Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27

again and left the room Then she
ran into the garden and took refuge
on a bench. a prey to feelings that
stirred her young heart for the first
time RaouI followed her and they
talked till the evening, very shyly
They were quite changed. cautious as
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 a kiss on Chris
tines trembling hand. said:
"MademoiseIle. l shall never forget
you!"
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.
her voice. her soul and her genius.
She retained just. but only just,
enough Of this to enter the conserya-
toire, where 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 oy 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 flash OF the
gaia performance 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 me,"-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? q.
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 l should find you here. when
| 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
Raoui asked:
Did your father tell you that /
love you. Christine, and that | can
not live without your"
Christine blushed to the eyes and
bling voice, she said:
Me? You are dreaming. my
friend!"
And she burst out laughing, to put
herself in countenance.
Don't laugh. Christine; | am quite
serious" Raoul answered.
And she replied graYely: Il 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 oul
games here. as children, in which my
father so often Joined. 1 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 as the little girl that /
then was
There was something in Christine's
attitude that seemed to Raoul not
natural. He did not feel any hostility
in her: far from 1t; the distressed at
lection 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
No she said, L had seen you sew
eral times in your brothers box And
also on the stage."
Il thought SOL" said Raoul, COM
pressing his lips. But then why,
when you saw me In your room. at
your feet, reminding you that l had
rescued your scarf from the sea. why
did you answer as though you did not
know me ana also why did you
laugh"
The tone of these questions was so
rough that Christine stared at Raoul
without replying. The young man him
self was aghast at the sudden quarrel
which be had dared to raise at the
very moment when he had resolved to
speak words of gentleness. love and
submission to Christine. A husband,
a lover with all rights. would talk
no differently to wife, a mistress
who had offended him. But he had
gone too far and saw no other way
out of the ridiculous position than to
behave odiously.
You don't answer" ne said angriIy
Man Gets Bouquet.
One foggy morning recently Lacka-
wanna ferryboat was in collision with
q tug No great damage was done hut