The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-04-13

cal than ever. # s.z
''It is "a life's ambition, monsieur, .
said Vivien. 81 had coupled it with
another ambition, but that one is sat-
| isfied-satisfed forever. You did not
see me? No, got away -eluded the
| police and" she broke into such a
strange, wild laugh that thought of
| what Jadet had told me about her
| mind. :.
This was the nearest she had come
to referring to her alteration with
the officer, and did not press her to
tell me more.
The thrill of the opening night of
1.-THE Countess Claire remains with
me still. .
I recall the crowded house, the
| critics come to write the new drama
down and the throbbing of my brain
as Vivien appeared before the foot.
| lights.
| But 1T was a success.
The moment she spoke I knew
what would happen. Her grace, her
bewitching face and figure, her
| beauty, fragile but passionately
strong-an these united to insure me
a triumph such as the little theater
had not scored in years.
l found Vivien, brilliant eyed, in
one of the wings after the fall of the
curtain.
She seemed to be waiting for no
one, and when came forward to con-
| graduate her she did not seem to see
me at all.
spoke, but she did not look up.
touched her arm and spoke again,
and then she seemed to recall that
| she owed me answer.
lit was success, Monsieur NJ"
she said. ''You are satisfied with
your 'countess?'"
How could I tell her how proud I
was of her? How tell her that she
had not only made her fortune, but
my own, as we'll?
"You shall go home with me to-
night" said the girl. II believe the
time has come, but you will let me
precede you little"
l told her that I would be DELIGHTED
to see her at home, and below we
called cab.
1T will be going home with me if
we go in separate cabs, monsieur"
spoke Vivien at the door, ''You can
follow. will direct the driver"
She called another cab and directed
the driver to take her to the Rue Bor-
laise, mentioning the number in the
same breath. The man fell back and
looked at her.
Vivien was in the vehicle and the
door was shut, and in another minute
we were rafting over the streets of
Paris, but in different cabs.
Eager to see Vivien at home and to
| note the route taken by my cab,
leaned against the glass and took
note of the streets. I was not far
behind her, and soon saw
that we were entering the poorest
quarter of Paris, the quarter where
the petroleuses and commune mad
gasped and died before the bullets of
the soldiery.
Her cab halted and mine soon came
up, but Vivien was already out of sight
entered the tall house and ran up
the steps, for the girl ad told me that
l would find her on the third floor
back, in little room ten by twelve.
heard the noise of closing door
as started down the grimy corridor.
was there in a moment.
In another instant I had opened the
door and stood on the threshold.
A light was burning on table, and
near it in chair lay the form of an
old woman.
Vivien was there, too, standing at
the chair, with her face as white as
death and her eyes riveted upon the
wrinkled face in the chair.
| advanced, but the girl threw up
her hand.
''She is dead, monsieur" she said.
''She promised to live till 1 came back
successful and she kept her word.
This is my mother-the little woman
who followed me from Haute Lor-
raine, and whose son, my brother, l
avenged by cutting to pieces the face
| of the officer who had him shot those
awful days. have lived to achieve
the only triumph I ever painted for.
vi, VIC lOuS ulSSuUS over UQe drama;
oh, the patching it took and the oil
| we burned, and the bread we tried to
save till it was ready for you.''
seemed thunderstruck
"What, was it your work?-the
drama?-'The Countess Claire?'''
Vivien smoothed the white hair
that struggled over the cold temples
of the dead and smiled.
1T was my work, but. it took my
blood. Mother always said find him
first and I found him. Monsieur,
you have lost your countess; you can
I find another, but she will not be Wv.
len; no, not the little butterfly of the
| Haute Lorraine"
sprang forward to prevent her
from falling to the floor in faint,
but she was down already, and ten.
derby laid her upon the poorly draped
| bed in one corner of the room. ~+>
/ The little doctor whom. summoned
| looked once and then turned to me
! with a shake of his head.
''1t is too late, monsieur; they I'll
go side by side to Pere la Chaise, if
| ],