The west shore., July 01, 1885, Page 217, Image 23

THE WEST SHORE.
217
"Some one of trust! Who is there?" she repeated
several times. At length she exolaimed hurriedly:
" You you may do so if you like" '
"But, madame, you forget; I am a stranger to you."
"No. You are a young man, but I know that you
would, not deceive a poor, helpless old woman."
I reflected a moment Was this due to the charm for
which Monsieur Vorbist had given me credit? Be that
as it may, I readily gave my consent, on oondition that
the transfer of power into my hands be made in the
presence of a lawyer, and I asked her to fix the day and
hour. She made no reply, but kept fast hold of my
hand, and when at length I rose to leave her she seemed
to drop it with reluctance. I asked whether she would
like me to send a doctor, who would help to re-establish
her strength. At these words she looked into my eyos,
as though hoping to find some confirmation of the gym
pathy she detected in my voice, and hen, holding up her
left hand, of which two fingers were closed and paralyzod,
she exolaimed, with a hoarse laugh:
" Behold the work of the celebrated Dr. Niooloviust
No, no, my friend no doctors for me; they are all quacks.
I know my own constitution better than any one else."
With these words my task for that day was ended.
On the second day after my visit the old lady was
able to leave her room. I called and brought a notary to
indorse the stipulated contract Madame Jensen was
seated at a table in a dingy room, employed in folding
and marking small packets of bank notes. All along the
wainscot lay bags of crowns, the bags being mostly made
from remnants of silk dresses. The old lady was as re
served to-day as she had been garrulous on the previous
occasion. Her trembling hands placed each bag in turn
before us, as with a sad, fixed stare she watched us oount
the crowns, seal the bags and number the ticket. When
we had sealed up the last bag I asked Madame Jansen if
there was not something more.
She started nervously, but said drily:
"Is not that enough, my friend?"
"Are there no gold pieces, madame?"
" Gold? People never pay me in gold."
We had now oompleted our task; the inventory was
finished, and the old lady affixed her name to it with a
trembling hand. The titles were placed in a strong box,
of which I kept the key. It was arranged that both the
box and the money were to be removed to my house early
on the following morning. We bade Madame Jansen
good night
When I reached the street I remembered having loft
a silver pencil-case behind me. With a few words of
apology to my friend, I turned back and ran quickly op
the stairs. I knocked at the door, and without waiting
for an answer entered the room. To my surprise I saw,
by the feeble rays of rushlight, Madame Jansen still
tested at the table, holding in one hand an empty purse
of red silk, while with the other she endeavored to hide a
heap of gold which was spread oat before her. On teeing
me the uttered a piercing cry and bowed her head over
the treasure. Then the lifted up her hands supplioat
ingly and cried:
" Oh I leave me thisl It it my sole consolation."
Tlion she rose, seized my hand and drew me to the
door, beyond which the staircase was lost iu gloom.
"It is all empty," she said. "All darkness and soli
tude! I have only my gold) Oh! do not ttiko it The
long nights are so lonely! "
" I have no right to tike what you do not give me,"
said I; "though the plaything it costly, you are rich
enough to afford it Good night"
It was spring. The larch woods which bordered our
little bay wore all the brightness aud freshness to peculiar
to the month of May.
During the past few weeks an intimacy had sprung
up botweon ut and tho family of the chef do police Hit
eldest daughter, Matildo, had evinced a romantio attaoh.
raont for my wife a devotion rociprooatod with true
feminine fervor. It would have been ttrangn, iudeed, if
this innocent young girl, with her deep blue eyes, had
not fascinated us both, and we encouraged her to visit ua
at often as possible. But wa perceived that an unao
oountable vein of sadness stole over her at timet, which
contrasted painfully with her otherwise joyous aud art
less nature. It was Sunday morning. We had arranged
to make an excursion across the bay, and had invited
several frionds to join us. Before oleven o'clock we were
all on board and gliding merrily ovor the sparkling
waters.
At one end of the boat a group of girls and young
officers were carrying on a desultory oon vernation; Ma
tilde was not among them. She was leaning against the
mast, her graceful figure twayiug with every motion of
the boat Never had she teemed to me more beautiful
as she stood alone under the blue canopy of heaven, the
wind stirring her dress and hair, and her eyes grtniug
sadly over tin bay toward the wooded shore. Something
in her manner attracted me toward her. " Matilde," said
I, softly, " would you like to iuherit fortune?"
She looked at me for a moment In mute aatoulahmnut,
and then said sadly:
" Why do you ask? I suppose that evory one would
be glad to iuherit money, though I eonftwa that I have
not much hope of anything of the kind"
"Look," said I, "do you see, among tin me low build
ings, that high, sombre house? A poor woman livet
there who knowt nothing of blue skies or sunshine."
" I see the house. Who livet there?"
"An aunt of yours and your father's."
"Oh! that woman!" replied Matilde, disdainfully.
"She it not my aunt My grandmother was only her
cousin. We wont to call on her once. No. I should
not like to iuherit her fortune."
"Are you to sure of that?" said I, looking steadily
into Uie depth of those eloquent eyes. She did not wlnot,
bat a sudden flush overspread her face and her eyes lost
their lustre. After pause she said eouipoaedly:
" Well, yet. Terhapt I should, titer alL"