The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-06-27

MONSIEUR VOTRE.
II ARIE RAGNIER brought
II out 4 little register.
az ELLA w. REATTlE.
You may write your

SCOu eNouSn, HlOuSleur. Suc S;tlu.
Her new lodger did so. slowly, writ.
ing like one in whom sickness had dc.
stroyed bold photographer.
They talked together about the rates
of the lodging. and the man arranged
with her to give him breakfast in his
ROOM
Il am a student. madame. 1 study
late. 1t would be great favor if l
might have coffee in my apartment
THAT is simple. I will do it with
pleasure" They agreed upon the
terms, and he stopped to carry up his
valise.
Pardon, monsieur, but 1 have no
porter
1T is immaterial, thank you"
But his breath came hard rs he
toiled up the stairs, and by the time he
had reached his room there were beads
of perspiration on his brow. He sat
down and painted. and his lips grew
blue. Marie EaSnicr ran down to the
dining room and brought up little
glass of water.
You are i'll, she protested in COM
miseratins voice. Il ought not to have
allowed you to carry burden
He drank gratefully and bowed with
grace as he sat the glass back on the
tray.
You are standing, madame,"h said,
arising from his chair 10 simplify
matters Marie took another chair.
II am not married." she said in her
hearty way. Mother and I've have
this house and nothing else. 1t is the
legacy my dear father left us. I know
no way in which to earn my living in
the world; 80 We take dodgers. But
because we are two women together,
and have friends whose regard Is OF
Importance to us, we must be very par
ticular about whom we admit to our
house. You will pardon me, monsieur,
but something in your face looked so
sad-I could see YOU were ill-that l
| neglected to take my usual precau-
tons; and now 1 sec-oh, n thousand
pardons, monsieur and it strikes me to
| the heart to see you looking so pale
| l see that the name YOU wrote in my
little register is not the same as that
! upon your valise."
The man looked at hcr stupidity.
1T is true" he said at length, and
| wiped the moisture from his blue lips
Which is your true name, mon
sicur" she asked gently.
He smiled 81 WHY and arose.
"Mademoiselle." he said, neither is
my name. If you will allow me l Will
20. 1 am not used to deceive-so 1
blundered." He lifted the heavy va
lise and started for the stairs, but be-
fore he reached them he fell prone.
Marie Ragnier rushed to him and
turned him over. He was in dead
faint. She called her maid at the top
! of her lungs.
"Lucie! Lucie! Put something on
| your head and 60 for the chemist. We
| have a sick man here. Ask Monsieur
du Bois also. He must be put to bed,
this lodger.'
She ran back to the bedroom and
prepared the bed with warmed sheets,
| and in a moment her neighbors were
with her.
You are to get him safe in bed" )"
| she told the chemist and her other
good friend-both had known her for
many years. You are to make him
comfortable. No doubt his night
clothes"-she blushed-"are within
| that valise. l shall be without the
door, and you can call upon me for
anything"
| But, mademoiselle, It is impossible
that you should take him. He should
70 to the hospital. You may have :.
sick man to attend for weeks and in
| the end he may die. You are too poor
to run such q risk, mademoiselle. Very
likely this man is penniless."
Marie Ragnier lifted her head with a
hint of hauteur.
"You are mistaken in thinking me
| too Door to do this" she said.
| So the sick man was made comforta'
BILE in a soft and white bed; the shades
were lowered to protect his eyes from
the light; q fire was built in the CRATE
| When all was done the chemist took
Marie Ragnier aside.
This man is going to die very soon,
he warned her.
| I'm week."
| "In q month"
Il will pray for his SOUL said Marie
devoutly.
"These women are always sentlmcn
tai when one least expects 1t" NUT
tered the chemist. But for all that j.:
| made up his mind, if it should come tc
a pinch, he would help Marie out will
the prescriptions.
Marie went back to her lodSer.
Would you like me to stew you Q
chicken" she asked, shyly.
| "Mademoisclle! IL am thrust by
my misfortunes upon your goodness
How can I-my name
| Marie broke into youthful smile
and betrayed an unsuspected dimple.
II have decided about your name,
she said. II shall call you Monsieur
Votre! When you are we'll"
Il shall never be we'll
Every we'll. then. You will never bt
we'll. l shall never be young. Let IL
take life as it comes-one IS not afrait
of events. hope."'
You speak like a hero. mademois
ellie. AS you say, one must resign one:
self. After all. what it is, this life
river that flows by! I can remembe
when the waves of it danced and were
tipped With sunshine"
"And now" Marie had the intona
tion of mother.
Now it is a solemn strcam-it il
dark and swift-it mcnaces. The rap
ids Of death are beyond. and can SCI
the white foam that leaps from them
In little while shall be cngulfed.'
monsieur Votre, it is but for mo
ment. \ swirl. confusion. franti
Il ,.f% 80