Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-07-29

"Monseur is The medical adviser Of
Mdle Bgrtu''
IL have that honor"
"Will Monsieur favor me with his unro-
served opinion of tine lady sim. $ if he
likely here hl- vo.c-u1crcJ slightly to-
to have "A fatal tcrmnation1'
replied briefly that the SYMPTOMS had
been highly fnyora@lc and tnol l believed
rest and -cc,o,ion mgnt ina lew weeks
eIlect perfect cure.
He took card from his pocket and
wrote some words on it IN small, concise
hand Wme he Na, doing this, had
leisure 10 observe las pale dark countc-
nance, hi, finn lip, his easy aristoctatc
grace. y brilliant of intense luslre gilt
tered ON hi, finger; the rest of ms attire
was tastidously plain.
"Obliec me, monsieur he said, "by
giving this to your patient Good even
ing lie threw his cloak around him
seized his hat and WAS gone. la another
moment heard the wheels of carriage
drive to the door, saw INN step in and, ere
a second had elapsed the vehicle had
turned the corner Of the street and dis
appeared. There was coronet upon the
panels. | turned to the table and took up
the card. 1t bore the name of the FRINGE
de c., \ folded paper was laid be-
meath it, on which was written draft for
one thousand frances
Pride and poverty had a hard struggle
that evening and poverty conquered.
was poor-very poor. The prince had
paid me for my attendance on his friend
might, on this ground, refuse payment
from Der and so balance the obligation
My present need was great, and put
The draft IN my pocke'book. The heroic
reader may condemn me for having thus
accepted money from an entire stranger
mais, le paUcrete est durei Let him first be
in my position, and then pass judgment
upon me.
But to my narrative. Time was flying
and had promised to return to the Rue
81. p in an hour. Half that time was
already past. had several things to
arrange, some change of attire to effect, a
note to write and a consultation to hold
with my andlady With my utmost speed
these occupied me an hour beyond the
appointed time at last ! left the house
aud FASTENED with nervous mpidily ID The
direction Of my patient. When was
more than halfway, | remembered the
card Of the Prince DC c. and was
forced to turn back again, fer had left II
on the table. am not superstilious, but
this return and my delay seemed omihous
TO me. fell into an unusual trepidatiou
and when within yard or two of my own
door. felt an anxious haste that appeared
, to summon me back again without delay
Ing even then TO 20 i'm.
Bah / exclaimed, to myself, "this is
mere cbidishness,'
And | went in, up stairs and taking
from the table the princes card, observed
for the first time, that the writing with
= which the back was closely lined
> was in cipher, | was surprised and !
confess it, somewhat curious; but | thrust
E it into my pocket, ran downstairs and
presently was running once more in tho
direction Of the Rue st. p.
And now, as approached it, my agita
ton returned in ten fold power. The
nearer drew, the less dared 90 forward.
some horrible influence was upon ne
some vague and formlcss dread that
moved my inward soul with apprehension
and seemed to clog my footsteps to the
ground.
The door stood open. had not left il
so. went up The door of her chamber
stood open likewise, paused upon thC
threshold, then walked noislessly in.
had half-expected the shock, She
was gone.
Gone and not a soul was there to tel
me WHITTIER | rang the bell furously.
cried aloud | opened every door and
closet | entered every room, from attic tc
kitchen.
Father, lover, servant paticnt-all gone
Every place silent and empty.
She was gone-gonc 10 the theatre-tc
her death! And the empty housc2 The
rest were gone upon vain search for her