The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-06
NEARLY DEAD.

Unfortunately he was taken ill, and re-
manned i'll for go days in great peril from
q fever.
1t was 10 O'Clock and he wished to move,
but to his amazement and horror found
himse as it were, frozen to the bed, as If
clad in an armor of stone. He tried to cry
aloud, His voice stuck in his throat-vox
faucibus hesit. He was seized with
agony His mind ragged, but his physique
was immovable.
Raymond was in a complete state of
catalepsy. In living death he watched the
scenes which followed. The door opened,
and Mime. Cardelan, bis nurse, his good,
faithful domestic, entered on 5iptoe. Nine.
CARIBBEAN approached the woman who
watched and who was sleeping at the foot
of the bed the sleep of tired innocence.
"Come, Nine Vermillonl Wake upi''
Nine. Vermillon awoke.
''Ah. my dear, you send me to sleep too
late, and your brandy makes ones sleep
heavy
eyes, yes, our little soiree passed very
we'll. Well, let's see If our gentleman has
come to his senses"
The two women drew near.
'fAhi'' cried Mime. Vermillon. SHe Is
dead
Hearing this sentence Raymond tried to
protest, but horrible to tell, he could
neither move nor speak. After some in
stants of stupor the two women regained
their wits.
"Ah, so much the worser' exclaimed
Nine. Vermillon. 81 reckoned on making
a month of it here"
"Oh, what would you have, my dear?''
replied the other. "For my part I'm glad
to have it over and done with. He'd have
ended by wearing US all out. Didn't tell
your There's the sugar gone and the car
die. The wines nearly out, and what
there was needed for him all the time, and
liqueurs for the physician. If he had only
died last week, I could have made my
profit out Of him for all that he has had.
Well; help me to fix up little till his un-
Gle conIes."
Mime. Carlelan was hardly at the door
when there entered Ninie, very intimate
friend of the invalid. She was a very
handsome friend, with large black eyes.
Hearing her enter the young man expected
to see her die of grief.
Chow is it going on?" she said to the
watching nurse.
sit doesn't 60 at ALL" replied the
woman.
Ninie turned pale, put her handkerchief
to her eyes and tried to weep. "Has he
made his will9'' said she.
"You know, mann 'selle, that could hard
ly be at his age"
Mimic said nothing. She knelt by the
bedside and he heard her murmur:
''If he had only paid me up my quar-
terri
At this instant great noise was heard
It was NJ. and Nine. Pivot, uncle and
aunt, natural heirs of Raymond, with
their son Anatole. Seeing them enter, the
three women burst into agonies of tears.
Mile. Ninie uttered piercing cries, and
Nine. Cardelan was Ill when the tumult
had little subsided.
NJ. Anatole Pivot, an intimate friend OF
Raymond, approached Mile. Ninie, with
whom he had an excellent understan ding.
''Who is the young persoRa" said the ia
ther Pivot.
There was a silence, and he surmised
the truth. Approaching the girl, he said:
This is not our place, mademolselle.
''Ah, sir, came to learn how he was,
but assure you was only friend of his.
Indeed lately even lent him a little sum-"
''Come and see me. will arrange all
that" said Anatole, smiling, as q man
who understands all.
And Miss Ninie departed, making many
low bows.
"We1l at last we are alonel'' cried An
atole. "Let us take an inventory
The heirs seized on all the precious OBJ
jects, raked into and upset everything.
Suddenly the door opened and a beautiful
and modest young girl entered.
1t was young work girl who lived op-
posite Mr.. Raymond, and with whom he
on neighborhood and politeness which is
often established between those who live
on opposite sides of the same court
She entered sad and excited.
''Then it is true she exclaimed. "Poor
young mani Dead?'
''Miss Eugenia," said young Pivot, who
had sometimes met the girl in going to
his friend. "Ah, I rememberI Raymond
thought great deal of you.''
The young girl blushed.
"f you wish for q souvenir Of the de-
ceased" continued the young man,
Choose
Uncle and Aunt Pivot looked extremely
indignant.
Theyoung girl, stupefied, looked around.
'This photograph" said she, ''is his por-
trait.
The Pivots smiled while Eugenia went
and knelt near Raymond's bed, weeping
in silence.
But at this instant-was it love or ma
ture-the 1eaden sleep which weighed upon
Raymond suddenly vanished, and he ex-
claimed, in distinct but feeble voice, to
the amazement of all:
dear, good Eugenia, they thought
was dead, but they we're deceived, for I
heard everything, and l have seen nothing
but selfshness and falsehood, thieving
servants, rapacious relatives, false friends
and hypocritionl mistress. l have judged
them all. You only are good and sincere.
I now know your excellent heart Oh,
yes, the lesson was a good one. They say
that one learns many things by living
long. If the dead knew what passes, they
would see many things in day.
Raymond and Eueenia are married, and
sometimes the young man says, smiling,
to his wife:
''We would not be living so happily If I
had not died-just little bit. From
the French.
A Story of Rejane.
A well known English critic tells this
charming little story of that admirable
actress. Mime. Reiano: Rejane, whose