Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1908-01-17

iAt7 IT Mho q duh1 evening" anu the
acacias made the most Of the power
which certain vegetables possess Of
intoxicating one with their perfume
that evening. her hand did not
stop my mouth at all. 1t reached for
the bell. Clarisse did not threaten,
this time; she acted. I saw that I
was on the point of being put out by
her servants-who consisted of an
old woman who had been her nurse
and whom l could have bowled over
with breath. However, 1t was no
time for airy persiflage. Without
waiting for Nancy to seize me by the
collar. | took my hat and fed.
When day broke, | had not closed
my eyes; not that the situation
seemed desperate, for I had learned
to read Clarisse's eyes. But, all night
long, 1 had repeated over and over
again to myself:
Heaven grant that the little hotel
in the Avenue Friedland is still for
sale! We would be so comfortable
there"
In spite OF this. was no further
advanced when September came, the
last month of my lease. was no
longer shown the door when l sug-
gested my candidacy. but Clarisse as
sumed a bored air and calmly talked
of something else. Between our
selves, would rather she rang the
bell, for OWNED that she was think
ing:
MY dear friend. you do not dis
/ please me; quite the contrary. But
you must confess that. in the solitud,
OF Chanttiiy have scarcely had on
portunity to enjoy my widowhood
Let me see if it is really worthy o
its reputation. In a year or two W,
can talk of your affair"
In year or twol Pretty ant
charming as she was, Clarisse would
have a score of admirers around her
and adorers around the woman one
wants to marry are like flies in milk:
they may do no great harm, but they
certainly do not improve the milk.
Early in September Nine. de None
ley informed me one day that she was
going to Paris on the morrow to
have a look at her apartment.
Il sincerely hope" she added. in
severe tone, that you do not think
of accompanying me-"
"How can you suggest such a
thing?" said I. with apparent sub
mission. You leave at"
"At s in the evening, as / do not
wish TO be seen. ! shall send Nancy
in the afternoon to prepare my room.
All, poor Paris."
She no longer said Poor charles,p
| admit that this Poor Paris."
made me much more uneasy.
The next evening, at 8 O'Clock, the
doors Of the express train, which
stops hardly minute, were already
closed. Clarisse had not appeared
She reached the station just as the
bell rang.
Quick. hurry up. madamei" cried
the railroad official.
Hurry" l repeated, opening a
compartment at random and helping
her in.
But instead of getting in. she fell
back, almost fainting, in my arms
Here is what she had seen, and what
!, too, had seen over her shoulder.
The seats of the compartment were
unoecupied, and three men, percbed
ike monkeys on the back of the
seats, held to their shoulders three
guns, whereof the barrels shone in
the lamp-light like cannons. One
OF them, as we opened the door, had
shouted in terrible voice: Don't
come in, for
/ had closed the door so ouieklv
that we had not heard the end of the
sentence. Then Clarisse and / hun.
died ourselves in the next comnart-
ment without quite knowing what
we were doing The train was already
under way. We were alone. Nine
de Moneley seemed half dead with
fear, and l must confess / was yio-
lently shaken.
Did you see them?" she cried
What can be happening in that com.
partment? They are going to fight
Ito kill each otherl What terrible
tragedy is to be enacted right beside
u.s."
Il don't understand it at alln I |
replied. Only one explanation |
seems possible to me. They are hunt |
srs who have suddenly gone crazy.
Otherwise, why should they climb |
he seats? If they simply wanted to |
Kill each other, they could do It With
1ut all that gymnastics.
No, suggested Clarisse, 1T Is
some dreadful American kind of duel
In such a case. it seems, they climb |
up on anything they can find. But
Why didn't they stop them at Chan |
The train itself scarcely stopped
there"
Did you hear how they called out
Don't come in.'? The wretehes
they don't want to be disturbed while
they are killing themselves. Good
ness, Just listenl"
The fusilade had commenced right
inside beside us. Several gunshots
had sounded. dominated by a shriu.
cry. which still rings in my
ears. Then deathly silence ensued:
they were all dead. however bad
shots they might have been.
Though We were making sbout
nifty miles an hour at the st,me. !
made ready TO get out upoa mi, :