The Elbert County tribune., 1913-08-01

the sight OF Haouls VINO went up Il
her and kissed her. She asked him {
few questions. performed her dutie.
as hostess prettily. took up the ira,
again and left the room. Then sh,
ran into the garden and took refug,
on a bench. a prey to feelings tina
stirred her young heart for the hrs
time. Raouls followed her and the,
talked till the evening. very shyiy
They were quite changed. cautious a.
two diplomatists. and told each Other
things that had nothing to do witt
their budding sentiments. When they
took leave of each other by the road
eide. Raoui. pressing a kiss on Chris
tines trembling hand. said:
"Mademolselle. / shall never forget
youl"
And he went away regretting his
words, for he knew that Christine
could not be the wife of the vicomte
de 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. where she did not distinguish
herself at all. attending the classes
without enthusiasm and taking prize
only to please old Mamma vaIerius.
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 It 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
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. Raoul
suffered, for she was very beautiful
and he was shy and dared not con-
fess his love, even to himself. And
then came the iightning-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 establishment
so you have Gomez" she said. Il
felt that 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 a trem-
bling voice. she said:
Me? You are dreaming. my
friend!"
And she burst out laughing. to put
herself in countenancs.
Don't laugh. Christine: l am quite
serious" Raoul answered.
And she replied gravely: 81 did not
make you come to tell me such things
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. If you did not think /
loved your"
Il thought you would remember ouf
games here, MS children. in which my
father SO often Joined. l really don't
know what | thought. Per
haps was wrong to write to you.
a 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 as the little girl that
then was. :"
There was something in Christine's
attitude that seemed to Raoul not
natural. He did net feel any hostility
in her; far from 1t; the distressed af-
fection shining in her eyes told him
that. But why was this affection dis
tresSed? That was what he wished
to know and what was Irritating him.
When you saw me in your dress
ing-room. was that the first time you
noticed me. Christine?"
She WAS incapable of lying.
mn che sofd h,a