The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-10-06
NINA.

Charles HarcOurt was one OF the most
intrepid habitues Of the Chateau Rouge
snd La Grandc Chaumiere; in fact Of
all those choreographic establishments
which the Partisan grisette visits regu-
larly in order TO lose her heart-and not
infrequently her rosy cheeks and the
freshness Of her youth.
Harcourt pretended to study medicine,
and 1t was among these pretty girls
sellers Of flowers, embroiderers OF linen,
and painters models-that he managed
to forget the terrors Of the hospital and
the scenes q. the surgical amphitheater.
Charles Harcourt had just arrived at
the time Of life when "a soft down shows
on the lip, when love knocks at the
breast, and whea the heart resembles a
lusty tree full OF vigor, from which has
fallen as yet neither leaf nor fruit.
The trombones Of the orchestra roar,
like thunder on stormy sea; the vio-
Inns scream like sea gulls above the
waves the music rolls and growls like
some hungry beast. All is confusion.
White shoulders and gold lace CLEAN
through the heavy air. The innocent
and the guilty dance together in the
same delirious motion.
While the dancers turn and whirl,
advancing wildly and as wildly retreat
ing, far in corner sits slender girl
watching the dance with an air Of sad
ness. Her mournful eyes follow the
crazy motions of the crowd with aston
ishment, and light sigh moves the
folds Of null on her breast
In the midst Of this indescribable
confusion, this pellmell of figures and
voices, appears that Of handsome boy
of twenty-five, remarkable for his vivac-
ity and the holiness Of his speech and
gesture. Finally, when the violins have
ended their agonizing cries and the
lamps are dying before the oncoming
daylight, this boy, whom his friends sa-
lutte as Harcourt, leaves the ball, new
conquest upon his arm-it is the slender
brunette Of the corner.
Charles Harcourt appeared no more
at the balls of the Latin quarter, but
spent his days at LEcole de Medicine,
passing his first examinations with dis
tinction. In one of those fascinating
little hOuses-such are Beranger pre-
tends to have inhabited at twenty
Charles made his home. guarding jeal.
ously the dangerous happiness Of a
union contracted without the help OF
lie MARIE and which is called morganatit
to avoid the use of less delicate phrase
His conquest of the ball was named
Nina. She was a good and affectionatt
child, and in spite of the anacreontiC
quadrilles Of the Latin quarter, she was
innocent. She had kept her heart in
tact. 1t was her sole economy. Charlie,
and Nina loved one another like two OF
La Fontaines doves. But Nina was 9
consumptve, and Charles read with af
fright the death of his happiness in tn,
paling face of his beloved.
His care of her was untiring; but THU
implacable malady never releases, an(
soon in a kiss Charles received his mis-
tress's last sigh. Nina died in the hos
pital; her long illness having exhausted
their feeble resources. and Charles ha(
the cruel courage to deliver the body o
his beloved to the Investigations of thu
pathologist. He wished to pursue, ever
in the flesh, this rival who had kille,
her. He made use of a cynical usage I,
preserve the skull. This. with a plastic
mask nodded upon the emaciated bod,
of the dead girl, was all that RENAME,
TO him.
Mina's loss affected Charles profound
ly. Out of character frivolous an,
careless. devoted only to coarse pleas
ures. had grown n deep aud serious love
This honest and generous affection ha
q 4
he was seized as by vertigo, and h
plunged into the abyss. He found hin
self face TO face with evil, and threw {
this monster the rest of his youth.
In this ocean Of false pleasures the r,
membrance Of Nina was drowned, an
a petulant little grisette called Marriott
took her place. One night in Novembe
Marietta and one of her friends, Charles
and one Of his companions We're togethe
in n little house on the Rue Ores. Tn
night was cold and sinister; masses {
heavy clouds were driven across gra
sky. the moon showed her mounful fac
only at intervals, sudden showers bei
upon the windows, and the wind howle
at the cracks.
These four young people drank an
| sang, unaffected by the storm and the
strange environment. II was the strang
medley Of the students life that Shove
in the small room-here signs Of worl
and there the broken bottles Of drinl
: ing bout A small table held drie
tibia, pile Of medical works, son
empty wine bottles and some articles
the toilet. There, too. was the plast,
cast OF the dead Nina. figure slend,
TO meagerness, the eyes cavernous an
: empty, the lips distorted into paint
smile. the plaster discolored by the kiss
e placed upon those lips in eternal far
well. Upon the chimney were a candl
small clock and a human skull. Z
one side "a tiny couch, ON the walls racl
81 for pipes and some cheap Autograph
Marietta and her friend Rose loung,
y about in untidy dishabille Earne
made pretense Of study, while Charlie
dulled 10y the warm and heavy ay
the room, leaned on the long table
n silence. Ii was group worthy Of Il
brush Of Cabot.
- "What is the matter with Charlie.
or cr...i Ernest. shutting his book noisil
che i a. sobpr aS "a uarchant -