The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-06-28
"Without doubt"

without Doubt"
"Fabrec, you are q hoaxer, and you
mock me with your souvenirs Of your
student days
Suddenly the comedienne's maid in.
terrupted them. saying:
Madame, madame, the monsieurs
and the ladies are getting into the car
riages. They are waiting only for you"
And the voice Of the manager was heard
up the stairway:
mile. Cherubinl Quickl We are
latel"
In a moment the waiting woman had
enveloped Sophie in her furs, taken the
packages from the hands of the dresser,
and the two women had flown away
with an "Au revoir. Fabrec, " from the
actress.
The deputy was about to start in his
turn when old Constance approached
him, and lifting her face full of misery
murmured timidly:
Monsieur"
Helm? What, my good woman?'
Il have a request to make of you.
VOLTA, | am i'll l no longer have my
health, and it is with difficulty | do
my work. would like to be admitted
into a hospital for incurables."
Very we'll, the next time l come you
can give me a note, " responded Fabrec
absently.~
But the dresser had not finished. And
then, monsieur, there is a thing which
will perhaps interest you further. l
have heard everything when you were
talking with madam. I am Blanche
Lilas." "a
Fabrec made an involuntary exclama-
ton and recoiled a step. Blanche Lilas!
Blanche Lilas SO horrible an old beggar,
with the face of a death mask, he cried
nervously, almost fearfully:
How old are you. then?"
The old woman smiled pitifully:
mot SO old as l appear, it is true. l
have had SO much misfortune" she
groaned. II Inn now 60, and | was al
ready Al years old when you first saw
me. One cannot judge Of the age of an
actress from the stalls, as you said a
moment ago. but that did not prevent
my receiving my dismissal that very
year because they found me too old.
Misery followed Immediately. Three
months after leaving the theater l was
working in q kitchen. Not very long
after that an old friend who plays the
dolard here got me this place Of dresser.
But l am at the end of my strength.
There is nothing but q hospital that
will please me now. My request is to
the public assistance. You can ask in
my real name, Constance Poireau. And
since in the days. monsieur, you have
paid me attention.
She stopped, as though ashamed, as
though fearing to displease in insisting
upon this souvenir to the man whose
aid she solicited. Happily for her he
was kind hearted.
Twill go. Twill 60 tomorrow" said
he in a voice that trembled q little.
REST assured l will strike the officers
Of the hospitals and put fire under their
stomachs. And if for the moment
his fingers were at his pocket hole-"I
can be useful
She made a dignified gesture Of re.
fusal.
Thank you, monsieur, all that I de-
sire is to enter the hospital. There with
my little annuity from the Society of
Artists l will be perfectly happy"
With q cordial movement before quit
ting her he extended his hand. When
she had put her own wrinkled and dry
hand in his, he could not repress a shud.
der to think that 20 years before he
would have cried with joy if he had
been able to depose upon that same hand
his timid kiss of adolescence. From
the French of Francois Coppee.