Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-09
A BILLET DOUX.


ant.
Madame put down her novel and opened
the drawer of her husbands writing table
that drawer devoted exclusively to the
reception of public documents which M.
Juifs possessed in his capacity Of deputy
mayor and councillor Of -th arrondisse-
ment of Paris
She pulled out the first paper that her
flngers touched, unfolded 1t and gave a
little cry. 1t was not an official document
1t was not the certificate required. Oh,
no!
''Tell the man cannot find it," said
madame. "He must call tomorrow. Mon
sieur is out"
The servant disappeared, and madame
sat down, paper in hand.
1t was the first time she had opened
that drawer-occasion had never arisen
until that evening-and she and dry, un-
romantic documents had naught in COM
mon. 1t was her first attempt at angling
in her husbands official preserves, and
she had caught very compromising fish.
She unfolded the prettily tinted, deli
cately perfumed billet doux. 1t was that,
she knew without perusal, but she read it
u6V6rUu6l6SS. IL RAM
meet me tonight in the old rendezvous
You have not forgotten, my dear, though
1t is years since we lounged together un-
der the trees at the back Of the Palais de
l'Industrie and listened to the music.
Meet me there tonight at 8. Do not fail
me. 1t is hard to plead and threaten in
the same gasp, but can do it. Do not
fail me, repeat. Come to me, or will
come to you, and, madame-and how
would you like that"
It was signed "Marie'-no other name.
1t bore no address, but the postmark
proved 1t to have come from Gentilly that
day.
II, too, will look into this" she said.
1t was past when Mme Juifs dis
charged her tiacre and walked round to the
garden at the back of the Palais de PIN
dustrie, where Concert Besselievre was
in full swing. 1t was fine night, warm
and starry. The little garden, with its
breeze from the river, was pretty and ap-
propriate lounge. The salon, in the height
Of its season, had elnptied its votaries
from the galleries to the fresh air. Breeze
and music were alike invigorating after
the toll of picture gazing.
Madame wandered under the trees for
an hour until her feet grew weary and
hcr temper short" Then, when she
thought of relinquishing her quest, she
spied her miscreant husband-it was her
own adjective-with that woman.
His arm was laced with hers so lightly
that the outlines of their bodies mingled.
They were talking-she with animation,
he TRANQUILITY. Madame noticed how rest
less and uneasy he was His eyes roamed
from right to left-before, behind. 1t took
every available cover and all madame's
ingenuity to draw within range of their
voices unreoognized, though she was muf-
fled and veiled "You will not send me
awayS" the woman was asking excitedly.
"No nol he replied soothingly. "You
will let me stay In Paris-beautiful Paris
and see you sometimes, perhaps daily?
All, my dear, how delightfully."-
Eyes. Certainly" he replied.
Wretch" muttered madame.
~ will keep my secret, Pierre-our se-
cret Oh, l promise you'll
''Of course you will. )"
"Will you!' Missed madame.
"She-your wife-need never know"
"Of course not.
''Diable" exclaimed madame.
"You will not send me baokp" she re-
iterated.
mo. Don't be afraid"
Il knew you would not II could only
see you, speak to you, tell you how cruel
they are. And they said, Pierre, 1t was
your doing, by your desire was there. I
told them they lied. KNEW It's
"Of course they did, replied Pierre
calmly.
"And I tricked them SO beautifully"
at breakfast and my preparations were SO
planned that was there before
they missed me-"
She laughed. The sound struck madame's
bones and made them ache.
Where are you going, Pierre?" she ask
ed after pause.
"Going'"
Eyes. Why do we walk, walk, walk
and never stopp Where are you taking
me9 Pierre, 1t is getting late Where
will you take me tonight"
"To those who will look after you, lit
tie one"
"Not-not back thercs'
''No. Won't you trust mep"
Eyes. Pierre, do trust you. You will
take me somewhere to sleep and'-
"You will be quite safe and comforta-
ble."
"And you?''
II must 60 home to my wife,"
you must-go-home You are going
to leave me tonight"
II must"
"You shall not You must not. Do
you hear, Pierrep will not let you. I
have lost you for years and years, and now
have found you will keep you. will;
I will!''
flush. Don't get excited. I'll stay
with you."
At that junoture madame, standing a
few yards distant, was about to reveal her
self, but the sudden appearance of two
men made her hesitate and watch wonder
lngly.
Pierre saw the men also and acknowl-
edged their presence with the slightest
Of the head. Then his face as
sumed a less anxious expression.
Come" he sud to his companion.
Let us 60 away. 1t Is late, and we must
lind home for tonight"
They turned and walked toward the gar
den gate, the two men few PAGES ahead.
Madame drew farther into the shadow.
They passed her. The light OF the lamps
swinging from the trees fell plentifully
upon the woman. Her dress was disar-
ranged and torn, her hair disheyeled and
ragged. Upon her frail, wan face sat
smile Of victory, an unnatural, unholy
smile, expressed only in her mouth. Her
eyes shone with the unrelenting luster Of
Madame shuddered.
As they passed her the woman spoke.
"Pierre, my brother, they call me mad"
Then she laughed mirthlessly. The
sweat Of pain stood on Pierre's brow.
Poor grill" groaned madame. my
poor dear, wronged husband!" She saw
that Pierre was gently leading the poor
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