost in thought for mo-
ment and then continued:
did you play at the Odeon?"
mo"
Cor the Folie Dramatiques?"
mo; my visit to Paris was for pleas
ure. l never acted in French theater
in my life.
"But you speak French?"
Indifferently. am simply an Eng
fish actor. =
"Do you know M. Evreux. at As
interest,""
ST do not. "
"But you have been thereP'
$50 has every Englishman who visits
Paris "
''You are deoeiving me.
"Why should II"
"Peste Don't prevaricatei"
"Madame"
Forgive my impetuosity. You are
clever people, but l come of a nation
that produced Fonche, and am con-
vinced"-
The complication was becoming en-
barrassing.
Another oigaretteP''
Thanks. -
Now" said Bebe, ''for my story.
First, to assure myself there are no lis
teners."
Suiting the action to the word, she
crossed to the door, opened it and peered
out, reclosed and locked 1t.
certainly began to feel a trifie nerv-
GUS, but l was out for the evening, and
it is not every page of ones life that is
tinged with romance. Thus consoling
myself. awaited the next tactics Of my
hostess.
She was soon seated in her place. The
entree ON which she prided herself still
remained on the table, carefully COW
cred.
There was a mischievous brilliancy
about her eyes that BODIED no good, but
laughed at the idea of danger. 1t was so
very preposterous.
Let me tell you story, monsieur,
and / must crave your close attention.
nodded obedience.
In August, 1868, there was family
living at Asnieres named -. Tho
household consisted of three persons, ex-
elusive of the servants These were
monsieur and madame and the young
daughter, Bertha. Another child was
away in England at the time, of whom
you shall hear more anon. !"
Bebe gave me penetrating glance,
as though to fathom the course my
thoughts were taking. l replenished my
glass of Moet and added
pray proceed. You interest me.
1.-THE - were we'll known In the
professional world of Paris, and each
Sunday their reunions were crowded
with the dilettanti Of gay Lutetia. Art
lists, authors, actors, musicians and
pretty women fiocked to Belle Vue and
were Hospitality received by monsieur
and madame, who were always rejoiced
to meet their friends Nor was their
daughter Bertha less unremitting in her
attention to the guests. Matters had
gone on thus for several years, and no
event had occurred to disturb the tran
guilty of the little household One Sun
day among the visitors came an English
actor. +"
Bebe looked at me, but as the infor-
nation caused me no alarm she reiterat-
ed.
"An English actor, understand"
Eyes"
'He was introduced to the family and
proved himself a very entertaining
guest. During the afternoon he gave
several selections from your poet, Shake
speare, and charmed every one. Bertha,
kind, gentle, debonnaire and impress
sionable was evidently fascinated with
the man, and he was invited to come
frequently. He complied. What would
life be without friendly intercourse"
acquiesced
For the next two or three days Ber-
tina and the actor were often together.
They wandered off to st. Germaine and
We'd with each other in culling the big
gest violets. He contrived to meet her
in all kinds of unexpected ways, some
times when her father was with her,
sometimes not. They promenaded on
the terrace, and once M. - even per-
mitted their visitor from England to
take Bertha to the salon.
"A week, fortnight, sped by, and
still the young couple evinoed no desire
to discontinue their friendship An con-
traire, it was evident Bertha had fallen
violently In love with her preux cheva-
lier, and he certainly appeared to recip-
rocate
Bebe paused.
"And how did it all end?' / asked
Don't be impatient. We are coming
to the denouement He was invited to
what you call put up with the house
hold during his stay He consented.
One morning, when the household as
sembled the visitor was missing.
"Gone?'
"Gone. like thief In the night.
"The cad, protested.
Monsieur is an actor, she hazarded
and continued: "The result Of his exodus
caused some little alarm, but as Bertha
appeared to ignore the subject it was
dropped by general consent, though 1t
was evident, even to the casual observ-
er. that she felt the slight keenly.
Naturally"
Permit me to finish the story. Three
days after Bertha had disappeared also.
Her absence was not noticed till the
evening. The first train to Paris brought
monsieur and madame, and naturally the
morgue was the first place visited.
Helas, their worst fears were realized
There, revealed to public gaze, peaceful
in death, was-Berthap'
At this point Bebe was evidently
struggling against the emotion that
manifested itself.
Madame, your story
''Hear mo out" she calculated. 1.-The
body had beon found in that receptacle
of misery-the Seine. Whatever doubts