Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-23

Raoul de Chagny rose ana Win
very authoritative air, pronounced
these peremptory words:
Madame, you will have the good
ness to tell me where that genius
lives"
The old lady did not seem surprised
at this irdiscreet command. She
raised her eyes and said:
"In heavenI"
Such simplicity baffied him. He did
not know what to say in the presence
of this candid and perfect faith in a
genius who came down nightly from \
heaven to haunt the dressing-rooms at .
the opera.
He now realized the possible state
Of mind of a girl brought up between
a superstitious fiddler and visionary
old lady and be shuddered when he
thought of the consequences OF 1t all. (
is Christine still good girl?'' he
asked suddenly, in spite of himself.
II swear it, as 1 hope to be saved!"
exclaimed the old woman, who, this
time. seemed to be incensed. And, if
you doubt it, sir, don't know what
you are here for"
Raoul tore at his gloves.
How long has she known tbs
'genius?"
About three months. Yes,
it's quite three months since he be-
gan to give her lessons"
The viscount threw up his arms
with a gesture of despair.
The genius gives her lessons!
And where, pray?"
Now that she has gone away with
him, / can't say: but, up to a fort
night ago, it was in. Christmas dress
! ing-room. 1t would be impossible in
this little fat The whole house would
hear them Whereas. at the opera,
at eight o'clock in the morning, there
/ is no one about, do you see!"
Yes, see! see!" cried the Wis
/ count.
And he hurriedly took leave OF
/ Nine Valerius, who asked herself II
the young nobleman was not little
/ of his head.
He walked home to his brothers
house in a pitiful state. He could
have struck himself, banged his head
against the walls! To think that he
had believed in her innocence, in her
| purity! The Angel of Music! He
knew him now, He saw him! 1t was
beyond a doubt some unspeakable
tenor, a good-looking jackanapes, who
mouthed and simpered as he sang!
He thought himself as absurd and as
wretcned as could be. Oh, what a
miserable, little, insignificant, silly
young man was NJ. lie Vicomte de
Chagny, thought Raoul furiousIy.
And she, what a bold and damnable
sly creature!
His brother was waiting for him and
Raoul fell into his arms, like child.
The count consoled him, without ask
ing for explanations; and Raoul would
certainly have long hesitated before
telling him the story Of the Angel of
Music. His brother suggested taking
him out to dinner. Overcome as he
was with despair, Raoul would prob
ably have refused any invitation that
evening. If the count had not. as an
inducement, told him that the lady OF
his thoughts had been seen, the night
in the Bots. At first, the viscount re
fused to believe; but he received such
. exact details that he ceased protest
0 ing. She had been seen, it appeared
driving in a brougham, with the win
e dow down. She seemed to be slowly
o taking in the icy night air. There
e was glorious moon shining. She was
) recognized beyond a doubt. AS fol
c her companion, only his shadowy out
o line was distinguished leaning back il
d the dark. The carriage was going al
/. a walking pace in lonely drive be
q hind the .grandstand at Longchamp.
G Raoul dressed in frantic haste, pre-
G pared to forget his distress by fling
e ing himself. as people say, into 'the
u vortex of pleasure" Alas, he was {
e very sorry guest and. leaving hi!
d brother early, found himself, by ter
e O'Clock in the evening, in a cab, be
hind the Longchamp race-course.
II 1t was bitterly cold. The roaC
Is seemed deserted and very bright un
der the moonlight. He told the drive
y to wait for him patiently at the cor
ner of near turning and, hiding him
Ie self as well as he could, stood stamp
ing his feet to keep warm. He hat
y been indulging in this healthy exer
else for half an hour or so, when
b carriage turned the corner Of the roat
e and came quietly in his Direction, a
q a walking pace.
As it approached, he saw that
o woman was leaning her head from tn
q window. And, suddenly, the moo
u shed a pale CLEAN over her features.
"a "Christinel"
e The sacred name OF his love ha
as sprung from his heart and his lips
Il He could not keep 1t back. H
Ii would have given anything to with
draw It, for that name, proclaimed i
II the fitness of the night, had acte
in as though 1t were the preconcerte
signal for furious rush on the par
~ OF the whole turnout, which dashe
le past him before he could put into e.
ID ecution his plan OF leaping at tn
horses heads. The carriage windo1
Ut had been closed and the girls fac
ae had disappeared, And the broughan
behind which he was now runnini
Of was no more than q black spot on th
white road.