The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-19

01HN
emily oblivious to the performance.
Sick at heart That she should belon, to
another, Claude lett the theatre. feel
inc that il nattered not to him whether
the play was successful.
The next morning q handsome
cquipage stopped before the building;
and \ footman mounted the stairway,
shifted haughtily as though tee neigh"
borhool WAS little to his liking, in
CURED "uppi5LIy'' Of the landlady
where NJ. Claude Moran was to be
found and then proceeded Oh his up
ward Journey with & grunt OF dissatis-
faction.
"Come in" shouted tho poet, who
was taking his morning meeN.
The tootman strobe orrogantly
through the doorway and gazel con-
tempuously at the shabby surcouno-
ings.
is this n. Claude Nora;n?" he
asked.
1T is; what Go You w"nt?:'
"WEat 10 waut? We'll, l. have to
deliver this message.
"Why don't you, and be quick about
it, for Ia busy
The iootman became more naughty,
Dut handed to tho poet IN envelope.
The poet opened it and read brief
message. KS became red with coniu'
sion and remained standing thers il
ecstasy. TIE foot1nau shifted from
foot to foot. Who WIS this shabby
fellow who kept him waiting so long?
swell, tho answer" said the foot
man, finally.
ooh, you're still here, are you? I
had forgotten about you. Just tell
your mistress l will cal! ut the hour
appointed.
"Tell her what?" repeated the
amazed servant.
"Tell the countess vh:t have said
and go, as am busy"
When the footmau had departed.
Claude gazed ct the note with rapture.
"Will you not come and see your old
friend. Julie, at $ o'clock this after.
noon?" At first he thought Of refus-
ing, remembering the ford man, his
patron. Besides, he had entered into
a base conspiracy with his rival.
These poems! And then he told him.
self be would see her at all hazards.
He counted what money he had and,
DOMINIC his best clothes, went into a
general merchandise establishment,
where he purchased new gloves, new
nccktie and sun1ry other articles CT
attire Of which he was III urgent need.
He hired q carriage a} the appointed
hour and repaired to Aer home.
She seemed like the same Julie he
had known ten yenrs ago. She greet"
ed him with a blush.
"It is long since we have met she
said. II saw your play last night
For IN hour Claude was.in Elysium.
She had grown very attractive and he
asked himself if this could be his old
playmate, the little Julie whose par
ents' estate had cdjoiued that Of his
father. Claude's rapture was broken
by servant entering with the card OF
biz rival.
"Tell him I am busy today" said
the little countess. "You are poet,
l understand"
Claude began to sta'nmer when she
opened an cnamelea box and took
therefrom a.large package ofpoems.
II sent for you to ask you if these
verses are sincere?" '~ 1884,
''Really, I am no judge"
ooh, [ don't care tors the poems
themselves, but what they conceal.
Take this one, for example. As I read
down, the first letter of each line I
tind what? Claude and Julie That
is what it spells. Strange, isn't it,"
ut is rather peculiar" murmured
the embarrassed poet.
"Now here is another. The same
test and I find: 4 love julie Is
that coincidence? it might be. but
that the letters of the last six lines
spell what? Why, Claude So we
have: 4 love Julie, Claude. So all
through the poems ! find secretive
love messages from certain Claude.
Again, he tells mo his full name in
this Ode to the Midnight Wind :
Claude Moran, jules boy lover /
find ciphers everywhere" laughed the
Countess. "Your poems are regular
puzzles. Now what want to know is
what do you moan by it,"
."Nothing, I assure you, absolutely
nothing" stammered the post.
"Why, you, Cluude-a deceiver,'
said she. merrlly. ''rhen those were
mere words-mere nothings! Alas.
whom are we to believe in this world ?''
''No, no." protested the poet. II
did intend them OF course-l could
not forget-so you Sec"
"a lucid explanation, truly she
exclaimed gayly and lie became more
confused.
'lt is the only one have to give, "
he said humbly. 81 can only ask your
pardon for"
Tho oountoso nou faoo1 him with