The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-03-13

something very like terror he eyed the
fleeting minutes which separated him
from eternity.
Another hour flew away while he was
getting ready to die, stopping now and
then to muse with melancholy on his
past life. He wrote to his mother very
long letter, full of "reminiscences of his
early life and as he did so tears came to
his eyes.
Suddenly Raymond started at the
sound of the electric bell. After a few
seconds of wild expectation the door
was opened and the servant ushered in:
"Mme. la Comtesse de Villemere!"
He rose from his seat, very pale.
"Odette!" he exclaimed.
But the young woman remained
standing on the threshold, her features
contracted with niger.
This is most shameless trick, SIR"
"a trick! What do you meanP"
"You wrote me word that you are
dying, and find you up and well, writ
ing your letters. Good-by, SIR"
"Odette! Do let me explain; one word
only" And as she was leaving the
comte snatched up from the desk the
letter he was writing to his mother and
leaving" he gasped.
few lines, and then fell on Raymond's
neck sobbing.
"Poor boy! It was the truth"
For a few minutes they remained
clasped in each others arms, full of
passion and pain, giving mute express
sion to the memory of the happy months
they had spent together and to remorse
for the year of happiness they had lost
by their separation.
They sat down close to one another,
hand in hand, completely overcome by
their feelings.
At last the comte bethought himself
of his forefathers, one of whom had
climbed the steps of the scaffold in '93
whistling a tune from the "Indes
Galantes."
well. never mind" said he, with a
smile. Il suppose l ought not to COM
plain. 1 am dying of a complaint
which will be fashionable tomorrow"
But Odette looked at him reproach-
fully. and he did not continue. Women
have no taste for irony.
They chatted about old times-at
first almost in a whisper, as if they were
in room where death had stricken
down a fellow creature; then, by de-
grees, the remembrance of better days
brought to mind little incident which
made their lips smile, while their eyes
caught sight on the wall of some object
recalling particulars of the life they had
led formerly, such as the pictures of
chase, which evoked the sound of the
hI1n ne hnf in rln
gladness the November mist, and they
dwelt with pleasure on the day when
they had cantered side by side, rustlfng
the brown leaves which covered the
forest path.
Miniature fans, dusty accessories OF
charming cotillons, reminded them of a
German waltz which they had danced
before their marriage, and how they
had f1irted the same evening under the
palm trees of the hot-house.
They lived over again their rides in
the Bois de Boulogne, under the green,
shady boughs, when they were like two
boys out for spree. breakfasting at
the Pavilion Chinois and coming back
through the Champ Elysees to take their
part in the exuberant life of the gay
city; they would part for a few hours,
yearning to meet again-after being
bored at the club and at o'clock tea
in their box at the opera or in the tete-
a-tete of their home.
Raymond and Odette were so ab-
sorbed by these old souvenirs that they
became oblivious of time and of the ter
rible circumstance which had brought
them together again.
The bell rang. They awoke to pain
full reality and exchanged a horrible
look of anguish.
"Dr. Darlois," announced the valet.
"Why, you do not mean to say that
you are out of bed?" said the medical
man, with an amazed countenance. Il
was coming to-"
"You were coming"
"Well, don't see why 1 should not
tell the truth now that thank God! l
was mistaken. I was coming to make
quite sure you were dead"
much obliged" smiled the comte.
"Then he is out of danger?" inquired
Odette, anxiousl Y.
There is no question about it. But
it is certainly very odd, for the Echo des
CIiniQueS published yesterday an ex-
haustive description of the Mona.
Nevertheless, pray be assured that am
very happy"
Unquestionably the doctor was very
happy. At the same time, if he had
told the whole truth he would have ad-
mitted that he was rather vexsd at hay-
ing been such bad prophet.
"Odette." suggested Raymond, in a
whisper, "do not you think you might
ask him to dinner with us in the even
ingP"-FTo8l the French IN the Strand
Magazine.