The Elbert County tribune., 1913-12-05

corner, at the bottom OF one of those
segments the iron tree, with
its Iron branch. for the hanged men.
seized my companion's arm: the
vicomte de Chagny was all a-qufver.
eager to shout to his bctrothed that
he was bringing her help feared
that he would not be able to contain
himself
Suddenly. we heard a noise on our
left. 1t sounded at first like a door
opening and shutting in the next
room; and then there was q dull
moan. clutched M de Chagny's
arm more firmly still; and then we
distinctly heard these words:
You must make your choicel The
wedding mass or the requiem mass!"
recognized the voice OF the mon
ster
There was another moan, followed
by long silence.
was persuaded by now that the
monster was unaware of our pres
ence In his house. for otherwise he
would certainly have managed not TO
let US hear him. He would only have
had to close the little invisible win
dow through which the torture-lovers
look down into the torture-chamber.
Besides. was certain that. II he had
known of our presence. the tortures
would have begun at 6nce.
The important thing was not to lot
him know; and l dreaded nothing 20
much az the impulsivenes& OF the
vicomte de Chagny. who wanted to
rush through the walls to Christine
Daae. whose moans We continued to
hear at intervals.
The requiem mass IL not at all
gay" Erik's voice resumed. whereas
the wedding mass-you can take my
word for it's magnificent You
must take resolution and know your
own mindl can't go on living like
this. like mole In a burrowl Don
Juan Triumphant is finished: and
now l want to live like everybody
else. want to have a wife like
everybody else and to take her out
on Sundays. l have invented mask
that makes me look like anybody.
People will not even turn round In
the streets. You will be the happiest
of women. And we will sing, all by
ourselves. till We swoon away with
delight. You are crying! You are
afraid Of me! And yet am not real
iy wicked. Love me and you shaA
see! All wanted was to be loved
for myself II you loved me | should
be az gentle as lamb; and you could
do anything with me that you
pleased"
Soon the moans that accompanied
this sort Of loves iitany Increased
and increased. have never heard
anything more despairing; and M. de
Chagny and recognized that this
terrible lamentation came from Erik
himself. Christine seemed to be
standing dumb with horror. without
the strength to cry out, while the
monster was on his knees before her.
Three times over. Erik fiercely be-
walled his fate: =
You don't love me! You don't
love me! You don't love mel"
And then, more gently:
why do you cry? You know It
gives me pain to see you cry!"
A silence.
Each silence gave US fresh hope.
We said to ourselves:
Perhaps he has left Christine be-
hind the wall"
And we thought only OF the possi-
bility of warning Christine Daae OF
our presence. unknown to the mon
ster. We were unable to leave the
torture-chamber now. unless Chris
tine opened the door to us; and 1t
was only on this condition that we
could hope to help her. for we did
not even know where the door might
be.
Suddenly. the silence In the next
room was disturbed by the ringing Of
an electric bell. There was a bound
on the other side OF the wall and
Erik's voice Of thunder:
Somebody ringing! Walk in.
pleased"
A sinister chuckle.
Who has come bothering nowy
Wait for me here. am going
to tell the siren to open the door"
Steps moved away, door closed.
had no time to think Of the fresh
horror that was preparing; L forgot
that the monster was only going out
perhaps to perpetrate . fresh crime:
understood but one thing: Christine
was alone behind the WALL
The vicomte de Chagny was Al
ready calling to her:
"Christinei Christinei"
A. we could hear what was said in
the next room. there was no reason
why my companion should not be
heard in his turn. Nevertheless, the
viscount had to repeat his CRY time
after time.
At last . faint voice reached N.
4 am drsamingi- It said.
Christine. Christine, II Il L
Raouli"
A s1lsnca.