The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-15
Group of Short Stories for Blue Mondays Idle tours
THE AWFUL
SECRET OF AN UNOFFICIAL
DOCUMENT

vi.
J today by mistake" said Mime. Juifs' serv-
| 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 arrondissc-
ment of Paris.
She pulled out the first paper that her
fingers touched, unfolded 1t and gave
little cry. 1t was not an official document.
1t was not the certificate required. Oh,
| mol
Tell the man I cannot find It," said
madame. "Ho 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 drawcr-occasion had never arisen
until that ovening-and she and dry, I'M
romantic documents had naught in COM
mon 1t was her first attclnst at angling
in her husbands official preserves, and
she had caught very compromising fish
She unfolded tho prettiy tinted deli
cately pcrfumed billet doux. 1t was that,
she knew without perusnl, but she read IL
nevertheless. 1t RAM
Meet mo tonight in the old rendezvous.
You have not forgotten, my dear, though
it is years since we lounged together I'M
der the trees at the back of the Palais de
l'Industrio and listened to tho music.
Meet me there tonight ct s. Do not fail
me- 1t is hard to plead and threaten in
the same gasp, but can do it. DO not
fail me, l repeat. Como to me, or 1 will
como to you, and, madame-and how
would you like that"
1t was signed Marie''-no other name.
1t bore no address, but tho postmark
proved it TO have come from Gentily that
day
II, too, will look into this, she said.
1t was past when Mme. Juifs dis
charged her flacre and walked round to the
garden at tho back of tho Palais dc PIN
dustric where a Concert Besselievre was
in full swing. 1t was a fine night, warm
and starry. Tho little garden, with it's
breeze from the river, was pretty and APP
propriate lounge. The salon, in the height
of its season, had emptiod 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
her temper short Thon, when she
thought Of relinquisEing her quest, she
spiod her miscreant husband-it was her
own adjectivo-with that woman.
His arm was laced with hers so lightly
that the outlines of their bodies mingled.
They wore talking-she with animation,
he TRANQUILITY. Madame noticed how rest
loss and uneasy he was. His eyes roamcd
from right to left-before behind 1t took
every available cover and all madames
ingenuity to draw within range of their
voices unreoognized, though she was muf-
d1.1z Ill
away?" the woman was asking excitedly.
mo, MOP no replied soothingly. You
will let me stay in Professionalism Paris
and sec you sometimes, perhaps daily
All, my dear, how delightful"
Yes Certainly he replied.
"Wretch!' muttered madame.
- will keep my secret, Pierre-our So
cret. Oh, promise you'll
'Of course you will. "
Twill you'' Kissed madame.
"Sbe-your wife-need never know"
"Of course not. -
''Diablc' exclaimed madame.
''You will not send mo backp" she re-
iterated.
mo. Don't be afraid
II knew you would not IL I could only
see you, speak to you, tell you how cruel
they arc And they said, Pierre, it was
your doing by your desire was there. I
told them they lied. knew it,
'Of course they did," replied Pierre
calmly.
And + tricked them so beautifully
she added, with chuckle. "They were all
at breakfast and my preparations were SO
carefully planned that I was there before
they missed me.
She laughed. The sound struck madame's
bones and made them ache.
Whore arc you going, Pierre?" she ask.
ed after pause.
''Going?"
"Yes. Why do we walk, walk, walk
and never stopP Where are you taking
me? Pierre it is getting late. Where
will you take mo tonight?'
Ito those who will look after you, lit
tie ONE
''Not-not back thereP'
"No. Won't you trust me9"
Eyes. Pierre do trust you. You will
take me somewhere to sleep and
You will be quite safe and comforts
ble"
"And you?'
II must go 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 near, IlefTc! L Will nOU loU you.
have lost you for years and years, and now
l have found you I will keep you I will;
/ willl''
Hush. Don't get excited. I'll stay
with you"
AT that juncture madame, standing
few yards distant, was about to reveal her
self, but the sudden appearance of two
men made her hesitate and watch wonder
ingly.
Pierre saw the men also and acknowl-
edged their presence with the slightest
movement of the head. Then his face as
sumed less anxious expression.
Come" he said to his companion.
LET us go away. 1t is late, and we must
find a homo for tonight"
They turned and walked toward the gar
den gate, tho two men few PAGES ahead.
Madame drew farther into tho shadow.
They passed her. The light of the lamps
swinging from tho trees fell plentifully
upon tho woman. Her dress was disar-
ranged and torn, her hair disheveled 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 unrelcnting luster Of