Daily camera., 1901-07-16
IA RACE WITH DEATH
81 Translated from the Preach
y BY Giselle D'Unser.
HVOU are dead mani" said tn

evening with his old friend, DR.. Bar
dais, the illustrious scholar, recog
nized by all the world as an authorit,
on poisonous substances. But Anatol,
had learned to appreciate, more thar
all, the nobility of heart and fatherl,
kindness of the good old doctor, ant
now, without consideration or regart
for his feelings he heard from his owl
lips this terrible representation.
unfortunate child!" continued The
doctor, what have you been doing?"
Nothing that l know" stammeret
Anatole, deeply troubled.
Think! try to remember! Tel
me what you have eaten, drank or in
haled?"
This last word proved ray of ligh'
for Anatole. The same morning ht
had received letter from one OF hi.
friends who was touring in India. Ii
the letter he found flower gathered
from the bank of the Ganges by the
voyager, red flower of fantastic
shape, and the odor, he recalled now
was peculiarly penetrating. Anatolt
searched in his pocketbook and founG
the letter and the flower, which he
showed to the learned man.
Without doubt" cried the doctor
at is the Pyramenensis lndica, the
death flower, the flower of the blood!
'You believe this truly?"
II am positive of it,"
''l,ut IL ia mot n,S Sih1at nv, h,,t
years Of age. l am full of life and
health!"
AT what hour did you open this IA
tai letter."
AT nine o'clock this morning"
"Ah, well! At the same hour to-
morrow morning, at the same min
ute, in full health, as say, you will ex
perience certain palpitation in the
heart, and all will be 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 a fever OF agitation
his brain topsy-turvy, Anatole 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 a
bench.
The rest was beneficial. He had
been like man who had received n
blow on the head. The stupefac,ion
was leaving now and he commenced 10
collect his ideas which had been so
ovcrthrown.
My situation" though, he. rs tha t
| am condemned 10 die! must ac-
cept this without hope. but with grace.
How much time have TO live?"
He looked at his watch.
Three o'clock a. IN. i, is time to
GO to bed. ! rest? Should l sleep
these last few hours? No. l have
certainly much To do-but what? Par
hleu! My Will to make"
restaurant was near that remained
open all night. He entered.
Waiter. a bottle of champagne
and a bottle OF Ink"
He drank a glass OF Cliquot and then
looked at the paper dreamily.
.'To whom shall l leave this legacy
OF 5000 francs year? have neither
father nor mother. 1t is fortunate for
them. Among all whom l count as
friends, know no; one-ah! Nioette."
The last wishes were quickly writ
ten and all was bequea,hed to Nicette.
l, was done. Anatole drank a sec
ond glass of champagne.
Poor Sicette!" thought he. "She
was very sad the last time that saw
her. Her guardian, who knows naught
of the world except those musicians.
those brass blowers at che Conserva-
toire-was not prudent In promising
her hand to one so brutal whom she
detests. Indeed. she detests him as
much as she loves another, il am
at all learned In those plain avowals
OF reticence and embarrassment. Who
Is the happy mortal? am ignorant,
but tits 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 is just the wife l should have IL.
II Is Infamous to force, to-degrade the
life of such a treasure with such a
brute. Why should l not be the
chevalier Of Nicette7 !, Is said that
tomorrow m0rhlng-to-morrow it will
be too late. must act now. 1t is a
little unreasonable TO call. but when
| am told that will die in five hours
I care little for such couyentionalities.
Come! My life tor Nice,te!"
1t was four a. m. when Anatole rang
the bell at the door Of the guardian
of Nicette. NJ. Bouvard himself came
to the door in his nigh, cap, and very
much frightened.
tam l right in supposing you have
caused me this inconvenience to COM
municate something Of Importance to
me?"
"Very important, NJ. Bouvard. 1t is
that wish you to renounce the mar
riage of my little cousin Nicette to
NJ. Capdenac."
"Never! monsieur. Never!"
ut is not necessary to say never nor
always"
Monsieur, my resolution is made,
the marriage will take place."
at will not!".
1--WE shall see! And now that you
have my answer, will not detafn
you"
This is little more amiable. am
right II little tenacious. am not
offended at your actions and re-
main"
"Remain If you wish. l consider
you as having gone, and l speak no
more" And NJ. Bouvard turned away
grumbling.
All at once M. Bouvard leaped for
his bed.
81 \ r. ~.