The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-04-11

lowed aim to Insult her She thought
| of but one thing, to keep him from
| leaving the box
You will beg my pardon one day.
for all those ugly words. Raoul. and
when you do | shall forgive you"
| He shook his head. NO. no. you
have driven me mad. When | think
| that l had only one object in life: to
| give my name to an opera wench,'
Raou! - How can your"
Il shall die of shame!"
NO, dear, live," said Christine s
grave and changed voice. And b.
| good-by. Good-by, Raoul :"
The boy stepped forward, stagger-
ing as he went. He risked one more
sarcasm:
''Oh. you must let me come and ap-
| plaud you from time to time!''
II shall never sing again, Raoul."
Really" he replied, still more
satirically. so he is taking you OF
the stage; l congratulate you.
But We shall meet in the Bots, one
of these evenings"
/ Not in the Bots nor anywhere,
Raoul; you shall not see me again"
May one ask at least to what dark
ness you are returning? o.. For
| what hell are you leaving, mysterious
lady or for what paradise?"
Il came to tell you, dear, but
can't tell you now you would
hnl N
in me. Raoul; 1t is finished"
She spoke in such a despairing voice
that the lad began to feel remorse for
his cruelty.
But look here" he cried. Cant
you tell me what all this means!
d.. You are free, there is no one
to interfere with you You go
about Paris. You put on a
domino to come to the ball. &.
Why do you not go home? &.
What have you been doing this past
fortnight? What is this tale
about the Angel of Music, which you
have been telling Mamma Valerius?
Some one NAV have taken you in,
played upon your innocence. | was a
witness of it myself, at Perros :.
but you know what to believe now!
You seem TO me quite sensible, Chris
tine You know what you are doing
- And meanwhile Mamma Va
lerius lies waiting for you at home
and appealing to your good genius!'
Explain yourself, Christine, |
beg of you! Any one might have been
deceived as | was. What is this
farce"
Christine simply took off her mask
and said: Dear 1t is tragedy"
Raori now saw her face and could
not restrain an exclamation OF sur
prise and terror The fresh COM
plexion of former days was gone. A
mortal pallor covered those features.
which he had known so, charming and
so gentle, and sorrow had furrowed
them with pitiless lines and traced
dark and unspeakabiy sad shadows
under her eyes
MY dearest! My dearest" he
moaned, holding out his arms. You
promised to forgive me
Perhaps, . Some day. per-
haps!" she said, resuming her mask;
and she went away, forbidding him,
with a gesture, to follow her.
He tried to disobey her; but she
turned round and repeated her gesture
of farewell with such authority that
be dared not move a step.
He watched her till she was out OF
sight. Then he also went down among
the crowd hardly knowing what he
was doing, with thrObbing temples
and an aching heart; and, as he
crossed the dancing-tioor, he asked II
anybody had seen Red Death. Yes,
every one had seen Red Death; but
Raoul could not find him; and, at two
O'Clock in the morning, he turned
down the passage, behind the scenes,
that led to Christine Daae's dressing
room
His footsteps took him to that room
where he had first known suffering
He tapped at the door. There was no
answer He entered, as he had en-
tered when he looked everywhere for
the mans voice" The room was
empty. A gas-jet was burning turned
down low He saw some wrfingpa
per on little desk. He thought OF
writing to Christine, but he .,eard
steps III the passage. He had only
time to hide in the inner room, which
was separated from the DRESSING
room by curtain.
Christine entered, took off her mask
with a weary movement and fiuEg 1t
on the table. She sighed and let her
pretty head fall into her two hands.
What was she thinking of? OF Ra2uIy
No, for Raoui heard her murn=ur:
Poor Erik
CTO BE CONTINUED