The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-11-18


Loulnier approached the
radiant young bride and extended his
hand.
Good. by. my child" he said. Are
you going SO soon. father: Please
stay 4 little longer" Ceclle coaxed,
looking at him affcrtionateIy.
NO. you cannot persuade Inc. /
feel--rather tired"
And lie added with a dismal smile:
~ an not so young as 1 used 10
be-"
He made his adieux TO the bridal pair
and walked slowly home to his cot
taGe at Montague.
Marius Lournier was fifty years old,
and possessed OF modest fortune
and philosophical disposition. He
had long been widower. and his ex-
pericnce of matrimOny had not been
pleasant enough to tempt him to re-
peat it.
One drizzllng November night, as he
entered his garden, his attention was
attracted by the vaguely outlined fig
ure of woman who at that instant
sank rather than sat down upon the
public bench hard by. He peere6
through the darkness at the shadowy
form and. seeing that it did not move,
mechanically rcopened the gate and
walked toward it,
He found girl of perhaps twenty,
poorly clad. but with an appearance
Of distinction. She seemed utterly ex-
hausted and her face was bathcd In
tears. lie questioned her gently. but
her replies were vague and unsatis-
factory.
But you cannot stay here in the
rain" 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 ste
was seated before a CHEEKY fire Sue
consented to tell her sad story,
Her name was Cecile Martes aud
she was the daughter OF an army esp
tain who had died in the service. With
her mother she had come 10 Paris IN
the hope Of obtaining a tobacco shop
license which had been promised 70
I6eir last articles Of furniture. their
few rinkets. had been sacrificed to oh
tain funds for the journey.
Soon after their arrival the mother
had died very suddenly. leaving cecile
alone and almost penniless in the grea.
city In which she did not know o
human soul
BY dint Of great economy the girl
had contrived 10 live for q few weeks
on the little money remaining I'm her
purse; but that morning her landlady
had Informed her with great polite
ness that she must either pay her ar
rears Of rent or 70 elsewhere
She had wandered through the streets
all day. without eating or resting and
at night had turned her steps instinct
lively toward The cemetery at Mont
rogue where her mother lay at rest.
This pitiful tale, told In almost in
audible tones. and interrupted by fits
Of shivering and weeping. affected
NariuE very deeply
He hastily got together the elements
OF n rudimen'ary banquet. hg: Ca@;ss.
IN spite OF her desire TO show her an
probation OF this unhoped for surcor.
could not eat 4 mouthful. Though the
room was warm. she shlyered more
and more. until at last. overcome by
fatigue. She closed her eyes and fen
asleep.
This will never do" thought Marlus.
"She will get pneumonia or something
In her damp clothes"
IF only there were woman in the
house! Then we could put the poor
child to bed"
He wrapped big cloak about her and
fel, to studying her face. 1t was not
striklngly pretty. but II was a pleasing
face and n good face. Its greatest
beauty was now veilcd-the large. vel
vety black eyes. tender and passionate
Suddenly she moaned. and then Marius
saw that her face was scarlet and hel
breathing labored
All! Just what feared" he ex
claimed, and ran to fetch a physician
The doctor pronounced the case very
serious, and sent a nurse to take care
OF the girl during the night. In the
morning she must be sent to the hos
pital.
THE hOspitalw thought MariuV, who
had horror Of hospitals.
Hasn't the poor child suffered
enough already"
He lay awake all night. thinking. and
when the ambulance came in the morn.
Ing he CURLY sent 1t away.
Months elapsed before Ceclle was
pronounced out of danger. Marius
LOurnler found himself intensely in.
terested in the battle of life and death
and was overioyed when the ply sleian
informed him that the crisie was
passed.
Soon youth and health resumed their
sway. Cecile wrought wonderful
Transformation in the lonely cottage.
Thoroughly feminine in taste. she loved
everything that Is pretty and delicate.
and Marius. enchanted by the simple
elegance which had succeeded 10 the
former disorder of his home. smiled
gratefully upon the fairy who had
brought about the change.
He took his meals at home. and long
conversations with his Chatelalne re-
placed the nightly sessions at tie card
table. He WAS so happy. baskins In
this mild and wholesome physical and