The daily sentinel., 1899-01-23
NEARLY DEAD.


scenes which followed. The door opened,
| and Mime. Cardelan, his nurse. his good,
faithful domestic, entered on tiptoe. Nine.
Cardelan approached the woman who
watched and who was sleeping Mt the foot
Of the bed the sleep Of tired innocence
"Come, Mime. Vermilloni Wake upl'
Nine. Vermillon awoke
"Ah, my dear, you send me to sleep too
late, and your brandy makes one's sleep
heavy"
Eyes, yes, our little soiree passed very
well. Well, let's see II our gentleman has
some to bis senses"
The two women drew near.
"Ahp' oried Nine. Vermillon. "He 10
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, 80 much the worser' exclaimed
Nine. vermillon. 81 reckoned on making
. month Of 1t here.''
"Oh, what would you have, my dears'
replied the other. For my part I'm glad
to have 1t over and done with. He'd have
snded by wearing us all out. Didn't tell
your There's the Sugar gone and the can
die. The wines nearly out, and what
there was needed for him all the time. and
liqueurs for the physician. II he had only
died last week, could have made my
profit out Of him for all that he has had.
Well, help me to f1x up little till his un.
ole comes"
Nine. Cardelan 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.
"How is 1t going ons" she said to the
Watching nurse.
sit doesn't go at ALL" replied the
woman.
Mimic turned pale. put her handkerchief
to her eyes and tried to weep. "Has he
made his will?' said she.
"You know, mann 'selle, that could hard
y be at his age"
MIME said nothing. she knelt by the
bedside and he heard her murmur:
"If he had only paid mo up my quar-
peri'
At this instant a great noise was heard
It was M. 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. Mimic uttered piercing cries, and
Mme Carielan was Ill when the tulnult
had . little subsidized
NJ. Anatole Pivot, an intimate friend Of
Raymond, approached Mile. MIME, with
whom he had an excellent understanding
"Who Is the young personf" said the fa-
ther Pivot.
There was a silence, and he surmised
the truth. Approaching the girl. he said:
"This Is not your place, mademoiselle. F."
"Ah, sir. came to learn how he was,
but assure you was only q friend of his.
r-< 1~t h
"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
"well, at last we are alonel" cried An
atole. LET us take an inventory"
The heirs seized on all the precious OBJ
3ects, raked into and upset everything.
Suddenly the door opened and o beautiful
and modest young girl entered
It was young work girl who lived op-
posite Mr.. Raymond, and with whom he
had had that acquaintance simply founded
often established between those who live
on opposite sides Of the same court
She entered sad and excited.
'tThen 1t Ii true, " she exclaimed. "Poor
young man! Deadi'
'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 do
ceased" continued the young man,
"ohoose."
Uncle and Aunt Pivot looked extremely
indignant.
The young girl, stupefled, 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 IL love or ma
ture-.the leaden sleep which weighed upon
Raymond suddenly vanished. and be ex-
claimed, in distinct but feeble voice, 10
the amazement of all:
"Dear, good Eugenia, they thought
was dead, but they were deceived, for
heard everything. and have seen nothing
but selfishness and falsehood, thieving
servants, rnpacious relatives, false friends
and 4 hypocritical mistress have judged
them all. You only are good and sincere
I now know your excellent heart. Oh,
| yes, the lesson was good one. They ny
that ono learns many things by living
long. II the dead knew what passes, they
would zee many things IN IA day"
| Raymond and Epqer ia are married, and
sometimes the young man nys, smiling,
to his wife: .
1--WE would not bs living 20 happily II I
had not died-just . litsle bit. From
ths French.
1