Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-23
Love Is Stronger
Than Death

other tenderly. He had the thin and
pure face OF a young Caesar. She
was frail, delicate and slender. with a
beautiful complexion and golden hair.
They had been married only three
weeks, but they had known each
other all their lives, He WAS now
twenty-five and she was twenty.
Maurice was a painter Of whom the
world expected much, his first picture
having been greatly admired on the
Salon the year before, Just now they
We're travelling in their automobile
leisuurely towards the Pyrenees. stop.
ping wherever they felt like aud EN-.
joying their honeymoon in the most
pleasantly independent manner imagi-
nable.
This morning they had stopped at a
rustic inn in a small and very pictur-
esque village hidden among the hills
and forests. and after a delicious
breakfast they mad gone on a long
walk through the magnificent pine
woods. where they felt as IL they were
far away from the world and still
closer to each other than ever. They
decided to stay overnight.
II was eve o'clock, they had had
dinner and were enjoying a moon
light walk in the forest, when Paula
suddenly turned pale and complained
of feeling faint. Maurice, terribly
scared, took her into his arms and
carried her to their room, but he had
hardly placed her In an easy chair
when he felt the same symptoms, and
suddenly the thought struck him that
they must have been poisoned. He
remembered the dish of mushrooms.
which the host had been so proud of
because 1t was the first that had been
gathered that season, and he had felt
happy to see how the young couple en-
joyed this delicacy.
Their pains grew worse. and the
poor host. who had rushed to the
room, was almost mad with despair.
What was he to do? The inn was six
miles away from the nearest town
which could boast OF a physician. He
| would go there as fast as his horse
and cart would carry him, for Maurice
was not able TO run his car. He would
| fetch the doctor. but II would be at
least four or five hours before he
could be back. In whose care should
he leave his two patients. who were
as ignorant as he as 10 what ought TO
be done. But a thought flashed
through his head like an inspiration.
Il will rum for Monsieur de Pierlas.''
he said. "He must know what to o.
De Pierlas was an old naval officer,
who was spending his declining years
in his native village. During his
many years at sea he had picked mp
knowledge OF many things and the
villagers were in the habit OF seeking
his advice in everything.
He came Immediately. He was tall
and broad-shouldered. with an i'm.
| nense white beard. gentle eyes and a
kind voice. He Immediately saw that
the young people had been poisoned
and exclaimed: Poor children"
He racked his brain. He had often
seen %poisonings OF this kind. but he
had no medicine here with which to
| fight the poison, and he could think
of only one remedy which might keer
| the young people alive until the ar
| rival of the doctor-milk. milk in
large quantities.
He began to look for some at once
but he did not have much hope. for he
knew that cows were scarce, and that
a milkman came along every evening
at six buying all he could get. II was
more than doubtful II he would be
able to get three or four quarts going
from door to door. and there was not
a farm within twenty kilometres.
The old officer was hurtying back
towards the inn, but his face was full
of anguish and sorrow. for he had
barely got enough to save one ferson
not two.
He stood in the door leading to the
room where the Young people were
writhing in pain. and his voice sound
ed very grave as he said:
This Is all have been able to ge'
Just now. II is OF no use to divide II
you understand. Half or 1t would
do no good to any one, and you would
thus do away with the chance OF saw
ing one OF you. You must not hes
itate. It is hard, but It can not be
helped you must decide quickly. In
! the meantime ! will try to get some
more milk.
He did not believe his own last
words. They were only a pretext to
get away to avoid being a witness OF
the terrible conflict fate had forced
upon these two unfortunate beings.
: The door had hardly closed when
Maurice arose and said: Drink,
Paula: drink quickly"
Pale and cold. unable to rise, she
shook her head emphatically: "No,
Maurice; you must drink It,"
Maurice tottered to her side and
said: Paula. this is madness. You
know very we'll that am the strong
er. that I can wait until NJ. de Pierlas