The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-12

| have been unfortunate at play, and 1 have lost-everything." His voice grew 1 harder and colder as he played anew with the dice box. II have lost every | thing" he repeated. ITO morrow, or l perhaps tonight l set out for the Dan ube to serve against the Turk, and you will probably see me no more. It only remains to regret any passing annoy ance my disappearance may cause you, to thank you for your considerations since we have been together, and to congratulate you on being we'll rid of | so foolish husband"
 There was silence for a moment. Then the stiffness became so poignant that St. Ibars no longer played with the dice box, but looked at his wife. She was so quiet that he wondered if she understood.
 "She has no heart" he thought.
 "Is it true" she asked at length, with a strange ring in her voice which he did not recognize, you have lost every thing?"
 "Everything," he answered. But there Is still your jointure; you will have"--
 -"Ah!" she cried, and her voice was that of joyous child. You think I care for that! Is, then, Paris and the court and gaming so necessary to you that if you cannot have them you must go and be killed far away? Fie on you, Raoul! For my part I do not want to see the court any more!"
 He dared not understand.
 "Ah!" he answered lightly, '1t is well that there is no need for you to give these things up."
 Gan not come with your" she ask ed.
 He shook his head "The journey I take is very long one,'' he said, "and I must take it alone"
 She had risen to her feet, and now came a step nearer to him. There was a strange mixture of timidity and great | boldness in her manner, as if her Wo- mans nature shrank from what some masterful feeling impelled her to say. Twice she essayed to speak, and twice she stopped. Then, like a torrent, her words burst forth, while one hand was pressed tightly on her bosom as if to still it's tumultuous beating.
 You shall not go alone! I swear it! Be it to the ends of the earth, l will follow you, for you are mine! mine! given to me by God! by holy church! by your own VOW in His sight! You do not love me. I am nothing to you. I cannot amuse you or please you; I know it. God pity mel I know it too well! But to be near you, to see you, to sometimes hear your voice-that is my right, and no one shall take it from mel"
 She fell on her knees, her fair head resting on the table, her face buried in her hands, her slender body shaken with deep sobbing.
 He forgot everything; forgot that he was ruined, forgot that life was over for him, in the great words brought him. The affected coldness of manner slipped from him like a loosened cloak, and stopping down he gathered her to him with strong arms, while their lips met in long embrace again and again renewed.
 If you could know how have long, ed and prayed for this day!" she mur- mured, her tear-stained, flushed face very close to his. While you were rich and happy I could not have told you. And you love me? Tell me so, Raoul. I want to hear it said"
 "I love you, dear one" he said, sim- ply. Then great terror fell upon him for he remembered.
 But she did not see his face for she had slipped down on to a low footstool beside him and was holding one of his hands against her wet face.
 My husband,' she said softly, you will not go from me now. No, do not draw your hand away; listen. In the beautiful Loire country near Bois is the old chateau where my childhood was passed. It lies in the great woods. with here and there a glimpse of the river and there is an old stone terrace with roses climbing everywhere, and peacocks Haunting in the hot sun. It is mine, let us go there, Raoul. And my father shall speak to the king and ask that you shall be made governor of the province. Could you be happy there, I wonder-with mel"
 Her voice sank to a low whisper at , the last two words, and her husband , pressed his lips fondly on her brow for answer.
 In truth he dared not speak. He knew that her dream could never come true that this new love of theirs,so in- expressibly precious, so cruelty sweet was already whitening under the cold touch of death. But, because it could only be so short, he resolved that for the brief hour or two that remained she at least should enjoy it unalloyed; that her just-opened hoard of love should not be snatched from her before she , realized it's possession. He would dc this if he could, hiding in his own , breast the haunting knowledge that each half hour as the silver chimes oi , the clock beside them rang out marked another stage accomplished in the swift approach of the grim separator who was soon to come between them.
 Hand in hand they sat, in the great brightly-lit room, while Paris surged on it's noisy way outside the windows
 In the heart of Aglae de St. Ibars there were no conflicting emotions. She , was loved, and that suffieed her; she felt herself clothed with love as with a garment, plunged in it as in a stream penetrated and changed by it in every fibre of her nature. Now she would sit , in silent happiness too great for words tha,, sba Iuo1IId sneak in low yihra n q