The St. Mary banner., 1907-01-19
DO look as il l had forgotten ?"

name of the love you once bore me,
have pity on us! Reform, abjure your
evil courses. Do not, l implore you,
condemn my husband to this abyss OF
depravity; do not wreck my married
life"
Now l understood what had pro-
cured me the honor of a visit from
this woman, and l triumphod devil
ishly that l was the elder twin.
Madame" l answered, Il think that
l owe you no explanations, but shall
say this: the evil courses that you
deplore were adopted, not vindictively.
but in the effort to numb the agony
that you had made me suffer. You
but reap as you have sown."
Reform" she sobbed. She sank on
her knees before me. "Silvestre, in
mercy to us, 1-iurm!"
Il shall never REFORM" I said in
fexibly. Il will grow more abandon
ed day by day-my past faults shall
shine as merits compared with the
atrocities that are to come. False
girl, monster of seltishness, you are
dragging me to the gutter, and your
only grief is that he must share my
shame! You have made me bad, and
you must bear the consequences-you
cannot now make me good to save
your husband"
Humbled and despairing, she left
me. At this stage l began deliberate
ly to contemplate revenge. But not
the one that l had threatened. Oh,
no! bethought myself of a ven
geance more complete than that! She
should be tortured with the torture
that she had dealt to mel would
make him adore another woman with
all his heart and brain!
1t was difficult, for first must adore
and tire. of another woman myself
as the passion in me faded, his would
be born. l swore, however. that l
would compass it. For some weeks
now l worked again, to provide my
self with money. bought new clothes
and made myself presentable When
my appearance accorded better with
my plan. l paraded Paris, seeking the
woman to adore
You may think Paris is full of ador-
able women? Well, so contrary is hui
man nature, that never had I'felt such
Indifference toward the sex as during
that tedious quest; never had pair OF
brilliant eyes or a we'll turned neck,
appealed 20 me SO little.
How true it is that only the unfore-
seen comes to pass! There was
model. one Therese, whose fortune was
her back, and who had long borec me
by an evident tenderness. One day
this Th reGe, usually so constrained in
my presence, appeared in high spirits
and mentioned that she was going to
be married.
The change in her demeanor inter-
ested me A little piqued l invited
her TO dine with me, but she refused
Before l parted from her l made an
appointment for her to sit to me the
next morning.
so you are going to be married,
Therese?" said, as l prepared the
palette.
I'm truth" she answered, gaily.
mo regrets?" asked.
What regrets could l have?" she
returned. He is very pretty boy,
and well-to-do, believe mel"
And l am not a pretty boy, nor
well-to-do. heinz"
"Oh," she laughed. you do not care
for me-"
"Is it so?" said What would you
say II told you that l did care?"
Il should say that you tell me too
late, monsieur" she replied. with
shrug. Are you ready for me to
pose?" And this changed woman turn
ed her peerless back on me without
a scruple.
A little mortified, attended strictly
to business for the rest of the morn
ing. But found myself on the fol-
lowing day waiting for her with i'm
patience.
were very well shaped, and indeed
happiness had brought certain
charm to her face
do you know, Therese, that I am
sorry that you are going to marry"
exclaimed.
"Oh, get OUT" she laughed, push
ing me away. 1T is no good your talk
ing nonsense to me now, don't flatter
YOURSELF"
Reybaud, the sculptor, happened to
come in at the moment. "Oho," he
what changes are to be seen!
The nose OF cur brave Sylvestre is
out of joint now we are afianced,
heinz"
She Joined in the laughter against
me, and picked up my brush again
in vile humor
Well, as l have said, she was not
tho kind nf woman 7 had contomnlat.