The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-02-21

Inanks to powerful influence, he had
just been appointed a 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'Artois expedition, of
whom nothing had been heard for
three years. He was little over
tWenty-one years of age and looked
eighteen. He had small, fair mus
tache, beautiful blue eyes and a COM
plexion like 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?"
You look like fainting yourself,
said the count. whats the natter?
But Raoul had recovered himself
and was standing up.
Let's go and see he said she.
never sang like that before.
They We're 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 Raoul 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
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,
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-
ment 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 coolly 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 deep sigh.
which was answered by 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 whisper, who are
| your"
'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
''Mademoiselle," he said "since you
are pleased not TO recognize me, |
should like to say something to you
in private"
When 1 am better, do you mind ?''
Yes, you must CO. said the doc
tor, with his pleasantest smile.
I am not i'll now said Christine
suddenly, with strange and unexpect-
ed energy.
She rose and passed her hand over
her eyelids.
Thank 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
well. And she passed on. One idea
alone filled Raouls burning brain: OF
course. Daae wished to be left alone
for him, Had he not told her 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 a mans voice in the dress
ing-room. saying, in masterful tone:
Christine, you must love me-"
And Christines voice, infinitely sad
and trembling, as though accompanied
by tears, replied:
How can you talk like that? When
/ sing only for you!"
Raoul leaned against the panel to
ease his pain His heart which had
IN u