The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-06-17
THE THIEF.

At that time l was engaged, and vsry
pleased to be, to most eniQmatical young
person. She spoke rarely and in a way al
ways little mysterious, making volunta-
rily secrets of a hundred little actions CT life
and loving solitude in an alarming man.
ner.
All this was offset by eyes 30 beautiful,
by a coloring marvellous, by an express
sion SO divine that had not the courage
to reflect on the singnlarity of her charao-
ter. 1 loved her, and 1 often passed hours
of the night sitting before her doorstep,
simply dreaming ''that she lived there
and meditating ON her presence as does the
believer ON the transubsta tiation.
did not know, in the first place. wheth-
er she loved me or not; she always refused
to answer that question, referring to the
wishes of her parents and her confidence In
their wisdom. If insisted, she generally
ended by saying "that she knew nothing
about it, but that she felt no antipathy to-
ward me, and that, according to her ideas.
was enough to decide young girl on mar
rage" In vain l duplicated, liz vain ]
tried to animate this enigmatical being.
She remained as distant as the manner in
which she loved, as unknown as she was
dominating.
One evening as I was dreaming little
sadly of these things alone on the terrace
of the Syrtes commotion was heard in
the house. / returned to the salon, where
everything was in disorder, my hosts were
distressed their friends embarrassed and
troubled and old Mime. Desparcs horribly
pale and trembling.
"What in the world has happenedf"
asked. They explained incoherently that
Mime. Desparcs' diamonds were stolen-old
family diamonds of great value. All the
servants had been summoned into an ad
joining room-in short, a formal search
was to be instituted. An old gentleman,
NJ. de la Hestre, had been unanimously Sc
lected to direct this investigation just as
I was entering, and his first proposition
was that every one submit, or rather offer
himself, to be searched. Although the thing
was rather offensive no one protested, and
it was decided that, after the servants, each
one present should be examined.
To tell the truth, all this seemed of small
Importance beside my personal cares, and
with several others waited the end of the
adventure, while NJ. de la Hestre, his two
witnesses and our host began the inspec
ton of the domestics.
Very soon I fell again into my medita-
ton, my eyes fixed on the fireplace, az
though there were fire, when suddenly
felt a touch ON my elbow. 1 raised my
head with start, to See my flancee looking
at me most beseechingly. We were alone
near the freside and. could talk in low
tones without being overheard She muir
INJURED very low:
'tIf you love me, arrange that they search
you frst then try to be near me, and, with
put being seen, try to conceal the object
that / shall pass you from behind.
My blood ran cold. This annoying Incl
dent became terrible, filling me with the
most passionate trouble. looked at the
girl in agony, but forced myself to smile
and whispered:
cit shall be done as you wish"
IL Il
and hot The feeling hat overwhelmed
me was inexpressible. 1t was a strange
mingling of bitterness and pleasure that
my loved one should be weak to such de-
gree. / forced myself to have a sort of dis
dainfu1 pity, and in reality love beat ar
dent, strong, stern, In my breast. 1 under
stood in flash how beauty could become
divine above baseness of soul, how one
could respect it even in dishonor and
hundred other things in which were con-
fused, fervent love- devotion without limit,
desire noble and perverse.
Jeanne had thanked me with hardly
perceptible movement of the lips; she stood
by the wall with an air of indifference and
pride:
"They are very long about It'll" she said
suddenly. "M. de la Hester is man Of
methcd,' some one replied, and a silence
followed which told more and more on
ones nerves. for even the waiting in
peaceful frame of mind finishes by disturb
Ing and emptying the brain like pump.
However, the moment arrived when, the
searching of the servants ended, the door
opened, disclosing our host, the two wit
nesses and the old gentleman.
My heart beat furiously / felt myself
become terribly pale; but, concealing my
agitation and steadying my voice, asked
to be searched first.
NJ. de la Hestre smiled at what he con
sidered the whim of G young man and pro-
ceeded methodically to my examination. !
blushed, became pale, without any one
finding that peculiar under the circum
stances. When it was over, made two ur
three steps backward and found myself
near Jeanne. She lowered her fan and
handed me something with a GOODNESS that
was only equaled by my calmness in seiz-
ing the object and placing it in pocket
of my coat After which l leaned against
the fireplace, being now merely a witness
and above all suspicion
NJ. de la Hestre's search was unproduo
tive of results There remained nothing
to do but to visit all the rooms and then
inform the police
Still my trouble of mind Increased as i
remained standing by the fireplace. My
brain was in a whirl, and I felt the crime
weigh on me as though 1 were indeed the
thief.
Jeanne at last came toward me with
shat undulating step of hers and gave me
a look of such passionate gratitude that 1t
almost seemed to scorch me. Then in an
imperative low tone she said:
''Do you still love mes''
did not hesitate. I replied firmly:
eyes"
Elm spite of all that have dones''
I'm spite of everything"
"Will you marry mef"
~ will marry you"
She enveloped me with the same look
still warmer and more lingering. / fully
comprehend the power of woman above
all law, human or natural, drawn from
the founta in head and against which moth
ing ought to prevail.
1 felt strangely happy in this equivocal
adventure, and could not throw off this
happiness for which I reproached myself
and of which 1 was terribly ashamed.
rs was struggling with these contend
ing emotions EXPLANATIONS were heard,
and I saw NJ. de Ia Hestre reappear hold
ing little box.
1--WE have the jewels and the guilty one:
ae said very calmly.
I had only time to hear this much and
to see the livid face of the valet-the guilty
one-when found that Jeanne was gen.
| thy urging me out into the terrace where
the shadows lay thickly. There felt my
head seized with two hands, while two
pure lips were pressed to mine as Jeanne
murmured:
1.-THE thief adores you. From the
French For Short Stories.
The ordinary inch OF English measure
equals 81 oentimetera
:. JINGLES AND JESTS.