Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-09-25

other week he would return to Trlvas,
his native city. The name and memory
of Camille, the milliner, who had been
his sweetheart for a year, at the end of
which he had brusquely cast her off,
were not altogether indifferent to him.
Camille! Oh, yes, that was a long
time agon' he said as he looked at the
laundress, good, ugly soul from Yer
sailles, whom he had employed since
his early student days.
''Not SO long, after all" said the
laundress. She was looking at him
now, her hands on her hips, her keen
face expressing sort of maternal i'll
terest. She was not to be SO easily i'm
posed upon. She resumed:
"You were rather cruel to the poor
little woman, weren't you?"
Maurier shrugged his shoulders al
most imperceptibly as he took from his
closet bottle of cognac and two glasses,
saying, as he filled them:
81 broke with her when I found the
matter taking too serious turn; that is
all. One must have amusement. But to
compromise career-zut! To your good
health, Mother Legrain.''
The laundress as she drank the brandy
said:
"It does not prevent her being happy
now.''
AS she did not continue, after short
silence Manrier, curious, asked:
What is she doing, anyway"
"She is married. What do you think
nf fhafp Tn fat hoh rIoc hand
some shop, ,really-Aux Trois Princesses
Place Clichy."
$50 much the better.''
"And three children-loves-ro
and rosy as apples. You would never
recognize her, "said Mother Legrain in
sidiously
,"Do you still see her?''
"Not longer ago than week, M.
Maurier. Twas at my door. Rue Morgue,
when she passed with her husband and
children. They had come to Versailles
to visit the chateau and the park She
stopped and talked with me full min
ute. And dressed! Not as she used to
be-oh, no! One could see that her hus-
band was we'll to do"
And satisfied, when Maurier feigned
to yawn, that he was inwardly piqued
to interest, she slung the bundle of
clothes over her shoulder with Good
day, M. Maurier-until Monday-good
day"
Maurier prepared to 60 out, indulging
in the following monologue:
"Ah, me, poor Camille! Well, it is
better so. She has found chance to-
has got married, in fact. Curious l
should so entirely have lost sight of herl
She was pretty, was Camille-a trif1e
thin, but a good girl and full of droll
humor; a piquant face, always busted
with poudre de riz, and her silky hair
like an aureole about her head. How the
years fly! And she is married, and am
doctor, ripe for patients and domestic
life. Really, am not curious, but it
would be quite amusing to see her again
to see her in her new surroundings.
And who knows? She loved me when l
sent her from me and afterward wrote
me heartbroken letters. She lives in
Place Clichy, eh? Stop a minute-bah,
she must have forgotten mel Still, does
woman forget when she has suffered?
No. 1t would be queer if, after all
What have l to risk? leave Paris in a
week. I'll go to see her. My heart tells
me to try my luck.
With these edifying reflections Mau-
rier went down and took the Odeon-
Clichy omnibus, upon the top of which
he sat humming until he reached his
destination, Aux Trois Princesses In the
windows looked out upon the world an
artistic arrangement of silks and linen,
a forest of walking sticks and umbrellas
and gorgeous cravats. Although not
large, the shop indicated prosperity.
Maurier hesitated. suddenly embar-
rassed, not daring to enter for fear Of
encountering the hus band or perhaps a
clerk. At length, however, he entered.
Camille was behind the counter. He
recognized her at once. Her fair face
was busted with rice powder. as it used
to be. Her silky hair formed nimbus
about her head, as he remembered it.
She raised her eyes and glanced at him
expectantly, but with no sign of recog-
milton.
"You wish something, monsieur"
This greeting was unlocked for. He
stammered:
~ would like some collars and neck
ties"
She came out from the counter, say
ing, "The clerk is at breakfast. but l
will show them to YOU"