The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-04
our OF II PAST.
aM Alfred Snme+au-

BY Alfred Scmetau.
Everybody in Rue st. Honore was salts
fled that in all Paris there was no happier
couple than Monster and Madame Godet.
that there was nc neater or better kept
store than theirs. and that if they should
ever have any children they would he
prettier and brighter han any one else's.
And for once people We're not far away
from the truth. The Godets We're really
as happy and contented as il was possible
Tor anyone to be. until
A sunny day in September NJ. Godet had
gone out on business, and Madame was
alone in their little iewclry store. when a
man entered who did not look at all as if
he had come to buy diamonds. AT first she
thought he was a begsar, aud already
put her hand in her pocket to give him
half a franc. when he growled:
ID not pretend mat you do not know
nc, Gabrielle."
Madame Godet turned rale and SIAM
mered: 81 am sure | do not know YOU
The man came closer.
Maybe you will know me now-I am
Judes Raguin."
Madame turned still paler. and nearly
tainted.
The man. with a smile. sat down in the
velvet covered armchair in which only the
finest customers We're allowed to sit, and,
turning his Old hat in his dirty, emaciated
hands, said: II suppose you are glad to
sec me-"
How did you find me-" Madame Godct
said:
II nave locked for you for days AID
weeks without finding any trace. OF
course. 1 went first to our old house in
Rue Franchise. but the %ianitor SAID that
YOU had not lived there for TWO years: but
L made up my mind thai | would find you,
and here / am"
Gut why did you Gomez"
Tho man did , OSu-c h,t hit orIoJ,.
eyes looked at everything in the store as
if he was trying to pick out what he
wanted.
And ell this belongs TO YOU: You seem
to have had good luck since We parted,
Gabrielle
Madame Godet did not answer. She kept
on looking toward the door. where she
expected to see her husband return. How
should this all end? She tried to think,
b1t her brain seemed paralyzed.
why did you some back. Jules Ra-
guin?" she asked again, helplessly.
The man laughed aloud.
How can YOU ask? Look at me. 7
eaten nothing since yesterday morning.
Madame Godet's eyes filled with tears.
She never could bcar the idea of anybody
starving.
Go into the kitchen. Renee vii. give
YOU all YOU want to eat and drink"
But before she sent him out she brushed
his hat and coat as we'll as she could that
her servant should not be too shocked at
the sight Of this unexpected relation of
madame, who was soon eating r~avenously
of everything she placed before hin
With %throbbing heart she returned to the
store. How could she ever tell her hus-
band what had happened. and still she
knew that she must do it eve if it would
break her heart.
Sho hoo ri tje oAo~cI ,,Nr. no ono,o5 tt,o
door and it seemed az If he had never
kissed her as tenderly before.
II walked so fast that 1 an quite warm"
he said. but I knew you were waiting for
me. Was anybody herc?'
She threw her arms around his neck.
Somebody is still here, H%enri-Julcs
Raguin."
NJ. Godet turned pale.
He? Now? What docs he want'"
He will tell US that soon enough
"He shall tell is that right now" ans
before his wife could stop him he called
into the kitchen: M. Raguin."
His wife came over to him and asked
for Gods sake TO be calm, but he was
already as calm as death when he. said:
II do not know what brings you here.
Like a miserable scouudrel you left your
wife three years ago and She has never
heard from YOU. YOU never answered any
of the advertisements in the papers. Iou
never i'll your life provided for your wife
and YOU have lost the right to call your
self her husband"
But we have ncve, been divorced. and
suppose refuse to consent to a divorce"
You will have to-" Godet continued
icily, land for the present YOU leave this
house Immediately
Rasuin's manner changed, ard he be-
disgustingly meek.
Far be it from me to think or rutnine
tho In nniDOSSL IF voft,. 1,1~,o Hl,. I 49,.
no position. no money. and j Shat be
thankful to you until my death If YOU will
let me stay with You a few days"
So JulcsARaguin was allowed to stay and
was treated with kindness, by the .Godets,
who even equipped him with everything
ne needed and tried, though in vain, to get
him a position.
One morning as M. Godet came down in
his store he found the safe open ana emp.
ty but for a letter addressed to him.
He tore it open and read:
My Dear ~Friends-I will no longer stand
in the Way of your happiness. / give con-
sent to the divorce and nm going 10 Amer
lea. To pay my necessary expenses
have taken from your safe 800 francs in
cash. LOCO francs worth of diamonds ard
10000 francs in bonds. ! am sure you nil
miss neither the money nor mo"
When Nine. Godct came down she cried
Il little at the loss Of their savings.
but her husband only smiled and assured
that nc did not MIND 1t the least ami
mat everything had happened for ,l,e best.
His Wife's Sister.
\. prominent farmer of this country lost
his wife. Immediately after I'll. burial he
his wifc's sister, for the good
of the children. and ali concerned. but
continued wearing the usual amount of
crepe. Shortly after. while In town one
day. . met an Old friend. and his fricl Of