Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-10
NUMBER THIRTEEN.


occasion by a little family supper.
But when Nine. Verne had counted
hem all, she found to her horror, that
hey numbered thirteen. She be-
thought her to invite NJ. Roden, the
,nre, who had christened little Hor.
ense
SO NJ. Roden Yves invited. and all
went well until two days before the
supper, when an unimportant young
cousin bethought him to break a limb,
ina reduce the party again to thir
zen.
The time was short, but madame
maze the best of i. She invited the
music teacher, who accepted with de-
a%ht. Matters were arranged once
nore when message came to Uncle
Pierre which demanded his presence
elsewhere.
Again there We're thirteen guests
ma but half a day remaining Nine
verne was equal to the emergency
she sent note to deaf gentleman
>f her acquaintance, begging him to
:ome. And now all was well again.
The ladies were adding the finishing
.ouches to their toilettes in the dress
ng room, when suddenly screams were
leard to resound through the house.
The maiden aunt, Mile. Rosine, had
.aught her dress on fire. 1t was ex-
inguished before she was hurt; but
he dress was spoiled, her nerves up
'et, and she could not and would not
'emain to the supper
Nine. Verne was in despair Sud
ienly she remembered her notary. A
'arriage was at the door. She tossed
IN hood and shawl and hurried in
o it,
1t was only five minutes ride to
he building in which the notary's
,f1lce was located-a many-storied edi
ice, of which he occupied the second
loor.
On the first were situated the apart
nents of NJ. Moran-Hortense's be-
rothed husband. AS she hurried past
heir door Nine. Verne glanced toward
hem and saw lady dressed in black
speaking to a servant, who at the
same instant, shut the door in her
ACE
Nine. Verne. having mounted the
stairs. was doomed to disappoint-
nent. The notary was in, but he was
suffering from an attack of the gout.
However he could give her the. direc-
ion, to quortohzieme, who, if he was
lisengaged, would be happy to hire
himself out for supper time.
As she reached the foot of the stairs,
however, she paused. A woman,
iressed in black, sat upon the lower
me, rocking herself to and fro and
moaning. She touched the figure upon
S shoulder and said: "My poor child,
what is the matterY
Il have come from the country; |
I'm an orphan; | have no relatives: |
'ame to find a friend who promised me
.verything; | know no one here.
yesterday | spent my last SOU Is
here anything fer me but the river?
Suddenly an idea flashed upon the
nadame's mind.
"At least you shall earn your sup
)er," she said. Come with me-"
She hurried the girl into the carriage
md drove away with her, explaining
is they rode the emergency in which
ihe found herself
You will wear dress of my grand
iaughter's. she said. "A black lace
which may be thrown over your own.
And with these words she led the
,irl into her home upstairs into her
'wn apartment, where she adorned her
n haste and led her out to The table
he lovliest guest there-lovler far
wen than the golden-haired Hortense.
Absorbed in her duties as hostess,
Madame Verne did nol notice, as the
,tbers did, a strange thing that took
,lace as NJ. Moran seated himself and
danced toward the strange guest. AS
heir eyes met each turned deadly pale,
md each seemed to find it impossible
o look away.
Once only did the strange girl speak
whisper to Im. Verne.
"This is betrothal feast madame?"
"Ycs, my child"
"Your granddaughter, the beautiful
,oung lady yonder is to marry NJ
Octave MoranT
Precisely; in two months
After this she said nothing more.
At last they We're about to leave the
able, and the old grandfather arose.
lie had something to say to the young
'ouple-kind admonitions to him who
vas about to take her into his keep
ng; but he ended thus:
But / give her to you gladly, my
| lear Octave, for | know you to be an
honorable man; and | believe you will
] i've HeT IL HedTl dS pure anu fresh anu
Ill unwritten as the one she gives to
'ou, a heart worthy of her acceptance"
AS he uttered the last sentence Oc-
ave Moran had slowly turned his face,
IS though attracted by some mesmelic
influence. toward the stranger. Their
yes had met and fixed in a strange
Itare; the other guests We're all star
ng at them.
Suddenly Octave Moran started to
lis feet and dashed out of the room.
There were thirteen at the table.
Something. flashed into the hand of
he pale woman, at whom all gazed
md she fell forward upon the table.
When they lifted her they found
lagger buried in her hear.
Death had been more prompt with
lis thirteen than usual.
They found over her dead bosom that
light miniature of Octave Moran II
ock of his hair, and little golden
ress soft as down. and in her pocket
ONE letters That was all; but Hor-
ense never married NJ. Moran.