The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-08-22

was but thilty-five-at forty he would
be free and rich, so he looked upon the
punishment as a small, necessary sacri-
fee.
While serving his term he was con-
sidered as exemplary a convict as he
had been an official. He patiently
watched the days go by and had no
concern except as to his health. At
last the day of his liberation dawned.
His little savings of about ten francs
We're paid out to him, and his first
thoughts were the notary and the de-
post. How he had longed for this
hour. He drew a mental picture Of the
scene as it would be enacted.
He arrived at the well-remembered
office. Would the notary recognize
him? He looked at himself in a mir
ror. In truth he had aged considers
ably, his features were drawn. No, the
notary would surely not recognize him.
Ha! ha! that would make the matter
more interesting and comical still.
What can do for you, sir?"
81 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. l cannot for the life
of me think of the name l gave"
He thought and thought, but the
name would not come to him. Feeling
himself getting nervous, he sat down,
and muttered to himself: Keep cool
patience. If | could only find the
first letter. Monsieur -? Monsieur
-" The name would not be con-
jured up.
For an hour he searched his men,
DRY; searched for a hold, a sign. The
name seemed to stand before his eyes,
turned about him, he saw the letters
scatter and the syllables take flight.
Every moment he had a sensation as
if he could grasp tit was on the
tip of his ~tongue-still it would not
materiali2e. 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 re-
main quietly in the same place; his
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 look
ing for it."
But this was easier said than done.
Do what he might, the same question
was ever uppermost in his mind
Monsieur -? Monsieur -"
Night came on. The streets began
to be deserted. He went to a lodging
house, asking for a room, and threw
himself on the bed-worn IL by the
strain. He slept until daybreak and
felt much refreshed, and for a mo-
ment forgot his dilemma. 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, he 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 81 shall go mad"
Here was his terrible position. He
possessed 200, 600 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
a prison, and now he could not get
them. They were within his reach, but
a name, a simple 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 Keeling like a
drunken man. He had no more fixed
ideas-madness possessed his whole be-
ing. He seemed now convinced that
he should never find the name. Strange
voices seemed to mock him and pass
ers-by point their fingers in derision.
Headlong he rushed through the
streets, regardless of anything in the
way, in a mad desire that something
might crush out his brain. Monsieur
-? Monsieur -" Oh that namei
He came to the river. In the green,
idolent waters of the Seine the stars
were reflected. He wept aloud-"Mon-
sieur -? 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
slightest attempt to hold to m
thing. Then he fell, the icy cold stung
him. l~nvoluntarily he struggled, his
arms rose, he raised his head-then he
sank. He rose again to the surface,
then suddenly, during a last desperate
effort, his eyes bullying out of their
sockets and his mouth contorted. he
shrieked 81 have it. Help! Duverger
Thou"
The banks Of the river were deserted.
The waters s%plashed against the bridge,