Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-08


the scene as it would be enacted
He arrived at the we'll remembered Of
fee. Would the notary recognize him J
He looked at himself in a mirror. In
truth he had aged considerably, his fen
lures were drawn. No, the notary would
surely not recognize him. Ha! hai that
would make the matter more interesting
and cOmical still
what can | do for you, sir?"
Il am here about a deposit which was
left with you five years ago"
(Which deposit? Under whose name ~
''Under the name of Monsieur -?''
Suddenly he stopped This is strange.
indeed. cannot for the life of me think
of the name | gave"
He thought and thought, but the name
would Tot come to him. Feeling himself
getting nervous. he sat down, and NUT
tered to himself: Keep cool-patience.
If could only fnG the first letter. Mon
sien ? Monsieur -?" The
name would not be conjured up.
For an hour he searched his memory;
searched for a hold, a sign. The name
seemed to stand before his eyes, turned
about him; he saw the letters scatter and
the sylables take flight. Every moment
he had sensation as if he could grasp
tit was ON the tip of his tongue-still
it would not materialize From being
simply veXed he now became excited and
suffered actual physical pain Hot and
cold waves ran up and down his spine, his
muscles contracted. he could not remain
quietly in the same place; his hands
twitched and he bit his parched lips until
they bled He wanted to weep and fight
at the same time. Yet the more he tried
to concentrate his thoughts, the more the
name eluded him,
He rose, and stamping his foot, he re,
marked: "Why try any longer? 1t will
come to me when | shall cease looking
for it,
But this was easier said than done.
Do what he might, the same question
was ever uppemost in his mind-"Mon-
sicur --? Monsieur --?"
Night came on. The streets began to
be deserted. He went to lodging house,
asked for a room, and threw himself on
the bed-worn out by the strain. He
slept until daybreak and felt much re-
freshed, and for a moment forgot his di-
lemma, Suddenly it all came back with
redoubled fury.
The sensation of fear now came over
him. fear of never finding the name again
Like one possessed, lie walked about the
notary's house by the hour For the
second time it grew dark. He buried his
nails in his scalp and groaned Il shall 90
mad"
Here was his terrible position. He
possessed 100000 francs in bank notes
to be sure they were stolen property,
still he would take possession. To have
them he had served five years in prison,
and now he could not get them. They
were within his reach but a name. a sim
pie name, which could not come, cheated
him out of it ALL He beat his head for
it seemed as if his reason were leaving
him; he ran against the lamp post reel
ing like drunken man. He had no more
fixed ideas-madness possessed his whole
being. He seemed now convinced that
he should never find the name. Strange
voices seemed to mock him and passersby
point their fingers in derision HeadlongI
he rushed through the streets, regardless
of any thing in the way, in a mad desire
that something might crush out his BRAIN
Monsieur ? Monsieur -?"
Oh, that name!
He came to the river In the green, in
dolent waters of the Seine the stars were
reflected. He wept aloud Monsieur
? Oh what is the name?"
He descended the steps leading to the
lower bank and lay down near the
waters edge so that he might cool his
face and hands. He breathed heavily.
Gradually the water drew him nearer
and nearer until it held his eyes-his
ears-his whole body. He felt himself
drawn into it without making the slight
est attempt to hold onto something.
Then he fell; the icy cold stung him.
Involuntary he struggled, his arms rose,
he raised his head-then he sank. He
rose again to the surface, then suddenly,
during last desperate effort, his eyes
bullying out of their sockets and his
mouth ccntorted, he shrieked: Il have it.
Help! Duverger
The banks of the river were deserted.
The waters splashed against the bridge,
and its dark arcn re-echoed the name
Duvergcr! Lazily the Seine glided on;
red and green lights danced on its mirror.
A deadly calm pervaded the scene
New York Evening Post.