The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-07-23

n II ~
"But what must do to prove INV
| love for you? II is becoming desperate.
Ask of me what you please, but do
not ask me not to laugh any more. am
only'happy when am glad and free to
be light hearted.
M. de Beauchamp assumed solemn
air.
"You said to me one evening that
you would make for me the sacrifice Of
your life. I do not ask SO much as that.
But listen. Do you wish to make me
the happiest man on earth?"
"You have bnt to speak.
Gwen at the price of suffering?"
"Yes, at any price.
"Well, then, make me the sacrifice Of
one TOOTH"
What are you demanding Of mes Il
is barbarous.
"Only tooth. The smallest one in
the front And afterward you may
laugh as much as you please.
"But you will think I am ugly and
will not love me any more. !"
"Iswear to You there is no other way
to assure my happiness.
The countess rang the bell. John, her
valet, took her orders and came back
quarter of an hour later with gentle
man carrying in his hand a leather case
such as is used by surgeons.
"Who is that person." asked NJ de
Beauohamp.
The countess answered:
lit is Mr.. James, the American dem
tist.
The little countess entered her bou-
doir, followed by Nito, his tail between
his legs, as if he understood that some-7
thing serious was about to happen.
Louise returned shortly afterward,
ashamed and humbled, and gave to NJ
de Beauchamp little tooth as white as
milk, which he carried to his lips and
covered with kisses. Seeing this tribute
Of affection, Louise ran away.
Jacques had the tooth set in me-
dallion and carried it religiously around
his neck as souvenir.
From that day the little Countess be-
came very sad. Only upon rare occa-
sions was her face lighted up by smile.
She kept aloof from society as much as
possible. but when she was forced by
her social duties to appear among her
friends they saw her keeping apart from
the others or sitting in corner with
serious air, her mouth closed like
prison door.
Jacques did not easily recognize her.
In fact, she was greatly changed.
Poor countessp' said some evil
minded ones. "She is getting old. How
changed she isl She seems to be mourn
ing the dead
And Jacques felt his love diminish
little by little. He began to understand
that what he loved in her was especially
her smile, her playfulness, her gayety,
and he also became sad. The more he
tried to regain his love, which seemed
to be leaving him, the more he realized
that he himself had killed his passion.
One day he went in despair to Nine.
de Viry.
Louise" he said, throwing himself
at her feet, "do you love me still?"
II have sworn to love you always,
and the stiller you are the better, she
answered.
"Will you prove to me the sincerity
Of your words9"
81 ask nothing else."
"Well, then, if you love me have the
dentist put in a new tooth. ("
"What folly is this?" said Louise,
weeping. II was right when / said
that you would not love me any more.
That is just like you men. And you re-
proach us for being capricious."
Louise, I beg you to forgive me.
curse my jealousy-my foolishDessr'
$50 you really are regretting the
weakness with which acceded to your
caprice?"
II am desolate and full of remorse."
"You recognize the cruelty of your
unreasonable request?"
II will reproach myself for it all my
life."
Would you be happy if I had dis
,obeyed your"
II would give anything for that
The little countess gave burst Of
laughter, which showed all her teeth
complete. =
"What does this mean?" asked M. de
Beauchamp, holding in his fingers the
medallion in which was incased as q
souvenir the little pearl of the sacrifice.
The countess opened the mouth Of
Nito, saying:
Here is the victim"
CAB" cried M. de Beauchamp
"You never loved me. " - Waverley
Magazine.
Dangerous Ink.