The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-09-04
How The Dream Ended.

at a boulevard restaurant and, after the
supper, dance. Early in the evening
Marius Lournier approached the radiant
young bride and extended his hand.
Goodbye, my child" he said. "Are
you going so soon, father" Please stay
a little longer" Cccilc coaxed, looking at
him atfectionately.
NO, You cannot persuade me. feel
luther tired"
And he added with dismal smile.
81 am not so young as used to be-
He made his adieux to the bridal pair
and walked slowly home to his cottage
at Montrogue.
Marius Lournier was fifty years old,
and possessed of a modest fortune and a
philosophical disposition. He had long
been widower, and his experience, OF
matrimony had not been pleasant enough
to tempt him to repeatit.
One DRILLING November night, as he
entered his garden. his attention was at
tractcd by the vaguely outlined figure OF
q woman who at that instant sank
rather than sat down upon the public
bench hard by. He peered through the
darkness at the shadowy form and, see
ing that it did not move, mechanically
reopened the gate and walked toward it.
He found a girl of perhaps twenty,
poorly clad. but with an appearance OF
distinction. She seemed utterly exhaust
ed and her face was bathed i'll tears.
He questioned her gently, but her replies
were vague and unsatisfactory.
but, youcannot stay here in the rain, u
said Marius.
In spite of her resistance-which was
but feeble, poor thing.-Marius raised
her from the bench and drew her toward
the house. When at last she was seated
before a CHEEKY fire she consented to tell
her sad story.
Her name was Cecile Martel, and she
was the daughter of an army captain
who had died in the service With her
mother she had come to Paris in the hope
OF obtaining q tobacco shop license which
had been promised to the widow long
ago.
Their last articles of furniture, their
few trinkets, had been sacrificed to OBJ
tain funds for the journey
Soon after their arrival the mother
had died very suddenly, leaving Cecile
alone and almost penniless in the great
city in which she did not know human
soul.
By dint of great economy the girl had
contrived to live for few weeks on the
little money remaining in her purse; but
that morning her landlady had informed
her with great politeness that she must
either pay her arrears of rent or go else
where.
She had wandered through the streets
all day, without eating or resting and at
night had turned her steps instinctively
toward the cemetery at Montrogue
where her mother lay at rest.
The pitiful tale, told in almost inaudible
tones. ard interrupted by fits OF shivering
and weeping, affected Marius very deep
ly.
He hastily got together the elements OF
a rudimcntary banquet. but Cecile, in
spite OF her desi,c to show her apprecia-
ton of this unhoped for succor, could not
eat mouthful Though the room was
warm. she shivered more and more, until
at last, overcome by fatigue, she closed
her eyes and fell asleep.
This will never do" thought Marius.
"Shc will get pneumonia or something
in her damp clothes"
If only there were a woman in the
house. Then we could put the poor child
to bed"
Hc..wrapped big cloak about her and
fell to studying her face. 1t was not
strikingly pretty, but it was pleasing
face and agood face. Its greatest beauty
was now vciled- the large, velvet black
eyes, tender and passionate. Suddenly
she moancd, and then Marius saw that
her face was scarlet and her breathing
labored.
"Ah. Just what l feared" he exclaim
cd, and ran to fetch a physician. The
doctor pronunced the case very serious
and sent nurse to take care of the CIR
during the night. In the morning she
must be sent to the hospital.
The hospital thought Marius, who
had a horror of hospitals.
Hasn't the poor child suffered enough
already"
He lay awake all night, thinking. and
when the ambulance came in the morning
he curtly sent it away.
Months elapsed before Cecile was pro
nounced out of danger. Marius Lourniel
found himself intensely interested In the
battle of life and death, and was over
joyed when the physician informed hin
that the crisis was passed.
Soon youth and health resumed theil
sway. Cccilc wrought a wonderful
transformation in the lonely cottage
Thoroughly feminine in taste, she lovec
everything that is pretty and delicate