The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-01-31
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But I do not know-I can not tell
Ircan not return to my place after SO in
excusable IN absence"
you have lost your s%ituation?"
Why, certainly. My employer is
severe-absolutely severe-with regard
to absence without permission. But
I shall not remain a burden upon
you. I shall seek work-anything.
Oh. this debt thai 1 can not pay
never pay perhaps! And it will
all be made public! A situation
will be difficult to find after such
a story is bruited abroad. For myself
it matters little, but for my mother
n sister, and you, my good Tiomane.
cast back into your poverty, and by
me! What q miserable wretch I ami
He stopped, overcome with emotion.
Maritza's voice called him from the
next room.
Go to them at once,' said Tiomane,
in a tone of authority which he always
obeyed. Give me time to think, to
reflect, on what ought to be done. I
will a that l have an errand in the
city, and will ask you to accompany me-;
then we a talk without fear of being
interrupted" When she found herself
alone, she sank down, overcome with
contending emotions and bitter thoughts.
This, then, was the end of all her efforts
"a catastrophe more terrible than
anything she had imagined! And it
was Guillaume, in whom she trusted;
Guillaume, from whom she a hoped
SO much, was it's author. A sup
per, a game Of cards-the pleasure of a
moment! He nae not wen thought of
them. He had no love, no pity, FOR
them. His mad folly had cast them
back into their poverty@ poverty even
greater than that under which they
were suffering when they came to
Paris, for now the last farthing of the
small sum of money in. reserve had been
expended. They would now be Obliged
to live on the small income from the
railway shares. Fifteen hundred francs
for four persons, until this guilty, in
fatuated boy found another positions!
And, under the. circumstances, when
would that be? ~
This debt, this enormous debt, which
It was impossible to Day., terrified her.
There vas no one to help them. SAM
cede-that good, devoted Sancede-
could do nothing, for he was poor him
self. In her terror and excitement she
imagined the most dreadful conse-
quences. With Guillaume's impulsive
character, would he be able to endure
the insults of his creditor? Would he
not, in a moment of uncomfortable
anger, avenge himself on the man? Or,
unable to bear the disgrace of a debt
he could not pay, rnaddened by the
degradation of his position, would he
put an end to his own life?
The entrance Of the wife of the con-
cierge forced Tiomane to affect a calm
which she did not feel, and to give her
orders for dinner as usual. While she
was doing so, the kind-hearted woman,
who had not noticed her young mis-
tress' sad face, repeated the compli-
ments which she had just heard from
M. Desgoffes for the wonderful voice
which filled the whole house with it's
melody. He had climbed the f~ourrpairs
of stairs to near it the evening before.
She had surprised him listening on the
out the gas. Yes, yes, mademoisale,
he says you have 10O,0 900 francs income
in your throat. He is sure of it,"
At that moment, when all hope had
abandoned her, when she knew not
where 10 lufI, THESE WOiuS leel upon
Tiomane's ears like a revelation from
heaven. Her voice was worth money!
She knew not how, she did not try to
comprehend; but her voice was worth
money-that was all. Could it be true?
Without stopping to reflect, urged on
by one thought, ready to undertake any
thing, she begged the good to
go down at once and ask the professor
10 lo ,o,,l -r-o- - ~ p - ~ - FOp
a few moments. She soon reappeared,
the bearer of M. Desgoffes' compliments.
He would be delighted to see the young
lady who had given him so much
pleasure.