The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-24
A BILLET DOUX.


wants certificate NJ. Juifs brought home
today by mistake" said Nine. 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 til arrondisse-
ment of Paris.
She pulled out the first paper that her
fingers touched, unfolded it and gave
little cry. It was not an official document
1t was not the certificate required. Oh,
30!
Tell the man 1 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, I'M
romantic documents had naught in COM
mon. 1t was her first attempt at angling
in her husbands official preserves, and
she had caught a very compromising fish.
She unfolded the prettily tinted, deli
cately perfumed billet doux. 1t was that,
she knew without perusal, but she read it
nevertheless. 1t ran:
Meet me tonight in the old rendezvous.
= Q nave HUI lOIssOOlSI, my QSaE, bIlOQ8n
it is years since we 1ounged together I'M
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 1 can do it. Do not
fail me, I repeat. Come to me, or will
come to you, and, madame-and how
would you like that:"
1t was signed "Marie''-no other name
HIT bo or1-
proved it to have come from Gentilly that
day
Il, too, will look into this,' she said.
1t was past when Nine. Juifs dis
charged her fiaore and walked round to the
garden at the back of the Palais de I'm
dustrie, where a 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 APP
propriate lounge. The salon, in the height
of its season, had emptied 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 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 madames
ingenuity to draw within range of their
voices unrecognized, though she was muf-
fled and yelled. You will not send me
away?' the woman was asking excitedly.
"No, MOP he replied soothingly. You
will let me stay in Paris-beautiful Paris
and see you sometimes, perhaps daily?
All, my dear, how delightful!'
"Yes. Certainly he replied.
"Wretchl" muttered madame.
Il will keep my secret, Pierre-our Sc
cret. oh, I promise you'll
''Of course you will
'Will you'll Missed madame.
"She-your wife-need never know"
COT course not
''Diabler' exclaimed madame.
''You will not send me back?' she re-
iterated.
No. Don't be afraid
81 knew you would not if I could only
see you, speak to you, tell you how cruel
they are. And they said, Pierre, it was
your doing, by your desire 1 was there.
told them they lied. 1 knew it."
''Of course they did," replied Pierre
calmly.
And I tricked them so beautifully
she added, with a chuckIe "They were all
at breakfast and my preparations were SO
carefully planned that was there before
they missed me. -
She laughed. The sound struck madame
bones and made them ache.
Where are you going, Pierre?'' she ask
ed after pause.
"Going?"
yes Why do we walk, walk, walk
and never stop? Where are you taking
me? Pierre, it is getting late. Where
will you take me tonight"
s'To those who will look after you, lit
tie one
''Not-not back there?"
"No. Won't you trust me?"
eyes. Pierre, do trust you. You will
take me somewhere to sleep and''-
You will be quite safe and comforta-
BILE
And you?''
81 must go home to my wife"
''You must-go-homei You are going
to leave me tonight?''
Il must"
''You shall not You must not. Do
you hear, Pierre? I will not let you. L
have lost you for years and years, and now
have found you L will keep you. will;
willl''
Hush. 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
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. It is late and we must
find home for tonight
They turned and walked toward the gar
den gate, the two men a few PAGES ahead.
Madame drew farther into the shadow.
fNhnr 1,orcod hnr The 1irlf of fha larrlrnS