Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-02-06
A RACE WITH DEATH
Translated from the French
by Giselle D 'Unger.
w n INK N n n

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ENOU are a dead mani" said the
doctor, regarding AnatOle fix
edly.
Anatole was staggered by this an
nouncement. He had come to pass the
evening with his old friend, Dr. Bar
dais, the ilustrious scholar. recog-
nized by all the world as an authority
on poisonous substances. But Ana toie
had learned TO appreciate, more than
all, the nobility Of heart and fatherly
kindness of the good old doctor, and
now, without consideration Or regard
for his feelings he heard from his own
lips this terrible prognoshcation.
"Unfortunate childl" continued the
doctor, what have you been doing?"
Nothing that know" stammered
Anatole, deeply troubled.
Think try TO remember! Tell
me what you have eaten, drank or in
haled?"
This last word proved ray of light
for Anatole The same morning he
UhU received letter from one OF MS
friends who was touring in India. In
the letter he found a flower gathered
from the bank of the Ganges by the
yoyager, red flower Of fantastic
shape, and the odor, he 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.
at is the Pyramenensis Indica, the
death flower the flower of the blood"
you believe this truly"
81 am positive of IT,"
But 1t is not possiblel l am but 25
years OF age. am full OF life and
healthl"
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 fun health, as say you will ex-
perience certain palpitation in the
heart, and all will be over"
"And you know Of no remedy?'
mot 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
dcmned to die, lie became like one in
sane.
All night, in a fever of agitation,
his brain topsy-turyy, 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 iell exhausted on q
bench
Inc rest was benchciaL lie had
been Ike man who had received
blow on the head. The stupefaction
was leaving now and he commenced to
collect his ideas which had been SO
o'er'hr"Wn'
My SITUATION thought he, is that
l am condemned Ia de! l must ac-
eeP' lh'a without nope nut with grace
low mneh time nave ] to liVeF
Ht looked at MS watch.
lhr'e CLOCK a. NJ II Is time to
go To u'u' l resiF should sleep
these hSt teW hoursF NO l have
certainty much 10 debut whatT Far
ule"' MY viii l." make
res s.'ura ant was near that remained
open an hIght. lie entered.
waiter oottle OF champagne
ana o"'''e "t INK
lie drank glass OF Clquot and then
looked at the paper dreamily.
"Io whom shall leave this legacy
OF 5000 francs q year2 have neither
father nor mother. 1t is fortunate for |
them. Among all whom count as
friends, know not one-ahl Nicette."
The last wishes were quickly writ |
ten and all was bequcathed to Nicette.
1t was done. Anutule drank sec
ond glass OF champagne,
Poor Nlcetel" 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 the CouserNu- |
toire was not prudent In promising |
her hand 70 one 81 brutal whom she
dctests. Indeed, she dctests him as |
much as she loves another, II am
at all learned In those plain avowals |
OF retieence and embarrassment. Who
is the happy mortal2 | am ignorant. |
but 1t is certainly true that she is well
worthy Of the one whom she has
chosen. Good, sweet, beautiful, loving
N'cetie merits an ideal husband, Al!
she is just the wife should have IL.
II Is infamous to t"rc% TO degrade the
lfe OF such treasure with such a
brute. Why should not be the
OF Mee'tef II is said that
''-morro" morning tomorrow will /
be too late. ] must act now. IL iS a D.