The St. Johns herald., 1900-06-02


 a shabby bibliomaniae who simply browsed. Along toward noon business grew brisker, and even a Member of the Institute paused to look over the stock.
 This is a glorious day. friend" he observed in measured tones; but be- fore Antonio could word reply. sal low-faced young man pushed forward and demanded instant attention
 "One copy of 'Une Feuille Morte.'-
 cried. Two eopies-thre-aH shz< you have-quick!"
 There is but one left" said An tonic. producing a red-and-gold vos- tune; they sell very readily of late"
 With fierce cry of anger. the young man flung down a gold piece. Then. tO the astonishment of all beholders, he caught up the book. wrenched it in two, and tearing out page after Pages wildly stamped them under foot
 "A curse upon it!" he raved- -I will destroy every copy in Paris-in Franes none shall escape me. 'Une Feuille Morte. must not be read"
 Persons in the street paused to learn the cause of the disturbance. The gam ins formed a circle around the young man and jeered at his insane conduct In return the victim crumpled uP handfuls of printed leaves and hurled them in the faces of his tormentors- Az the very height of the excitement car riage drove up and beautiful womaE sprang out.
 "Louis!" she cried. forcing her way through the dense crowd Louis. my love, fOrgive!"
 The young man started violently and gazed about as if unable to believe his senses. In hoarse voice be cried:
 "Who speaks?"
 ''l my love-" said the woman. as she ran forward and threw her arms around his neck. "I. Marie d'Amoureux."
 There was a murmur of surprise from the onlookera. The writer of 'Uge Feuille Morte' '"-"They were once lovers"
 Louis" pleaded the woman. forgive be. was carried away by my sue cess. I still love you"
 Leave me-" cried Louis harshly. "T will have 10 words with you"
 Louis. said the woman. as she quick 1y mounted the parapet. "if you do noe forgive me-if you still renounee my love. I will throw myself into tks river"
 The young man turned on his heel without a word-and that instant Marie d'Armoureux leaped from the parapet- As she struck the water. Louis uttered wild cry of remorse. and. before any one could stay him, followed the wOn- an into the Seine.
 Old Antonio was so overcome by the excitement that be sank down ou his stool and panted for breath. The dignified Member of the Institute seized book-back and famed him vis- orously.
 "They are savedi" shouted the crowd. "A boatman has rescued them He has dragged them into his barge-
 "Thank God!" calculated the Mem per. "She has the eyes and hair Of an angel" And then to Antonio: Have you seen them before? You must get me her book-'Une Feuille Morte-'"
 ''The man I have seen" replied the old bookseller: "but the woman never. It ls not long sInce caused the arrest of this same LouIs- It was very sad"
 "'rhey are being restored on the barge. said the Member T <iII wait until they are brought up. Come now. what of this one of the yellow iace?"
 It was seldom that Antonio had so listener. and he related the incident with great relish
 al had noticed this Louis" he began "Every morning he would come and look. but go away without buying. One day a gentleman came to me and saics 'Antonie. you are being robbed by . young man with sallow face. can see 1t all from my window across the way. Keep your eyes open and have the police at hand
 "It same about the very next D0Ezr ing. The young man approached. hand led the book and then turned away. He was immediately arrested. and two cop ies of line FeuiEe Morte' were found beneath his coat
 Before the magistrate he told . story so strange that it has since been on every lip. His sweetheart. Marie d'Amoureux. wrote 'Cne FsUils Morte.' No one would publish it. Marie was in tears. The young man took his savings and had the novel printed No one would sell it; for there was 10 one 10 buy.
 "Then came an act of still greater devotion. Louis. with so much of his salary as he could spare, purchased cop es of the work from Maries telling her that they were ordered by the book sellers. These copies he would place ,n the bookstalls by stealth. hoping hat they might be read and appre- ,iated. It was for such an act that had caused his arrest. The papers told the pitifnl story. and since then there has been great demand for tkS oook."
 fC0ofiruoG on laSk Da0a