Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-09

their shares.
The Comtesse de Chagny, nee de !
Moerogis de La Martyniere, had died (
in giving birth to Raoul, who was born 1
twenty years after his elder brother. I
Philippe busted himself actively Win I
the youngsters education. The lad I
entered the Borda trainingship, nm I
ished his course with honors and 4
quietly made his trip round the world. (
Thanks to powerful influence, he had
lust been appointed member OF the
Official expedition on board the
Requin, which was to be sent to the
Arctic Circle in search Of the sur
vivors of the D'Artofs expedition, OF
whom nothing had been heard Tor
three years. He was a little over
twenty-one years OF age and looked
eighteen. He had small, fair mus
tache, beautiful blue eyes and COM
plexion like a girls.
On that evening, Philippe, after ap-
plauding the Daae, turned to Raoul
and saw that he was quite pale.
Don't you see," said Raoul, that
the woman's fainting?"
said the count Whats the natter"
But Raoul had recovered himself
and was standing up.
Lets go and see" he said, "she
never sang like that before"
They were soon at the door leading
from the house to the stage. Raoul
tore his gloves without knowing what
he was doing and Philippe had much
too kind a heart to laugh at him for
his impotence. But he now under
stood why RaouI was absent-minded
when spoken to and why he always
tried TO turn every conversation to
the subject of the opera.
They reached the stage and pushed
1 through the crowd of gentlemen.
/ scene-shifters, supers and chorus
/ girls, Raoul leading the way, feeling
/ that his heart no longer belonged to
/ him, his face set with passion, while
/ Count Philippe followed him with diff
/ ficulty and continued to smile. The
count was surprised to find that
/ Raoul knew the way. He had never
/ taken him to Christine's himself and
/ came to the conclusion that Raoul
/ must have gone there alone while the
count stayed talking in the foyer with
/ Sorelli.
! Postponing his usual visit to Sorelli,
1 the count followed his brother down
the passage that led to Daae's dress
ing-room and saw that it had never
been so crammed. The girl had not
/ yet come to; and the doctor of the
theater had just arrived at the mo-
/ nent when Raoul entered Christine,
/ therefore, received the first aid of the
! one, while opening her eyes in the
arms Of the other. The count and
many more remained crowding in the
doorway.
Don't you think, doctor, that those
gentlemen had better clear the
room?" asked Raoul cooIly. There's
no breathing here"
You're quite right" said the doc
tor
And he sent every one away, except
RaOul and the maid.
Christine Daae uttered a deep sigh,
which was answered by a groan. She
turned her head, saw Raoul and
started. She looked at the doctor, on
whom she bestowed a smile, then at
her maid, then at RaouI again.
Monsieur" she said, in a voice not
much above a whisper, who are
you?"
"Mademoiselle," replied the young
man, kneeling on one knee and press
ing fervent kiss on the diva's hand,
Il am the little boy who went into
the sea to rescue your scarf"
Christine again looked at the doctor
and the maid; and all three began to
laugh.
Raoul turned very red and stood up.
"MademoiselIe,' he said. "since you
are pleased not TO recognize me, |
should like to say something to you
in private"
When I am better, do you mind ?''
Yes, you must CO." said the doc
tor, with his pleasantest smile.
Il am not i'll now" said Christine
suddenly with strange and unexpect-
ed energy.
She rose and passed her hand over
her eyelids.
$sThank you, doctor. Please go
away, all of you. Leave me-
The doctor tried to make short
protest, but, perceiving the girls evil
dent agitation, he thought the best
remedy was not to thwart her. And
he went away, saying to Raoul, out
side:
She is not herself tonight. She is
usually so gentle"
Then he said good night and Raoul
was left alone.
Suddenly the dressing room door
opened and the maid came out by
herself, carrying bundles. He stopped
her and asked how her mistress was
The woman said that she was quite
we'll And she passed on. One idea
alone filed Raours burning brain: OF
course, Daae wished TO be left alone
> for him, Had he not told ner that
he wanted to speak to her privately
Hardly breathing, he went up to the
dressing-room and, with his ear TO the
? door TO catch her reply, prepared to
knock. But his hand dropped He
: had heard mans voice in the dress
r ing-room, saying. il masteTful tone:
: Christine, you must love met"
And Christine's voice, infinitely sad
and trembling. as though accompanied
Z hr-