Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-04
THE BROKEN CHAIR.

made he stopped moment on the last .
landing. From this landing opened two
doors, one at the right hand, one at the
left. He took a key from his pocket, looked
a long time at the door on the right, ut
tered great sigh, then opened the door
at the left He turned his head, looked
again at the right hand door, uttered
second great sigh, and entered his own
apartment
Once there he dotted his coat, put away
his bundles, took chair, placed IL against
the wall and himself astride of 1t, lighted
a cigar, and, remaining thus, watched the
little rings of smoke ascend TO the ceiling
while every five minutes he pressed his
ear to the partition.
He STAYED there for half hour or so,
smoking several cigarettes and pressing
his ear several times TO the wall. At last
his face, till then dull and melancholy,
took on an expression of JOY Some one
was moving on the other side.
she has returned he exclaimed.
In "A moment there was heard the noise
Of chairs and dishes
"She is going TO dine!' cried jacques,
and he pressed his ear still closer TO the
partition, trying to follow the least move
ment of his neighbor. He was not able
to see her, but he was happy 10 hear her.
to be near her.
To see her no morc That was a great
grief to Jacques. Formerly he had seen
her often.
He made plans TO meet her on the stair
way. For that he would remain In tho
street whole hours together Then, when
he perceived her afar off, he would come
back, mount few flights in order TO give
l.. q; 60, and Immediately de-
scending. as if by accident, would have the
10y Of "a single look in her face.
But he always felt so troubled to see her
mass before him, so grave and so reserved,
that he saluted her more awkwardly than
the most awkward schoolboy and lowered
his eyes without daring to raise them.
He had tried hard 10 be less timid had
practiced graceful salutations, invented
pretexts for conversation, imagined Wise
remarks. bat all this fOrethought was IN
vain. Each time that the adored being
passed JACQUES salutcd her more aWk-
wardly Once he even let fall his hat.
! Then despairing Of conquering his cmbar-
rassment and timidity and trembling lest
| he should make a bad impression upon
her he had renowned seeing her For,
be thought, what if | should happen not
10 please her 1t is better not TO see heI
than TO displease her.
JACQUES had arranged his life thus, tax
ing care never 10 go out or come IN at the
same time as his neighbor. And he con
tented himself with living beside her anc
near her without her having the leas'
suspicion of his existence
Without being able TO see her he wa
nevertheless acquainted with her
She was named Charlotte. She worked
by the day, setting forth early In TIT
morning and returning late in the even
ing. And she was honest oh, yes, yer.
honest and hardworking, for very far int
the night she occupied herself with TIL
needle
JACQUES felt himself filled with admira
ton for this brave and beautiful girl, wh
alone in the world-she was certainl
alone. for she never received any visits
knew so well how to resist the temptation
which befall one SO young and falr.
She had come 70 the house the year be
fore. The first time jacques had seen he
ne noticed that she was pretty-that wa
all. AT first he had given little attentlo
to her His love for her had come to MI
little 10y little, her attraction for him tor'
ing its way, so TO speak, through the pal
Z tition.
ne InOuGHt W llilil ihNN ~ ~ -
when he entered his home, Il wonder
she has retired, " and when coming GU
early in the morning he thought, II wor
der if she is awake" Little by little I'll
thought Of the morning became boun
without interruption to the thought
the evening. 1t became the thought I
his entire life. Jacques was now well
tablished in his affection for Charlotte
He adored her and he knew that he shoul
adore her always
If she had permitted him to speak
her. or if he had had courage TO speak
her. his declaration and his confession
faith would not have been long. IL wou
have been this only
"Mademoiselle, | love you. Will you
my wfef"
But, alas. 10 offer ones hand TO wor
an it Is necessary to have something Wit
in il, and Jacques had nothing He w
painter-one Of those artists rich
hopes only, who intended 10 have son
day his hotel in Monceau park, but nc
his canvases did not sell, and during the
later days not single purchaser or pI
MUM had happened his way, so that l
poor boy had been obliged TO pawn for J
rent his few furnishings till there RENAL
ed, except his bed, only one poor cane SCI
ed chair-a chair so old, so broken, so u
tering, il was a miracle that 1t could no
|, itself together with him astride 1t.
, Jacques was always there astride OF |
old chair trying TO trace through the Tn
partition the goings and comings OF !
pretty neighhor AS the blind by tou
alone gain an adequate knowledge OF I
o. form of objects, the young artist 10y I
: rustling of Charlottc's dress against
y furniture, by the distance and approa
Of her step, by her silence even, had arr
ed at sense of seeing her which was
most ms good as visit with her face
" face Now she is setting the table
a she dimes" "Sho has finished now
d she is sitting down" ''She sews.
d Sometimes, always on horseback in
d chair, his observatory" as he called
lr he would shut his eyes and commence
. dream.
"Of what does she Think Does she !
agine that am hereS II she only KIN
how love hcrl'
He was tempted To make noise, TO
attention To himself 10y some folly,
v,e the fear Of her displcasure restrained hi
l.. hut M glnnl6 KIN