The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-25

on her locks which looked more ether
cal than ever.
1T is life's ambition. monsieur
said yivien. ~ had coupled il with
another ambition. but that one is sat
isfied-satisfied forever. You did not
see me? No, got away -eluded the
police and" she broke into such
strange. wild laugh that I thought Of
what Jadet had told me about her
mind.
This was the nearest she had come
to referring 20 her alteration with
the officer. and did not press her to
tell me more.
The thrill of the opening night Of
1.-The Countess Claire remains with
me still.
recall the crowded house. the
critics come to write the new drama
down and the throbbing OF my brain
as Vivien appeared before the foot
lights
But it was a success
The moment she spoke I knew
what would happen Her grace, her
bewitching face and figure, her
beauty, fragile but passionately
strong-all these united to insure ms
a triumph such as the little theater
had not scored in years
found Vivien, brilliant eyed. fn
one of the wings after the fall Of the
curtain
She seemed to be waiting for mo
one. and when I came forward to COLI
gratulate her she did not seem to see
me at all
I spoke, but she did not look up.
touched her arm and spoke again,
and then she seemed to recall that
she owed me answer
1t was success, Monsieur NJ"
she said. you are satisfied with
your 'cOuntess?'"
How could tell her how proud I
was of her? How tell her that she
had not only made her fortune, but
my own. as well?
You shall go home with me to-
night" said the girl. 81 believe the
time has come, but you viii let me
precede yon little"
told her that would be delighted
to see her at home, and below we
called a cab.
we go in separate cabs, monsieur,
spoke Vivien at the door. You can
follow. win direct the driver"
She called another csb and objected
The driver 10 take her 20 the Rne Bcf-
isi~e. mentioning the number in the
same breath The 4u-u Tell bee, aud
looked st her.
Nivien evas ia the vehicle Aua the
door was shut and in another minute
we were rafting over the stree Is Of
Paris, but in different cabs.
Eager to see Vivien At home and TO
note the route taken by my cab.
leaned against the glass and took
note of the streets. 1 was not far
behind her, and soon saw
that we were entering the poorest
quarter of Paris. the quarter where
the petroleuSes and commune had
gasped and died before the bullets OF
the soldiery.
Her cab halted and mine soon came
up, but Vivien was already out OF sight
1 entered the tall house and ran up
the steps, for the girl ad told me that
l would find her on the third floor
back, in little room ten by twelve.
1 heard the noise OF closing door
as I started down the grimy corridor.
l was there in a moment.
In another instant had opened the
door and stood on the threshold
light was burning on a table. aud
near it in a chair lay the form Of an
old woman.
Vivien was there, too, standing at
the chair, with her face as white as
death and her eyes riveted upon the
wrinixled face in the chair.
L advanced, but the girl threw up
her hand.
she is dead, monsieur" she said.
''She promised to live till came back
successful and she kept her word.
This is my mother-the little woman
who followed me from Haute Lor-
raine, and whose son. my brother, I
avenged by cutting to pieces the face
of the officer who had him shot those
awful days I have lived TO achieve
the only triumph I ever painted for.
Oh, the long nights over the drama
oh, the patching IL took and the oil
we burned, and the bread we tried TO
save till it was ready for you"
/ seemed thunderstruclr
what, was it your worlS2-tha
drama?-"The Countess Claire?' 4"
Vivien smoothed the white hair
that struggled over the cold temples
of the dead and smiled.
1T was my work. but IL took my
blood. Mother always said find him
first and I found him. Monsieur,
you have lost your countess; you can
find another, but she will not be Wv
len; no. not the little butterfly Of the
Haute Lorraine"
I sprang forward TO prevent her
from falling to the floor in a faint,
but she was down already, and I ten
derby laid her upon the poorly draped
bed in one corner of the room
The little doctor whom summoned
looked once and then turned to me
with shake Of his head.
''It is too late. monsieur; they will
go side by side to Pere Ia Chaise, if
4,nr