The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-20

rious. There he sat down and thought F. | or tried to think for the tumult of his
 emotions prevented sane and consecutive l consideration of the situation | He remembered now that for a long | time he had not answered the letters of
 his sister and his father-that he had | omitted his usual visit to his childhood l home He had been extravagant. too, | and had spent not only his income. but
 q larger part of the principal left him by
 his mother. And all for what2 But through those medtatlons would como | sweeping a wild, fervid wave of undy- | ing love for Camille.
 ' He broke down helpessly and wept. | Then he aroused himself-his sef-love be- l ginning to get the better of his other | emotons-and called to his servant; "Jo- | seph, pack the trunks and take places l in the diligence for c tomorrow l He would flee to his father and sister : | their love, he knew. would never faii | him.
 He wrote letter to Camille announcing his intention of going away forever. The | messenger who took it came back with | the word that there was no answer. Yet l despite this. Armand found that he could not force himself to leave Paris thus. He | would seek out Prudence and inquire after l the health of Camille.
 1 Prudence received him calmly. told him | | usual. She thought his idea of returning l to his father an excellent one and wished l him pleasant journey. Armand there | upon wrote a note to Camille apologizing | for the letter he had sent the day before | and begging that he might call to say | farewell. When he returned home he | found his trunks in the hall ready for the l diligence that was to leave that afternoon. | Eagerly he listened for the sound of the | door bell, hoping against hope that there would be an answer to his last note before | the time of departure came. Suddenly l the summons came. Monsieur, two | ladies'" said Joseph. It was Camille, ac- companled by Prudence.
 Duval seized the hand of his love and l kneeled. Pardon me" said he. She kissed | him and asked for what? Because" an- swered Armand T was about to go | away"
 Let not my visit alter your determ-
 nation,' replied Camille. Armand, love you but we must part. We creatures of chance have fantastic desires and wishes and inconceiVable loves. ] loved you first. think because when you saw me suffer, you took my hand and wept. What I say is foolish, but I once had a dog who looked at me you did. But you must leave me-"
 "Ah, Camille!' cried the young man. Let us forget everything except that we love on another Again the actual presence of Armand overcame all resolves
 that Camille had made. She wept that 1t
 was foolish of her to have seen him again.
 but the lovers were reconcied. and their
 reconciliation drew itself out to such
 lengths that at last the eminently prac
 tical Prudence said: Come, come, young
 people. l am hungry. Let us all go to
 supper"
 "Unpack the trunk, Joseph" said Ar
 mand
 'The diligence has been some hours
 gone. monsieur" replied Joseph, without
 a smile.
 Camille now induced the old duke to
 buy for her the little house at Bour-
 geval, which she and Armand had so
 much admired. Armand took apartments
 at the Daybreak house. They saw each
 other often and always Armand begged
 that Camille let him go to the duke and
 tell him of his love. But no. Camille
 would temporize She still looked upon
 herself as having will enough to send
 Armand away at last-to start him on that journey to his father, which she
 had interrupted by her weakness. An,
 yes, Armand must leave her-but she de-
 layed the parting.
 So, gradually, there grew up in Ca
 mille a belief that they might, after all,
 be happy together. One night as they
 sat watching the moon rise. she said:
 Armand ours Is no common love But
 trembe lest. repenting some day. you
 should look on the past as a crime. Say,
 then. that you will never leave me-"
 'T swear I never will" replied Duval
 'It Is now winter" continued Camille Let us go to Italy and begin life there
 again. I dread to return to Paris. In
 Italy no one will know us. I will sell all l have and we will live there in the sunshine Do you wish to go?" A spasm shook the slender frame of the woman and there came one of those terrible paroxysms of coughing which brought the tears to the eyes of Duval 'I did but dream" said Camille when she could again speak. Go Armand, go
 but let me see you again soon' The following day Armand went to Paris. He had to raise more money. At | his lodgings, which he still retained, he found three letters from his father, | in all of which the old gentleman ex- | pressed anxiety about his sons silence.
 The letters had been there for some time, and while Armand was reading them the faithful Joseph came in with ] the news of the first importance.
 Monster" said Joseph, your father is in Paris. He sends word that you must
 wait upon him instantly" Armand felt a presentiment of evil conviction that at last he was to 1 lose Camille forever.
 "I am sorry l was not in Paris when you arrived yesterday" said Armand when he entered the paternal presence. Armand we have serious things to talk over" replied the old man. Do you know woman named Camille Gautier?'
 Yes" answered Amand
 Well" replied the father. "you must never See her more. Oh yes: you will tell me you love her but l have in- Vestigated her past. Leave her at once. You have. for her. forgotten the most holy things and permitted the noise of scandal to reach our pro vince and cast shadow over the hon
 orable name 1 gave you" Armands great love for his father was swept away in d wild passion He sprang up and refused to listen fur 1 ther to anything said against Camille. The name of Duval. he cried madly, would not be sullied by her bearing 1t, but rather ennobled. "Camile is as no- ble as q woman can be-" cried Armand. | 'Jf you only saw her"
 His father looked compassionately | 4 him for d moment and then said: "f think you are mad" He left the room, | samming the door behind him. Hurrying to Bourgevsl. Armand told | Camille of his fathers arrival in Paris | and of the scene between them. He | swore that nothing should make him | part from her love.
 Camille was grave and solemn. "You would best see your father again" she 1 said at last. You may be able 10 come | to some better understanding. Promise | me that tomorrow you will go to Paris | and see your father again