The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-03-04

pital.
The hospitalw thought Marius, VIII
had horror of hospitals.
Hasn't the. poor child suffered
enough already?'
lie lay awake all night, thinking, ant
when tie ambulance came in the morn
ing he CURLY sent it away.
Months elapsed before Cecile was
pronounced out of danger. Marius
Lournier found himself intensely in
terested in the battle of life and death
and was overjoyed when the physician
informed him that the crisis was
passed.
Soon youth and health resumed their
sway Cecile wrought a 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 to the
former disorder of his home, smiled
gratefully upon the fairy who had
brought about the change.
lie took his meals at home. and long
conversations with his Chateaine re-
placed the nightly sessions at the card
table. He was so happy, basking in
this mild and wholesome physical and
moral atmosphere, that he took no ac-
count of the fight of time. After
some months of this idyllic existence,
she suddenly became very serious and
sad. Marius, greatly surprised, ques.
toned her, and finally she said:
II think that l ought not to live any
LONGER a..:ss. ~
But Marlds froWned so fercely that
she checked herself
"Oh, do not doubt my affection" she
exclaimed. II am not ungrateful, be-
lieve me. But l must earn my own
living. My self-respect demands that"
well, well" said Marius, impatient
ly. eve will speak of that to-mor-
row."
But that very day friendly neigh
Dor, an old lady, said to him.
MY dear NJ. Lournier, feel it my
duty to tell you that people are begin
ming to talk. know that you are the
soul of honor and that Cecile is an
angel, but evil tongues will wag. Why
don't you stop them?"
How can II" -
"By marrying Cecile."
what! Do you imagine that
She"
81 imagine nothing. I know she is
in love with you. Trust q woman's
intuition
And the old lady added with a smile:
What if you are fifty, so long as you
don't look it?"
Marry Cecile? He? What an alb
surd idea!
But the more he thought about it
the less absurd it appeared. And look
ing squarely into his heart. he saw
that he loved the girl passionately
The little fairy had given him back
his youth and awakened the heart that
he had thought dead forever.
All! if the old lady's intuition We're
correct!
Then he began to pay great atten-
ton to his dress and manners He
even gave up his pipe. Cecile noticed
his regeneration and complimented
him upon it frankly, and then he felt
inspired to tell his love and ask her to
be his wife.
She listened in smiling silence and,
in burst of grateful affection, put
7, Il IN of oo+o 4
said: yes"
The wedding was arranged to take
place in the autumn.
Meanwhile Marius lived at a hotel,
but came every day to his old house
to see his young sweetheart, who al.
ways welcomed him with a smile of
tender affection.
The summer wore on, and there came
a time when the smile gave place to
grief and tears as soon as the uncon.
scious lovers back was turned
Then, ole evening, he came and
heard Cecils's voice and another's CON-
ing from the unlighted parlor. He
recognized the other voice as that of
a young architect who was spending
his vacation with his mother, the lady
who had suggested the marriage of
Marius and Cecile.
The situation at once became hor.
ribly clear to Marius. He listened.
You are unkind," Cecile was saying.
81 cannot be your wife; you know
that" .....-. ..