Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-07-28
"He is thinking Of Nina" said Mari.

4
| "Rut often, even when ann here,
and him sitting before that plaster caat," "
said Mariettc. sulleniy.
"Oh, it's perfectly platonic." !" laughed
Ernest.
.'Bahr' seid Rose; ..you don't object
10 a plaster rival. do your
ITO the health OF Nina" cried Ernest.
Charles looked up quickly. These
tbes cut him to the heart.
NINA was good girl, y he said.
THAT remains TO be seen," cried Mari
cite; ~ am good girl, too. am noty'
lyon win be- when you are dead"
mocked Ernest.
Charles" said Mariette, sconfess that
ron love Nina stilll"
mo; do notr'
"More than You love mey'
mo, mol love you."
Very well, then prove II. There 10
that horrid skull that you keep an a
sacred relic. I've seen 1t grinning up
there long enough. Let us make the
punch in i'll"
"Ah, that's an original idea!' cried
Ernest. 'sMariette, you have the imag-
ination Of poet"
$50 be IL then" said Charles, and
rising he placed the skull in the middle
Of the table.
II am the one to light it." said Mari
cite triumphantly, pouring the liquor
into this CHASTITY cup.
Suddenly the punch was afire. the
tongues Of blue fame mixing amor9usly
with the smoke of the cigars. An odor
deadly and mephitic exhalsd from the
skull. Phosphorescent flames rose and
fell in strange colors of decay, and the
smoke rose in purple spirals into the air.
Charles felt shiver clutch him i'm its
cold fingers from head 10 foot. Mariette
tshowed her teeth in the horrible 10Y of
q secured vengeance. The rain fell
heavily outside, the windows shook.
Little by little drunkenness overcame
these ribald beings who jested with the
sacred mysteries of death. Then Mariette
began to sing song composed by
Charles for Nina, mockingly begging
him not to weep. FS3
As Charles heard the words Of the
song chanted In her pitiless voice, his
heart beat fast, something rose in his
throat, his voice failed and his head fell
heavily forward upon the table. His
sudden movement overturned the skull,
aud the burning brandy touched the
thin folds ef Mariette's dress. Her awful
cry of terror was lost i'm the flames
which enveloped her.
Charles remained in a delirious con-
dition. Idiotic cries burst from his lips,
and in spite OF himself, he rested his
eyes upon the mask OF plaster. whose
eyes remained fixed upon his with a
steady persistence that held his own.
He began to repeat the words Of his
early love and those of Nina when she
was happy with him, and finally those
that she had uttered when she felt the
end OF all their happiness approaching:
II love you so dearly. my beloved one.
| cannot give youup. l shall come back
sometimes at night to speak to you"
Feverish and trembling he drank greed
lily the last glass of punch at his elbow.
Suddenly the cast detached itself from
the wall and came forward through the
clouds Of smoke. He felt the sweat
start from every pore.
A sigh fell upon the air; he felt 1t pass
his cheek, moist and terrible; a breath
| from the tomb. A cry struggled % his
lips, but died there. His voice chokcd
In his throat. The figure approached,
, and the student recognized the beloved
of his youth. Silent tears were flowing
from the hollow sockets Of the eyes, and
as she bent toward him Charles felt her
lips upon his forehead-lips rs hard and
cold as marble. Then the phantom
raised her hand. pointing with he,
| skeleton finger 10 the clock, which was
/ at the stroke of 3. As Charles felt his
! heart fail in his breast and his veins turr
, | to ice the vision faded.
II Day was just beginning; the first ray.
, OF bright sun hit up the windows ol
the little room in the Rue Gree. Charles
awoke from profound sleep. Helookei
about sleepily upon the confusion which
surrounded him and endeayored to recall
the events Of the past night.
Ill These glasses and empty bottles; tina
|. is NATURAL" he muttered, land I hav.
slept here on the table, bnt--what tim,
, is ity''
He walked dizzily TO the chimney
= The hands were ut the hour of 3
and the clock had stopped He remem
= bered the frightful vision OF the nigh
and the accident TO Mariette, and b,
hurried TO the adjoining room.
al "Marietfe, Mariettei" he cried. No
) body answered. Charles opened tn,
: door violently. Ernest and Rose wer,
spon their knees beside tho bed.
: "MarietteT cried Charles
: "She is dead, replied Ernest
II sDeadYa
Eyes, at 3 o'clock
! "Mina is avengedr' said Charles sink
/ ing upon his knees.--Adapted for Ar
i gonaut from the French Of Frederic a,
Reiffenberg.