Gilpin observer., 1913-07-17


old man: and then Christine entered,
the sight OF Raoul, who went up to
her and kissed her. She asked him .
few questions. performed her duties
as hostess prettily. took up the tray
again and left the room. Then she
ran into the garden and took refuge
on a bench. prey to feelings that
stirred her young heart for the nrst
time Raoul followed her and they
talked till the evening, very shyly.
| They were quite changed. cautious a.
| two diplomatists. and told each other
things that had nothing to do with
their budding sentiments. When they
took leave of each other by the road
side. Raoul. pressing kiss on Chris
tines trembling hand. said:
"Mademoiselle. shall never forget
you'll"
And he went away regretting his
words. for be knew that Christine
could not be the wife OF the Vicomte
do Chagny.
AS for Christine, she tried not to
think OF him and devoted herself
wholly to her art. She made won
derful progress and those who heard
her prophesied that she would be the
greatest singer in the world. Mean
while, the father died; and, suddenly.
she Seemed to have lost, with him.
her voice, her soul and her genius.
She retained Just, but only just.
enough Of this to enter the conserva-
toire. whore she did not distinguish
herself at all, attending the classes
without enthusiasm and taking prize
only to please old Mamma Valerius,
with whom she continued to live.
The first time that Raoul saw Chris
tine at the opera, he was charmed by
the girls beauty and by the sweet
images Of the past which 1t evoked,
but was rather surprised at the mega
tive side of her art. He returned to
listen to her. He followed her in the
wings. He waited for her behind a
Jacobs ladder. He tried to attract
her attention. More than once, he
walked after her to the door OF her
box. but she did not see him She
seemed. for that matter. to see no.
body She was all Indifference RaouI
suffered. for she was very beautiful
and he was shy and dared not con-
Tess his love, even to himself. And
then came the lightning-fash Of the
gala performance:-the heavens torn
asunder and an angels voice heard
upon earth for the delight OF mankind
and the utter capture Of his heart.
And then and then there
was that mans voice behind the door
You must love mei'-and no one
in the room.
Why did she laugh when he remind
ed her OF the incident OF the scarf?
Why did she not recognize him? And
why had she written to him? :.
Perros was reached at last. Raoul
walked into the smoky sitting-room OF
the Setting Sun and at once saw Chris
tine standing before him, smiling and
showing no astonishment
so you have Gomez" she said. II
felt that I should find you here. when
l came back from mass. Some one
told me SO. at the church."
"Who?" asked Raoul, taking her
little hand in his.
why. my poor father. who is
dead"
There was a silence: and then
Raoul asked:
Did your father tell you that |
love you. Christine. and that can
not live without your
Christine blushed to the eyes and
turned away her head. In q trem-
bling voice. she said:
"Ma9 Won ara Ar~o-tn- -
friend!.
And she burst out laughing, to put
herself In countenance.
Don't laugh. Christine; l am quite
serious" Raoul answered.
And she replied gravely: II did not
make you come to tell me such thiuxs
as that"
You made me come Christine;
you knew that your letter would not
leave me indignant and that should
hasten to Perros. How can you have
thought that. II you did not think |
loved your"
Il thought you would remember oui
games here. as children, in which my
father SO often Joined. really don't
know what | thought. -. Per
haps | was wrong to write to you.
This anniversary and your
sudden appearance in my room at the
opera the other evening reminded me
OF the time long past and made me
write to you az the little girl that /
then was. :"
There was something in Christine's
attitude that seemed to Raoui not
| natural He did mt feeI anv hosftiftv
In her: far from It: the distressed af-
lection shining In her eyes told him
that. But why was this affection dis.
tressed7 That was what he wished
to know and what was Irritating him.
When you saw me in your dress
ins-room. was that the first time you
noticed me. Christine?"
| She was incapable Of lying.