The suburban citizen., 1901-06-22

II am not OF those" -~--c7
Il hardly understand. I have been
only a burden to you"
mo, no. 1t is something could
tell-only to a woman"
He took one Of her hands gently in
his.
But I, mademoiselle, am no longer
man OF woman. The soul has no SEX
and am but a spirit This body--this
accident of flesh this hindrance to the
best development, this aching matter
which clogs me-will be gone in n few
hours. If you can tel me anything
that proves you to be my friend, let me
hear it for the love Of mercy! have
heard no very kind things from a
Woman's lips in all my life"
Marie Ragner pushed her hair back
from her brow impatlently with both
her hands, and as she did so she
seemed to brush from that face the in
dications of the passing years. The
face was essentially feminine. The
eyes were modest, but brilliant: the
throat round, the cheek smoothly
| curved, the brow broad and low and
kindly, the hair waving and abundant.
Il am not a coward" she said, slow
ly. II am not afraid Of JOY, as many
women are; nor am l afraid of truth
l have lived lonely life, but that was
my destiny. am patient, but
! know that action would have been
more gallant than this patience"
"No one is more gallant than you!
You are a comrade in a mans most
desperate hour. Better than that you
cannot be-"
II will tell you, then. am woman
without a romance"
She paused, and the two were silent,
their hands clasped. A cold wind was
shaking the window, and the fire was
ftful
"In little while twill be dusk with
in the room. Then l shall tell you bet
ter" whispered Marie Ragnier.
The gusty twilight came, and the
room seemed filed with spectres.
Speak" said the dying man, "for 1
have trouble to keep my mind on one
thing. This room seems to me to be
crowded with those who have jeered
at me- who have betrayed me-those
from whom 1 must conceal this igno-
mlnious endP
There is one person in this room. It
is the woman who had no romance
till now" s.!....i. ,A,.
"That from the moment saw your
face felt that you belonged to me-or
had belonged to me. If you were to
live would never tell you"
"That is like q woman" he said with
some bitterness. "But l am dying, and
1 may have a BarmecidIan feastw
as it no more to you than that? You
will die and be compensated for all
losses. 1 shall live-and remember
what have lost"
"Forgive me. will accept my com
pensations. Liying--I was scorned!
My work-lt was held ridiculous!
am dylng-and l am given a boon. It
Is the love ofa woman, good as the an.
gels, who has loved no other mani
And II have never loved a woman.
I will not ask you to kiss the fever.
stricken lips. My spirit kisses yours,
Marie"
Neither of them moved. They sat
silent, with their hands clasped.
Lucie the maid. came in with the
lights.
Turn them low" said the sick man.
81 have a notion that may sleep"
Marie Ragnier sat by him while he
slept Presently there came convul.
sive tightening upon her hand.
"The rapids! The rapids| The
words struggled up from restricted
throat.
II am on the shore, my chevalier!
Monsieur Votre, behold you. know
you are brave. have decorated you"
1here were FIVE minutes Of struggle,
and she dinned her words into his
ears.
1T IS as nothing, this DEATH In
moment you will be at peace. The
waters are not so black as they seem.
nor so cruel. In little while they win
| give you comfort
"Those who jeered-"
"Are gone. Here is one who loves.
THANK God! The boon"
The hand relaxed. The body was in.
crt, but IN the eyes was still a CLEAN
of comprehension.
Marie Ragnier spoke so she might be
! heard.
"Bravo Bravow she said, and her
voice rang through the chamber Of
death
She folded his hands and closed his
! eyes.
1T would be foolish to kiss him."
she said. THE spirit is within no
more" Yet she longed to, but she re-
membered that he had forbidden her.
| After a time she arose.
Il am no longer woman without
romance" she said to herself.
And she went to summon the chem
I