The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-28
The Tooth.

/
| One of the new schools, the one that
permits the use OF an adjective only II Il
| dates from the thirteenth century, pre-
| tends that the young widows were buried
with Scribe. This opinion could scarcely
| be a serious one. and statistics would
| refute it VIGOROUSLY
| Be that as it may, I know that there
/ is still young wodow near by here, In a
! hotel of the Rue Monceau, hotel ten
meters square, nestled among bushes OF
| clematis. Her name was Louise ond the
sacred rites of matrimoony had made her
| Countess of Viry. The Countess was 2
years old. Her principal accessory was a
! little dog, white and curly, TO which
they gave for food only piece OF sugar
/ in the morning and biscuit at night. Its
name was Bella.
1t was 4 o'clock. Louise was running
in the sanded paths and turning around
| the rose trees like a butterfly that has
absorbed too much nectar. From time to
/ time she stopped to inhale with delight the
| perfume Of q newly-opened blossom Bel
la, full of fun, pursued her mistress with
| gleeful barks, seizing eagerly with her
! sharp teeth the hounces of the blue dress
| that Louise seemed 70 have fiichsd from
a rainbow, and tugged at II with might
and main. They were in the midst of
their sport when NJ. Jacques de Beau
champ entered the garden. T. little wild
ow, on catching sight % him, hid herself
behind an orange tree. But Jacques,
! catching sight of her, kissed her on the
| forehead.
'Ah, NJ. de Beauchamp." she said, that
is really not fair
Louise was of medium height Her
hands and feet were too small, her Shout
ders too white, her hair too thick and
too black; as to her teeth, they shone SO
brightly when she laughed that It behoov-
| ed the observer TO wear smaked glasses.
But how we'll she bore her title of widow
And in a way that did her such honor.
| The young girl is generally timid and
| silly; she bushes. according to her moth
| er's directions. for a word that is said,
and always lowers her eyes at the right
moment, which is unfortunate for those
who do not enjoy contemplating eyelids.
On the other hand, the wodow has the
right TO hear everything, and when love
is spoken OF, as least she knows what
1t means. Louise's arms were bare, her
shoulders scarcely yelled by the muslin,
and in showing them she knew well what
she was doing. She leaned on NJ. de
Beauchamp's arm and both entered the
drawing-room. followed by Bella, who
darted Jealous glances at her mistress
fance.
Louise and Jacques paired OF so well
that the marriage had long since been de-
cided upon. Yet each had a fault; NJ. de
Beauchamp was jealous and Nine de Viry
was a firt.
Louise he used to say to her. ''you
drive me to despair. You say that you
love me; this avowal came from your rosy
lips, but how can I believe you when I
q
for the first conner too kind a welcome,
and when I find you cheerful sprightiy,
vivacious always the center Of a circle
of ardent admirers. It is impossible to tell
you the agony, nay, the tortures that 1
endure"
What am to do about It, dear friend?"
answered Louise. IT am gay that Is true:
but is that a crime7 And why should I
be sulky to people who only approach me
to say agreeable things?'
You are fiirt, and that laugh drives
me to despair. for II you laugh thus, It
is only to show your teeth. You know how
adorable you are, when, laughing affect
eddy, you throw back your head to show
your white neck
''But what must I do to rove my love?
1t is discouraging, at last Ask me what
you want, but do not ask me not to
Taught"
III. DC 6educnamp assumed solemn
air.
You once told me-" he said. that you
would sacrifice your life for me. 1 do
not ask you so much; but do you want
to make me the happiest of mortals?"
"You have only to speak"
Even at the price Of suffering?"
owen at that price"
Then sacrifice to me one OF your teeth"
What are you asking me? That is
barbarisml'
'NOnly one, a small one. In front; after
wards you may laugh as much as you
please"
''But you will find me ugly; you will not
care for me any more"
'I swear to you that there Is no other
way of assuring my happiness"
The Countess rang. St. John, her foot
man, took her orders, and came back
quarter of an hour afterwards, followed
by a man who carried a surgeons case.
who is that man?" asked NJ. de Beau
champ The little Countess answered.:
1T is Mr.. James. an American dent
ist," and went into her boudoir, followed
by Bella, with her tail between her legs,
as was becoming in dog that understood
that something was going to happen.
something serious.
Louise came back soon after, shame
faced, Inundated, and gave II. de Beau
champ a little white tooth like that Of
a baby, which he covered with kisses;
then she fed and locked herself up in her
room.
Jacques had the tooht set IN a little
locket, which he wore religiously around
his neck like relic.
From that day the little Countess be-
came so sad that she might have been
taken for a scabious. From time 70 time
a rare smile lighted up her face Ike
futrive ray OF sunshine. She Stunned the
world, and when by chance she ventured
out, she went of by herself in corner
serious and with her mouth shut as fast
as a prison door. Jacques did not recog-
nize her, and in truth she was much
changed.
'1The poor Countess is ageing." said
Mrs. Grundy, she Is much changed; per-
haps she is grieving for something" And
Jacques felt his love oozing away drop
by drop. like water from a vase OF fow-
ers. He understood that what he loved
W. hnr