Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-07-20
fully up 20 the description which
JACQUES had given his friond.

for a moment as her eyes followed the
tall, graceful, wtllowy creature about
the room. Mime. de Vignes had kept
her word and exhausted her ingenuity
in dressing the young girl becomingly
"a charming simplicity in attire,
which displayed the exquisite delicacy
OF her figure, united with a Greek
couture which lent a most piquant and
arch expression to her face and head.
The dinner was not very gay. Do
all that he could, Jacques could not
arouse the psin.er from the settled
melancholy which seemed to have
hour Nine. de Vignes led her son from
the room, reminding him that the
physicians had recommended as much
sleep before midnight as possible.
Juliette was seated at the piano, en-
gagged in improvising q low, sweet
melody, a talent which she possessed
in q markell degree. Laurier sat near
her. Ever and anon the odor OF the
spray of jasmine which was pinned
up,n her corsage reached the artist,
and an almost %sutfocating sensation
came over him. The conflict within
his soul was terrible. On one side, he
seemed to see Jacques almost flesh
less hands projecting above a black
and stagnant pool, as If imploring him
to reacn out quickly; or the other, a
maiden of angelic mien, robed in
trailing robes of white, fastened her
pleading eyes upon him and whis-
pered: Take me; Ill bless your life
forever"
And the beautiful enchantress rose
before him, her eyes filled with that
savage CLEAN last seen there by him.
HCos mn okinr 1o,,rh h,,01ra bor hl,, IN
upon alss I'll the ea SOLEMN 1auE Peac p'o Of his naf fr h,S is
home, and he heard her cry
out: II shall take him, and only
for your sake" With this La1-
rier's heart teat hard and fast. He
called to mind his threat, "You shall
see me again." and as he tasted this
delightful cup which revenge set to his
lips, he clinched his hands and muir.
INJURED, Il must-I must do It'll"
"Must do what, Monsieur Pierre?"
inquired Juliette. archly, as she
wheeled her seat around and faced the
soliloluizing artist.
Must ave Jacques.." said Pierre,
slowly and solemnly.
save Jacques? Oh, Monsieur PIERRE"
cried the fair young maiden in q trem-
bling voice. clasping her hands and
fixing her large brown eyes on the art.
4oUs MOuAu W lOdNCl Uud yOu CJulu
save our poor jacques. My last words
en- earth would invoke q blessing on
you."
and i'll do save him, ~Juliette," con-
tinued Pierre, you will become his
wife, will you not:."
ooh, yes" she exclaimed, joyously;
then blushing deeply, added, you
know mamma wishes it, but I fear that
Jacques loves somebody else. He
doesn't seem to care for me. Isuppose
he looks upon his life as SO nearly over
that it would be folly"
The young girl hesitated.
But" persisted Pierre, IF I should
send him to you ome day, happy and
hearty, you will make him love you,
won't you, Juliette!?"
Tears choked her voice. She held
out her hand to Pierre, who pressed it
to his lips.
why. this is delightful, he thought
cite happy and punish her by one and
Nine. de Vignes now entered the
room with a request from Jacques
that Laurier should pass the night
under their roof. as was in fact often
his custom.
But he warns you, Mons. Pierre"
cried Nine. de Vignes, laughing, mot
to make your appearance at breakfast
with the same solemn visage which
you've worn this evening""
The night was surprisingly beauti-
full. and Pierre, throwing off his coat
and vest and loosening his shirt at the
neck to get rid, if possible, of the feel
ing of suffocation which weighed upon
his breast. sas down by the window.
He not ced that he was in Jacques
room, from which, on account of the
chill air from the water, he had been
removed to n on the land side of the
villa.
"Ay, Jacques is right" unused the
artist; lit Is only the affair Of q min
ute. and gives NJ pain sav to the
spectator. Then why not tonight"
The dreamy splash of the fountain on
of the sea as it broke on tho stony
shore, were sounds in sweet harmony
with Pierre L%aurier's thoughts. and as
sleep least of all things seemed likely
to come to him, he rose half uncon.
sciously, with the intention of descend
ing to the terrace. AS he gael into
the mirror he shuddered, 50 ashen pale
was his face, and such a mysterious
light shone from his eyes. He had
never seen himself If that was he.
Suddenly he gave q start, his breath
came in putfs, and cod drops of le 8.
piration gathered on his brow. jacques
pistol was lying in front Of him. Graf.
ually the fearful sinking sensation
passed off. The painter looked into
mirror and smiled, then reaching cut,
took up the weapon. thrust it into his
pocket and passed ~n-iselessly out of the
room.
The deliciously cool night air soon
rid the painters brain of all its phan.
toms, and he sat down where he could
look out on the sea and hear its voice
more plainly.
Suppose Davidoff should be wrong,n
he whispered to himself. Suppose
this thing called my soul. this breath.
thisshauow, should not yield obedience
to my will? Well, what harm?: A few
Tears, q few sah mes. and L would be
forgotten. When only one goes, SC
many are still left. And it would be
q triumph for Cemence Villa. Must
l not be superb she would say, that
men are willing to die for me this