The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-08-04

nc INCE he had obtained his degree
~ in science and an appointment,
Stephen Portway had determines to
leave his poor lodgings in Soho; but
he still delayed f-,ss = Il o.
So At first he was not frank, even to
himself. But at length he had to con-
TESS to the dark of a sleepless night
that woman held him-a woman
to whom he had never spoken except
with the commonplace greetings of the
day. u t.5 q. {ttf
,s5 She was French; she called herself
Mile Lemoine; was, perhaps, "a. years
OF age, and she lived alone in a room
on the opposite side of the landing
before his door. She appeared to be
very poor, very proud and very soli-
tary. tr4.
Without thinking, Stephen had got
to wait for her going out in the morn
ing, so that he could greet her when
passing. In the evening, too, when he
heard the light footsteps coming up
the stairs. he would carelessly begin
descending, SO as to look into the
tired, quiet eyes and hear the soft
voice answer his salutation.
But at last he became aware that
his comings-in and goings-out were
but shadowings of her movements,
and in shame he put restraint upon
himself. But when, at the end of that
time, he found he had not seen her
face for week, he threw self-control
to the winds and watched to meet her.
Once there had seemed to be the
possibility of archness and coquetry,
but now it was pale and gaunt, and in
her eyes were, fever and y. great
trouble, He could not be deceived;
whatever was her mental anguish, he
knew there was meaner, a. grimmer
] despair beneath At all she lacked food.
Once he would fiercely resolve to,
go to her Tomorrow ana 5blIntly offer:
her help and friendliness; next mo-
ment he would enrage against the sus--
, pfcious conventions that were reared
about them.
Next day was Saturday. She did
, not appear in the morning, and he
went lisuessfy to his work. Reaching
, home quickly in the afternoon, he sat
] in his room, near the door, and listened
for, her. Suddenly, the quiet steps
sounded on the stairs below, and, seiz-
ing his hat, he stfolled, whistling, out
of the room. She was coming up the
stairs with a, basketIon her arm, and,
at the sight Of the WEAKNESS in her
. face and the frailty in her figure, he
felt fmpelled to speak to her tenderly.
He thought that for a moment she
seemed shaken before his gaze, and
she hesitated in her, reply to his greet
. ing; then she responded and passed on
with her usual distant bearing.
las she went by he glanced at the
!. basket. A cloth was over something
|, within it,,ss:a1d, tor the moment, he was
I gfad and then half sorry WITH the
! thought that she was not In such dire
ssratts as.he haa inaslned.
] M sbs Rlaead her fdpton the stair,
he@saR5the S6th Was pulled aside at
one place and 4 piece Of charcoal jutted
up. He descended, feeling pleased to
. think she was going to cook something
i over her stove.
J, In another ten. minutes he came
! bounding, into the house and up, the
= stairs. Half-way toward the lnniiusNesn1i museum
! terrible suspicion had entered hin
+ mind; perhaps she meant to destroy
!, herself iSll q ssss@sa l.t4sESTsss
I He listened, but no noise came from
4. the room. He tried to think of an ex-
/ cuse for knocking and speaking; then,
z happening to cast his eye to the top of
4 the door, he. caught sight or II piece iof
+ blanket damned, between, it, and, the
i frame. Quickly he bent; no light came
$ through the keyhQle.. 2and lat the hot
: tom Of the door. flannel was. thrust.
= He Knocked with. restrained force.
1 the blood beating thickly at his heart.
!. A slight movement came from within
! the room, hut NO reply. He knocked
7 again and called "Mademoiselle!" !
z Then the voice answered, in sleepy
tones, Who 10 IT., W. - "a. q = q.
ut is IT, he replied. ..What are you
doing with the door blocked up?"