The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-10-12

70 YOU" continued Nine. Duele, FOR
am sure that you will understand
Why wish to place the letters OF
Henri Quartre CT Is he who writes
to me so often). and which are die
tated TO my maid. or else he writes
them himself. using her hand, with
those which you have here, written
when he was alive"
without a word NJ. Chenier rose
and went in search OF the letters.
Feyerishly and with great emo
ton Nine. Deule took the yellow
parchment from his hand.
How strange" she said, after
moments pause, and in a somewhat
puzzled voice. This is not at all
the same handwriting as that In
which he writes to me-"
Raoul turned away to hide q
emile. The soft voice Of madame
continued:
L thank you again, monsieur.
and place myself entirely in your
confidence"
And with this she left him.
Some hours later an envelope,
ivory white and family perfumed
was brought TO the recorder. He
opened It with trembling hands, and
fond that It contained two letters,
one written in fine flowing hand
and the other III formed and awk-
ward as n traced by Il schoolgirl.
Eaoul read the first:
"Mousieur-You know the faith I
place in the messages coming from
the other world. This faith must be
very strong, or could not implicitly
follow the leadings OF the spirit |
send you the last letter dictated to
my medium. Recently the style OF
the writing has changed, which
rcaGlrms its authenticity, do YOU
not agree? only know one Raoul.
What then? | obey the voice from
/ the tomb"
/ NJ. Chenier kissed the letter in a
transport of happiness. Then he
! picked up the second sheet, and
laughed as he read:
Noble, Sweet and Beautiful
Friend; We are pleased to make
known our wishes to you. The
throes of love which you have awak-
ened which exist for you, should be
BY you assuaged. To do this, the
question must be asked: Who is able
to disclose such a love? A friend
longs to know that you love, and
this friend is named Raoul."
That same evening Raoul Chenier
threw himself at the feet of his
adored lady, declared his love, and
-obeying the voice from the other
world-Mme. Deule did not refuse
him.
With a delicacy delightful to ma
dame, NJ. Chenier proposed that the
engagement should be kept secret
for some weeks.
II wish to be certain that do not
owe all my happiness to the spirit
before publishing it to the world"
he said. Forgive me, but I cannot
truly rejoice. l long to hear you
say 4 love you of your own will,
and during this time 1t would make
me very happy If you would leave
the spirit of the good Henri Quatrs
IN peace"
II think that | should refuse the
last clause If my maid had not asked
for a months vacation this morn
ing. II Is very hard on me-"
Each day made NJ. Chenier more
essential to the happiness OF the
charming widow, and it was easy to
see that soon he would become more
no ho nP hn
One evening as they were sitting
among the flowers of the little salon
where they spent long hours to-
gether, Nine. Deule dared to speak
the magic phrase.
You love me at last" cried
Raoul. But one proof alone can
convince me of this love, which l
doubt even now"
why, what further do you ask?
Is not the proof given already?
What more can | say?" Madame
lifted her eyebrows.
oh" she cried, 1T is written in
the handwriting of Henri Quartet"
Perhaps. but read 1t, he replied.
1t ran as follows:
have pity on me. have my old
mother and two sisters to take care
Of. / did nc. begin with the idea of
trading on the credulity of madame.
/ did not mean anything bad, but
only to get better wages-and, be-
sides, madame. paid me extra for
each seance. You have made me
afraid by speaking Of the police. and
! must try and save myself; but,
monsieur, ] have confidence In you,
and you have promised not to give
me up II | obey you. i will make
Henri Quatre say anything you like
to madame. Madame will surely be-
lieve it. as she has always done, and
then monsieur will give me the
money he has promised"
What does It mean?" murmured
the poor spiritualist.
1T means. dearest, that you have
been taken in by fake. called