The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-31

. III - -
mast life. He wrote 10 his mother > very
long letter, full Of "reminiscences OF biz
early life, and as he did 90 tears came
to his eyes. s zisS 4
Suddenly Raymond started at tho,
sound Of the electric bell. After few
seconds Of wild expectation the door
was opened and the servant ushered In 8;
.'Mme. 10 Comtesse de Villemere!
He rose from his seat very pale. !.
"Odette!" he exclaimed. N
But the young woman remained
standing on the threshold, her features
contracted with anger: v
''This is Almost shameless trick, sir. I'll
IA trick! What do you mean?
'sYou wrote me word that you are
dying, and find you up and well, I:
writing your letters Goodby, sir. =
''Odette! Do let me explain. One.
word only" And as she was leaving the
comte snatched up from his desk the:
letter he was writing to his .nJthers
and hold it out to her. 'Read this be-
fore leaving,'' he gasped. II: d b z''s
| She took the letter, glanced 1T the
first few lines and then fell on Ray
mond's neck, sobbing.
'Poor boyl 1t was the truth. y a
For few minutes they remained
olasped in each others arms, full OF
passion and pain, giving mute express
sion to tho memory of the happy months
they had spent together and to remorse
for the year of happiness they had lost
by their separation. . 4. I. :&
They sat down close to one another,
hand in hand, completely overcome By
their feelings. -. ~ sz=s@s.
. At last the comte bethought himself
Of his forefathers, one OF whom had
climbed the steps of the scaffold in 1898
whistling tune from the ''Indes Ga
lanter. {" .~.~'-' > ,-...2
"Well, never mind" said he, with
a smile. II suppose ought not to COM
plain. am dying Of q complaint which
will be fashionable tomorrow. 4.
But Odette looked at him reproach-
fully, and he did not continue. Women
have no taste for irony. .saa
They chatted about old times, at first
almost in whisper, as if they were in
q room where death had stricken down
q fellow creature. Then by degrees the
remembrance of better days brought to-
mind 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 a chase,
which evoked the sounds Of the hunts
mans horn as it rent in glowing glad-L
ness the November mist, and they dwelt
with pleasure on the day when they had
oantered 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
firted the same evening under the palm
trees of the dollhouse. 81
They lived over again their rides in
the Bots Gle Boulogne under the green,
shady boughs when they were like two
boys out for a spree, breakfasting at the
Pavilion Chinois and coming back
through the Champs Elysees TO- take 3
their part in the exuberant life Of the
gay city. They would part for 4 few;
hours yearning to meet again after be-s
ing bored at the club and at 5 o'clock
team their box at the opera or in the
tete-a-tete Of their home.
Raymond and Odette were SO absorb
ed by these old souvenirs that they be-
came oblivious of time and of the terri
BILE circumstance which had brought
them together again. "a 20 z.
The bell rang. They awoke to pain,
full reality and exchanged a horrible
look OF anguish. =, n
CDR. Darlois!' announced the valet.
"Why, You do not mean to say you
are out of bed?" said the medical man,
with all amazed countenance. II was
coming to- 3
'You were coming?' @
We'll, don't see why 7 should not
tell the truth now that, thank God, I
was mistaken. Twas coming to make
quite sure you were dead
"Much Obliged" smiled the comte. (:
''Then he is out of danger?'' inquired
Odette anxiously. .yss..
''There is no question about it, But
it is certainly very odd, for the Echo
des Cliniques published yesterday an \
exhaustive description Of the mona.
Nevertheless pray be assured that am
very happy '...i. z :.
Unquestionably the doctor was very
happy. At the same time if he had told
the whole truth he would have admitted
that he was rather vexed at having been
such a bad prophet. |' I.
"Odette, suggested Raymond in a
whisper, do not you think you might
ask him to dinner with us in the even
ing7''-From the French in Strand
Magazine. ...
Cool. ...r-.. rA#
A great deal of public mirth and oc-