Daily camera., 1901-10-01
[A RACE WITH DEATH
fseAS1aAsa fsea ~ ytoosA
b olsesIs D'unes.
OVOU are = dead mani" said the
doctor. regarding Anatole ax-

ftVOU are . dead mani" said thu
doctor. regarding Anatole ax.
edly.
Anetole was staggered by this an
nouncement. He had come to pass the
evening with his old friend, DR.. Bar.
dais, the illustrious scholar. recog-
nixed by all the world a. an authority
on poisonous substances. But Anstole
had learned TO appreciate, more than
all. the nobility of heart and fatheriy
kindness OF the good old doctor, and
now. without consideration or regard
for his feelings he heard from his own
lips this terrible Representation.
unfortunate child" continued the
doctor, what have you been doing?"
Nothing that / KNOW" stsmmsred
Anatole, deeply troubled.
Think! try to remember! Tell
me what you have eaten. drank or in.
haledT
This last word proved ray Of Light
for Anatols. The sams morning he
had received = letter from one Of his
friends who was touring in India. In
the letter he found . flower gathered
from the bank Of the Ganges by the
voyager. red flower OF fantastic
shape. and the odor. be recalled now
was peculiarly penetrating. Anatole
searched in his pocketbook and found
the letter and the flower. which he
showed to the learned man.
without Doubt" cried the doctor
ut Is the Pyramenensis Indica, the
death flower. the flower Of the blood!'
You believe this trulyT
II am positive Of it,"
but IL y not possibiei am but 8
years Of age. AN full Of life and
health!"
"A. what hour did you open this "a.
tai letter."
"At nine O'Clock this morning"
"Ah, we'll! At the same hour to.
morrow morning. At the same min
ute, in full health. a. say, you will ex-
periencs certain palpitation In the
heart. and all will 10 over"
And you know Of no remedy?"
Not one!" returned the doctor, hid.
ing his head in his hands. and he fell
upon the sofa, overcome with grief and
despair.
Seeing the emotion Of his old friend.
Anatole realized that he WAS con
demned TO die. He became like one in
sane.
All night. In . fever OF agitation.
his brain topsy-turvy, Anstole dArted
up and down the boulevard. uncon-
scious of his surroundings and that
the streets were gradually becoming
deserted. For = long while he ran
thus until he fell exhausted on .
bench.
The rest was beneficial. He had
been like . man who had received .
blow on the head. The stupefaction
was leaving now and he commenced to
collect his ideas which had been 50
oyerthrown.
MY situation" thought he. "is that
l am condemned TO die! must &C.
cep, this withou, hope. but with grace.
How much time have to live?"
|. He looked at his watch.
Three o'clock .. m. II is time to
go TO bed. res,7 Should sleep
these last few hours7 No. have
certainly much to debut what? Par
blcu. My will 70 make"
Arestaurant WAS near that remained
open all night. He entered
waiter. A bottle Of champagne
and bottle Of ink"
He drank a glass OF Ciquot and then
looked at the paper dreamily.
ITO whom shall I leave this legacy
OF 5000 francs . yeAr7 Ihave neither
father nor mother. IL - fortunate for
them. Among all whom I count as
friends. know not ons-ah! Nicette."
The last wishes we're quickly writ
ten and all was bequeathed to Nicette.
II was done. Anatole drank . sec
ond glass OF champagne.
poor Nicette!" thought he. "She
was very sad tbs laSt time that l saw
her. Her guardian. who knows naught
of the world except those musicians.
those brass blowers at che Conserve
toire-was not prudent in promising
her hand 20 one 50 brutal whom she
deiests. Indeed, she detSsts him ~
much a. she loves another. IL l am
at all learned in those plain avowals
of reticence and embarrassment. Who
is the happy mortslf ! am ignorant,
but It il certainly true that she Is well
worthy Of the one whom she has
chosen. Good. sweet, beautiful. loving
Nicette merits an ideal husband. All!
she il just the wife I should have il.
1t is infamous 70 force, to degrade the
life Of such . treasure with such
brute. Why should I not be the
chevalier of Nicette7 1t IL said that
tomorrow mornipg-to.morrow it will
be too late. ! must act now. 1t is
little unreasonable TO call. but when
l am told that will die in Ave hours
l care little for such conventionalities.
Come! My life for Nicette!"
1t was four .. M. when Anatole rang
the bell At the door Of the guardian
of Nicette. N. Bouvard himself came
to the door in his night cap. and very
much frightened.
IAN right in supposing you have
caused me this inconvenience to COM
municate something Of importance to
me?"
Every important, N. Rouvard. 1t Is
that wish you to renounce the mar.
rage Of my little cousin Nicette TO
N. Capdenac."
"Never! monsieur. Never!"
''It 10 not necessary TO say never nor
always"
Monsieur, my resolution 10 made,
the marriage will take place"
"It win not!"
1--WE shall see! And now that You
have my answer. I viii not detain
you."
This Il . little more smiabls. l am
right 4 4 littl. teAaeious. ! am not
...endeu a. your actions and l r.
main."
Remain il you wish. consider
you as having gone, and 1 speak No
more" And NJ. Bouvard turned away
grumbling.
All ~ orra "A POW. ~ LA nd for