The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-16
THE THIEF.

Il
| pleased to be, to q most enigmatical young
person. She spoke rarely and In way al
ways little mysterious, making volunta-
rily secrets of a hundred little actions of life
| and loving solitude in an alarming man.
| ner.
All this was Offset by eyes so beautiful,
by coloring so marvellous, by an express
sion so divine that had not the courage
to reflect on the singularity of her charac-
ter. loved her, and 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 transubstantiation.
did not know, In the first place, wheth-
or 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, abe generally
ended by saying THAT she, knew nothing
about 1t, but that she felt no antipathy TO-
ward me, and that, asoording 10 her ideas,
was enough 10 decide young GIRL on mar
riaga" In vain I supplicatB1, In vain
tried to animate this entgnatlcal being.
She remained az Distant az the manner In
which she loved, as unknown as she was
dominating. tli
One evening as was dreaming a little
sadly OF these things alone on the terrace
OF the Syrtes a oommotion was heard in
the house. i returned to the salon, where
everything was in disorder, my hosts were
distressed, their friends embarrassed and
troubled and old Nine. Desparcs horribly
pale and trembling.
What in the world has happeneds"
asked. They explained incoherently that
Nine. Desparcs' diamonds were stolen-old
fa,. tlxu.l a IL. -
servants had been summoned into an adj
Joining room-in short, formal search
was to be Instituted. An old gentleman,
M. de la Hestre, had been unanimously Sc
lected to direct this investigation Just as
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
1t 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 tho inspec.
tion Of the domestics.
| Very soon I fell again into my medita.
ton, my eyes fixed on the fireplace, as
though there were fire, when suddenly
felt u touch OH my elbow. i raised my
head with start, to see my fiancee looking
at me most beseechingly. We were alone
near the 1reside and could talk in low
tones without being overheard. She mur.
INJURED very low:
| III you love me, arrange that they search
| you first; then try to be near me, and with.
out being seem 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:
1T shall be done as you WISH"
My knees trembled; my mouth was dry
| and hot. The feeling that overwhelmed
me was inexpressible. IL was a strange
mingling Of bitterness and pleasure that
| my loved one should be weak to such de-
gree. forced myself to have sort Of dis.
dainful pity, and In reality love beat ar.
dent, strong, stern, In my breast under.
stood In fash how beauty could become
divine above baseness Of soul, how one
could respect it even In dishonor and a
| hundred other things In which were con.
fused, fervent love, devotion without limit,
desire noble and perverse.
|
perceptible movement Of the lips; she stood
by the wall with an air of Indifference and
pride:
They arc very long about itr' she said
suddenly. m. do Ia Hester IL man of
method" some one replied, and silence
followed which told more and more on
ones nerves, for even the waiting In a
peaceful frame Of mind finishes by disturb
ing and emptying tho 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.
NY heart beat furiously. felt myself
become terribly pale; but, conoealing my
agi'ation and steadying my voice I asked
70 he searched first.
M. oe Ia hestre smiled at what he con.
s'dered the whim Of a young maj and pro.
ceeded methodically TO my examination. I
blushed, 1 bccame pale, without any ono
finding that peculiar under the cIrcum.
stances When IL was over, made two oy
three steps backward and fopnd mv..,,
near Jeanne Sha lou,ox.a -