The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-20
1.-THE WOUND UNSEEN.
WooDWoRTH.

history. You will be the first besides
myself that has ever heard it"
II did not know Albert Durandeau
personally; but had known him through
his books for years. Who had not heard
count, l had known him ever since my
arrival in Paris. He was a very learned
man, well on toward fifty He was also
handsome, very wealthy and popular with
the ladies'; and / had often wondered
why he never married. But am digress-
ing-I will continue.
Il will not tell you the name of the
woman" began the count 1T is suffi-
cient that she be known as My Lady.
When a very young girl this beautiful
creature-and she was beautiful possess
ing, as she did, all the gifts and gories
that men desire and adore in woman
was sacrificed to loveless marriage with
man many years her senior. Yes, one
of those marriages of convenience so com
mon here in Paris. Before her marriage
TINS adorable woman had Suitors by the
score, and among them she found one
who awakened all the latent powers of
love IN her-a young man beneath her in
rank, and penniless.
well. time passed, and My Lady be-
came and reigned a queen in the great
fashionable world of Paris AS for the
man she lovedNhe lost himself in the
other half of the same city and pursued
his studies. Within the heart of each
memory remained; My Lady's heart was
broken. AS all the joys of loving were
denied her, she became devotee of fash
ion. and amused herself by breaking all
the hearts she could.
Some years after her marriage she
was at a reception given by the Baron
de Bftz. Late in the evening the host
begged leave to present the lion Of the
occasion to My Lady 1t was Albert
Durandeau in the zenith of his fame who
was suddenly brought face TO face with
the woman who loved him. In the man
of the hour My Lady recognized the lost
love of her girlhood who. by his genius.
had gained nlacn the
the mighty After this the two met often
but in all honor. Although 1.-The hus-
band of My Lady had been gathered to
his forefathers. Durandeau had a wife
living; so marriage was interdicted.
However; new love grew up between
the tWo-a love in which passion had no
part For both, youth had passed away,
and instead of his mistress My Lady be
came the inspiration of the great think
er You known how suddenly Durandeau
became famous as a writer of romance?
cent woman. with her strangely subtle
fascinating power over men. was the in
carnation of the women in his books.
Zone evening My Lady gave a great
state dinner at her chateau. She was
standing with Durandeau. and as the
great lusture of the hall shOne upon her.
her beauty and ineffable charm, that fas-
cinated every man who ever met her. af-'
fected him as 1t never had before Her
great and indisputable crowning beauty
were her Shoulders-they were Clytes,
'Durandeau raved over them; the
depths of his nature We're stirred and all
the dormant love that had slumbered for
years arose within him as drawing her
passionately toward him. he exclaimed:
" Darling. your beauty is so great thae
for me to think that some day this heav
emily form must crumble into dust. like
common mortals. Is maddening. All, if we
could but live life over againi"
I" Mon cher said My Lady, Il am but
mortal; even | must perish. l have al
ways felt that l must go before you, and
III iS Wall. for I cOul0 NOT live without
you. But even then, when 1 shall have
passed away from you 1 shall still be with
you in spirit: L will bequeath to you the
i skin from these shoulders you SO much
admire, to console you until we shall meet
again and love in the great beyond
6 Great God. No. cried Durandeau.
{" Do not demonstrate with me. mon
ami My Lady answered. the skin of my
shoulders shall be used to cover a volume
of your letters to me. l have stated it in
my last will and testament My heirs
will comply with this request, for I have
stated that if they do not they shall be
disinherited.
well the countess died but a short
time after At her death repugnant as 1t
was, the heirs respected her wishes. The
skin was confided to a famous tanner.
and when it was in condition to be used
for the designated purpose it was bound
on a book made up of Durandeau's letters
and inclosed in a box of Venetian brocade
covered with fresh violets and dispatched
to him.
1.-The affection has survived beyond the
grave. On the anniversary of her death
Durandeau makes a pilgrimage to her
chateau, which is now sacred to the mem
cries of the past.
Il met him once-by the merest acct
dent-and he seemed bowed down with
grief; just as if she had died but yes
terday. He was laden with fresh violet5
to place before her portrait. Down the
avenue of chestnut trees at the chateau.
you can see the dome of the observa tory
which she had constructed for Duran
deau Here they were wont to spend
much of their time. Here may be found
a white glove and a faded bunch OF vio-
let's, left there by her You now know
why Durandeau values this book above
all else on earth"
AS the count concluded with his gaze
fixed upon the painting of the burning
heart on the cover Of the volume a tear.
and then another, rolled slowly down his
CHI eek.
But, why count inquired sympathet-
ically, "why did the book effect you
when you saw it? Why did you kiss the
binding? Was the countess a relative?'
No" ne answered slowly. she was
not relative. But 1 kissed the binding
because-because L"
Because why?" l inquired, in vague
insinuation.
Because I loved her!'
In the dead stiffness of the moment the
count raised the book to his lips and
kissed the satin ivory tinted skin again.