The suburban citizen., 1901-06-22

MONSIEUR VOTRE.
nv ELLA w. PEATTlE.

she said. Il shall call you Monsieur
Votre! When you are we'll"
Il shall never be we'll"
very well, then. You will never be
well. l shall never be young. Let us
take Afe as it cemes-one is not afraid
Of events, HOPPER
"You speak like a hero, mademois-
ellie. AS you say, one must resign ones
self. After all, what it is, this life-a
river that flows byl can remember
when the waves of it danced and were
tipped with sunshine"
"And now?" Marie had the intona-
ton of a mother.
NOW it is q solemn stream-it is
dark and swift-it menaces. The rap
ids of death are beyond and can see
the white foam that leaps from them.
In little while shall be engulfed."
Monsieur Votre, it is but for a mo-
ment. A swirl, confusion, a frantic
moment, then peace 1 understand
that death, like life, is tempered to
him who must endure It. 1t is peace,
believe me-"
'Mademoiselle, you arc singnlarly
wise. Life and death are as one to Inc
because have ceased to hope"
Fortunately, it is not necessary to
hope for Immortality With that you
have nothing to do. 1t IS bestowed"
"You are a poet mademoiselle-a
kind poet"
Il am coos, monsieur. I win pre-
pare the chicken"
She went out and then came back
suddenly. She looked at her lodger
for a few seconds with pitying and
tender eyes.
you are safe here" she said almost
in whisper. when you so down into
the rapids shall stand upon the bank,
and though cannot help you, I shall
say: Monsieur Votre, he is hravep /
shall put my decoration upon you.
shall say: This is my Chevalier OF the
Legion Of Honor"
The sick man raised himself on his
elbow and looked at her.
"All my life" he said. slowly, 81
have been a vessel without a destina-
ton. The open sea has been mine. and
l have been blown from shore to shore
but never known an anchorage. Can
you explain to me by what miracle
find myself at last In harbor|
"'There are no Miracles" she
quoted. There are only ignOr-
! ances.'"
| ITge or,nc 1,rfo1,Aonoa
"Ahp' he cried; you know the phil
losophersw
81 am but woman. and have lived
alone. But some Of the great have
been my friends, though they have not
known it."
81 salute your friends, mademoiselle"
Marie Ragnier bowed gravely and
went out to direct the preparation OF
the chicken broth. There was a deli
cate flush on each cheek, and her eyes
were humid with emotion, though one
looking at her would have had trouble
to decide whether it was sorrow or
Joy that lifted her face above its usual
expression.
Three weeks later the chemist said:
HE will not live a week"
"After that he will live always" she
responded.
you are a good woman" said the
chemist. 81 once knew another also"
You are unfortunate II you have
known but two" she answered re-
proachfully.
Il have known women who have
broken no law-I have known many
such. But that is little, You have at
tained to goodness"
you honor me too much" she said
with an accent Of perfect sincerity.
II, who look into my own heart, know
that am making no sacrifice in-in
caring for this man"
II do not understand"
you are n man. Only q woman
could understand"
She went back to her ledger.
IN little while it viii be over" she
said to him gently. The rapids will
soon be IN sight"
"YesP
81 thought that while you were still
strong and clear in your mind it might
be well to give me your ges-to
whom shall l send wordp
ITO no one. desire an obllterat ton
1t was because desired that; because
| had not done what / set out to do
because l could not reflect upon 9th
ers the honor they expected, that II
laid aside the name to which l was
born. have worked for the gods, and
they are old and heather. Their eyes
blinded with much beauty, no longer
behold"
Il understand. You should have
worked for God. Then He would have
seen--also men would have loved you
1T is true. am afraid have not
won the decoration you would bestow
upon me. l am not to be honored
mademoiselle. Obliteratlon - oblivion
-"
81 shall always remember your
: "There are those who wish they
! might forget me-"