The Opelousas courier., 1897-01-23

The footman became more naughty,
pnt handed to the poet an envelope.
The poet opened it and read q brlei
message. lis became red with confu
sion and remained standing thera il
ecstasy. The footman shifted from
foot to foot. Who was this shabby
fellow who kept him waiting 50 long:
"Nell, the answer?' said the foot.
man, finally.
ooh, you're still here, are you?
had forgotten about YOU. Just tell
your mistress | will call ut the hour
appointed"
Tell her what?" repeated the
amazed servant.
"Iell the countess what | have said
AMI so, rs | am busy"
When the footman hal departed,
Claude gaZeI at the note with rapture.
"WIll you not come and see your Old
friend, Julie, Mt 3 o'clock this after.
noony" At tir,t he thought of refus-
Ing, remembering the tloril man, his
patron. Besides, he had entered into
4 base conspiracy with his rival.
These poems! And then lie told him
self he would sec her ut all hazards.
He counted what money he had and.
donning his best clothes, went into u
general merchandise establishment.
where he purchased Few gloves, a new
necktie and euuiry other articles ct
attire Of which he wns ii urgent need.
lie hired a carriage AT the appointed
hour and repaired to her home.
She seemed like the same julie he
had known ten years ago. She greet.
ed him with Il blush.
at is long since We hive met she
said. Il saw your play last night
For an hour Claude WAS III Elysiuln.
She had grown very attractive and he
asked hin>eit ii this could lie his Oil
playmate, tue little Julie whose par
cnts' estate hai "lioinel that Of his
father. Claule's ruptore was broken
by a servant entering With the card @:
rival.
"Tell him an busy TODAY" said
the little countess. lyon are q poet,
| unIerstenl?'
llalde began to stanmer when she
opened an cnancled box and took
therefrom a..Iarge package Of poems.
~ sent for yon to ak you If thess
verses are sincere?"
"heallv, | I'm no Judge"
")A, | don't care for the poems
themselves, but what they conceal. !
this one, for example. As | read
Down, the first letter Of each line l
ind what? 'Claule AMI Julie That
5 what it spells. Strange, isn'tlt?"
cit is rather peculla:," murmurel
he embarrassed poet.
"Now hcre is another. The same
est and | find: I love Julie Is
hat a coincidence? it might be. but
hat the letters OF the last SIX lines
pei what? Why, Claude So We
ave: Il love Julie, Claude SO all
through the poems l find secretivo
owe messages from q certain Cisale.
again, he tells me his full ncI i'll
Ode to the Midnight Wind:
Norai9 52iie's boy lovag.' l
nd cirhers every Atere," laug:leS[a
COUNTESS. Your Aems are regulAr !
Now what AWAIT to know is
what do You mean Esalt%'
Nothing, | assure y5s~ gutely
othlng,' st.lnmercI tie post.
"Hhy, you, ClAule-a deceiyer,'
aid she, mer:l:y. Then those we're
words-m4e nothings! Alas.
'hom are We to believe in this woril?"
mo, NO. protested the po4t. II
/ intend them Of course-I could
ct forget-so yon see"
"A lncil e~zplanatio1, truly she
zcloimed gnyly ana he became more
onfu$ed.
''lt is the only one I have to ~;;ive,"
c said hubby. ~ can only ak your
for"
The countess how face,l hun with
eyes and determined mieD.
"Dla you, or did YOU MOI, mean
hat you wrotc?'
he became just rs defiant. All his
Embarrassment vanished.
81 did mean those words. I did
Ut know you would see them. lam
you have. AMI nov, good
e."
"Stay."
"Julie!' .
".aEe you engaged This evening, a
=
$40; that is" y
"ihen yon must take mo 10 the .
| will expect YOU here, and, :.
Claude, we Will see many of i
1ur phys together" &
AS he entered his carriage he saw
n gazing out Of the window. She >
ushed anl drew back; then i'm.
threw him q kiss with her
md, rs she had done when they were ;,
AMI the old! hanson be. |
ne as a chariot Of the gols.-Detrort
zee Press.