Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-05-17


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 hell. After q few
seconds Of wild expectation tho door
was opened and the servant ushered in
NINE. Ia Comtesso de Villemcrev'
Ho rose from his scat very pale.
"Odettei' no exclaimed.
But the young vgoman remained
standing on the threshold, her features
contracted with anger.
''This is amost shameless trick, sir.
"a triokl What do you mean?"
''You wrote me word that you arc
dying, and ! find you up and we'll,
writing your letters Goodby, SIR"
"Odettel Do let mo explain. One
word only" And as she was leaving tho
comte snatohed up from his desk the
letter no was writing to his mother
and hold it out to her. Read this be-
fore leaving, " he gasped.
Sho took the letter, glanced at tho
first few lines and then fell on Ray
mond's neck, sobbing.
Poor boyl 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 10 Il another,
hand in hand, completely overcome by
thoir feelings.
at last the comic bethought himself
Of his forefathors, one OF whom had
climbed the steps Of the soafoldin 1898
whistling a tune from the Indies Ga
lanter.
"Well, never mind, said he, with
a smile. II suppose ought not to com
plain. / IN dying of a complaint which
will be fashionable tomorrow.
But Odetto 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
a room where death had stricken down
a fellow creature. Then by degrees the
remembrance Of better days brought to
mind a 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 for
merly, such as the pictures Of q chase,
which evoked the sounds Of the hunts
mans horn as it rent in glowing glad
ness the EJvember mist, and they dwelt
with pleasure on tho day when they had
cantered side by side, rustling 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
hirted the same evening under the palm
trees Of the dollhouse.
They lived over again their rides il
the Bois de Boulogne under the green
shady boughs when they were like two
boys out for a spree, breakfasting at the
Pavilion Chinois and coming bach
through the Champs Elysees to take
their part in tho exuberant life Of The
gay city. They would part for a few
hours yearning to meet again-after be
ing bored at the club and at D o'olocl
team their box at the opera or in the
tete-a-tete of their home.
Raymond and Odette wero so absorb.
cd by these old souvenirs that they be
oamo oblivious of time and of the terri
BILE circumstance which had brough'
them together again.
The bell rang. They awoko to pain
full reality and exchanged q horrible
look Of anguish.
"Dr. Darloisl'' announced the valet,
"Why, you do not mean to say yol
are out Of bed?" said the medical man
with an amazed countenance. Il wa
coming to-
"You wero coming?"
well, 1 don't see why ] should no
tell the truth now that, thank God,
was mistaken. 1 was coming to max
quite sure you were dead.
Much Obliged, smiled the comte.
Then he is put of danger?" inquiries
Odette anxiously.
There is no question about it. Bu
it is certainly very odd, for the Ech
des Cliniques published yesterday a
exhaustive description Of the mona
Nevertheless pray be assured that l al
very happy
Unquestionably the doctor was yer
happy. At the same time if he had tol
the whole truth he would have admitte
that he was rather vexed at having bee
such a bad prophet.
"Odette, " suggested Raymond in
whisper, do not you think You migh
ask him to dinner with us in the ever
ing?'-From the French in Stran
Magazine.