Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-21


would seem to be ~ aell q pro
pristy in d marriass wnicn you appear
to wish 50 eaeer..ss Bnt there remains
the qugtuon q .ae ncart.
Il can isiriy near aim cay:
"'M}. -heart, madame, the heart that
I have humbly laid at your feet, 10 a.
pure as that Of child" WI.
She stops suddenly and runs to the
door at the back.
"Ah! Merciful goodnessl ! thought
I heard some one moving In the next
room. Some one-it is M de Ludre-i
am sure It is. He has bribed Jean TO
go away SO that he may be alone with
me. Ali II he were a gentleman he
would never do that, CLOSING the door
she locks itirapidly.)
There. that is an insult that You
brought upon yourself. sir! He signs;
he bewails his sad fate. If only would
be kind. Well, my friend, will read
your letter: win read 1t Immediately.
Il don't hear anything more. (She
opens the door and looks through.) No
one there-no one--he has gone. Did
Inc come at all. wonder, or was 1t m ere
" the autumn wind blowing through
the hall?
what an afternoon! NY nerves are
all gone to pieces. I'm. de Ludre wasn't
here, II he really didn't come at all, I
have suspected him wrongly-I have,
slandsred him. Incorporation, / ought
to read his letter; besides, he will not
| have written anything that. he has not
already told me. (she picks up letter
from the table and starts to open 1t, then
,atchss sight Of the other lying beside
it,
Il mustn't make q mistake and take
the one that isn't meant for me. But
how can I tell which is which? They
are both the same shape, the sarne size
and both are without an address. One
of them belongs to me, and have every
hight to read It; but which is It?
Il can't make out any writing
through the envelopes. What shall !
20? Truly my sense OF honor is likely
to have terrible trial. The letter that
didn't care straw about reading two
minutes ago, am now all on fre to see.
"Ah! have an idea; will put both
letters back and draw but one. The first
I touch will be mine, IL there is prov
idence in chances"
She drops both letters into the hat,
takes out one, and after a moments
pause tears open the envelope ard de-
cides to read It,
1T is centuries since l have written
you--
"Ah! that is not meant for me, am
sure. However, ! am not sorry for my
mistake Let us see my letter, now.
(She opens the second letter. Mime.
Ia Baronne, permit me to ask the help
Of your ever ready charity and to solicit
your kindness Why, what is thiss
It Is letter from Jean, my farmer; his
wife is sick, the medicines are very ex-
pensive. etc., and there Is nothing else
In the envelope. /
1T was true, then; It really was a let
ter from miserable looking fellow All!
| thought hoped. Come, will not
think Of 1t. Who knows, though, but
what have thrown away my happi- "A
ness?"
She picks up the other letter, mechan-
icaly. and reads, beginning:
1T is centuries since have written
you, dear lady.'N
Dear lady! did well to read It! I
had no right to do such thing But has
he any right to console himselfso quick
" for losing me. Him! He is an odious
brute, and It was an inspiration from
Heaven that led me to refuse his hand.
LET US see in what style he writes to
another the same things that he said to
ne only yesterday: 1T Is centuries
since wrote to you, dear friend, and
hasten to ask your forgiveness. To-mor-
'ow leave for Paris, where shall see
Tou In the evening"
"Kt any rate, he doesn't waste any
jme beating about the bush.
Il am very unhappy and | need your
\