Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-14
The Doctors
Story
BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT

, trans with his guests sat around
brightly illuminated table, covered
with fruits and flowers. The converse
ton drifted to love. Immediately there
arose an animated discussion, the
same eternal discussion as to whether
II were possible to love more than
once. The men agreed that passion
like sickness, may attack the same
person several times, unless il strikes
to kill. This conclusion seemed quite
incontestable The women. however.
affirmed that love, the great passion,
may come only once to mortals. II
resembles powder. they said. this love.
The marquis. who had INDUCED in
many love affairs. disputed this be-
lief.
i tell you 1t is possible to love sew
eral times with all ones heart and
soul. You quote examples of persons
who have killed themselves to prove
the impossibility of a second passion.
! wager that If they had not stupidity
committed suicide and so destroyed
the possibility OF a second experience
they would have found a new love and
still another, and so on till death"
They chose the old doctor as arbi-
traitor. He thought It was as the
marquis had said, a thing Of tempera.
ment.
AS for me-" he said, Il once knew
Of love which lasted SIS years with
out one days respite, which ended
only with death" The wife of the
marquis clasped her hands.
That is beautiful All what a dream
TO be loved in such a way!"
You are not mistaken, madame. on
this point-the loved one was a man.
You even know him: it is NJ. Chon-
quet, the pharmacist. AS to the wom- |
an, you also knew her, the old chair +
member, who came every year to the
Chateau.
Three months ago | was called to
the death-bed of the old chair member
The cure had preceded me. She
wished to make us the executors of
her will. In order that we might un.
derstand her conduct, she told us the
story Of her life. 1t is most singular
and touching. Her father and mother
were both chair members. She never
lived long in any one place. As a lit
tie child she wandered about with
hem, dirty unkempt hungry. She
never heard a word of affection. When
she grew older she fetched and car
led the broken chairs. Often the
boys threw stones at her once
Kind woman gave her a few pennies.
She treasured them up most care
.ully.
One day-she was then II years
'ld-as she picked her way through a
country town. she met behind the Gem
terry the little ChonQuet. weeping bit.
erly because one of his playmates ]
ad stolen two precious pennies. The /
ears of the small villager, one of /
hese much envied mortals, whom she G
imagined never knew trouble, upset (
er completely. She approached him, 8
nd, bowling, ascertained the cause of 4
is grief. put into his hands all her r
avings, her seven pennies. He took Z
hem without hesitation and dried his L
yes. Wild with joy. she kissed him. 8
lie was busy counting his money, and
lade no objection. She, seeing that 4
be was not repulsed, began again to G
ISIS him and even gave him a tremen- D
Gus hug-then she ran away.
-Four months she dreamed of that q
orner near the cemetery and of the b
tile villager. She stole pennies from
or parents to give him at their next n,
Getting. When she returned to the h
DOT near the cemetery he was not
ere. Passing his fathers pharmacy.
re caught sight Of him behind the
,unter. The following year she met CO
m near the school playing marbles. W
ne threw herself on him, took him W
her arms. and kissed him with such of
olence that he cried aloud. To quiet
m she gave him all her money. re
lree francsl real gold mine. at pu
hich he gazed with staring eyes. til
After this he allowed her to caress co
m as much as she wished During uh
e next four years she put into his 81
nds all her savings, which he peck mi
ed conscientiously In exchange for co
sses. Suddenly he disappeared. He Or
d gone to college. la'
Every year he returned and she tn
ssed him. not daring to lift her ST.
es. He never condescended to turn sta
J head toward her. She loved him OF
IDLY, hopelessly. VII
'One day on entering the village ad
lere her heart always remained. she I'M
v Chonquet coming out OF his phar- ish
icy with a young woman leaning on let
arm. She was his wife. That ma
yht the chair member threw herself lay
o the river A drunkard passing let
Z spot pulled her out and took her TN
the pharmacy. The young Chonouet ne
ne down in his wrapper to revive rul
r. Without seeming 10 know who the
: was, he undressed her and rubbed Wo
z; then he said. in a harsh voice. ton
You are madi People must not
stupid things like that His voice
.ught her to life again. and she was
lpy for a long time. He refused -
for his trouble. although -
. insisted l
All her life uaesad in fbfs -. tiei