The gazette-times., May 07, 1914, HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION, Page 16, Image 24

16 HOME AND FARM
MAGAZINE SECTION
The Tragedy In The Rue Cresol
Remarkable Short Story Adapted from the French and Offered
to Readers of the Home and Farm Magazine Section.
THAT NEW YEAB'S DAY will long
be remembered in the quiet little
house in the Rue Crusol, where,
eight days ago, there were only smiles
and happiness, but where today all is
desolution and horror. On the second
floor, where so many merry birds twit
tered amid the foilage of hanging bas
kets filled with growing plants and
flowers, giving the windows the ap
pearance of bright and fragrant bow
ers, lawyers, mourners, and officers of
justice have entered; and while a cof
fin is being borne away to Pere-La-chaise,
and a carriage is rolling toward
the Maison-Blanche, legal seals are af
fixed to everything to the cages and
the baskets; and little placards, stamp
ed in black, announce the administra
tor's sale for the following Thursday.
One year ago two young men lived
there in that familiar intimacy which,
commenced at college and cemented by
a similarity of tastes and character,
occasionally produces a strong and sin
cere affection. Paul was studying en
gineering; Emile was a notary's clerk.
They had been school companions, and
meeting again at the beginning of the
battle of life, resolved to pass together
through that period of trials which in
tervenes between the happy days of
boyhood and the experiences of after
life, when it is so difficult to form new
ties. The perfect harmony of their
friendship was undisturbed by a single
unkind word or action. Could it, then,
have been other than sincere and strong,
faithful and devoted t
Paul was engaged to a sweet, sim
ple girl, and though very much in love
with ker, he never thought of being
astonished that Emile should converse
with her on the easy terms of familiar
acquaintance; while Emile, who would
have thrown himself into the fire to
save the young girl 's fan, never dream
ed that his want of formality could sur
prise Paul. Their friendship was found
ed on esteem and confidence a con
fidence so great that during the early
part of April Paul, who had for some
time been in communication with an
American company for the construction
of a railroad, said to his friend:
"An opportunity presents itself by
which I can prove my ability, and
establish myself in my profession. The
superintendence of a railroad in Louisi
ana is offered to me. I shall be obliged
to be absent for at least a year. I can
not take Hortense, and the thought of
leaving her breaks my heart. In love,
jealousy is a virtue. I will not confide
her to my brother's care, but I place
her in your charge. Tou will guard her
as you would a sister, and in one year,
when I return, I shall find her faithful
to her promise, and I shall make her
my wife."
"Tou can depend on me," Emile
said, simply pressing the hand of his
friend. And Paul departed, free from
care, and full of trust.
They were left alone she with all
the charms of youth and beauty; he
with all the fervor of a young and
tender heart of twenty years, suscept
ible to all the uncontrollable emotions
of affection. Emile and Hortense re
nounced all selfish interests and pleas
ures in order to concentrate all their
thoughts, all their purposes, all their
wishes in the supreme gratification of
performing an accepted and acknowl
edged duty. When Hortense would re
turn from the studio, at the end of her
lesson, Em.le would go to meet her and
conduct her home. They talked of love
and mutual affection, he supporting the
cause of the absent lover, she allow
ing her heart to be deluded by the soft
music of his voice, which filled her soul
with insidious delight. On Sunday,
when there were no lessons, and the
studio was closed, he accompanied her
to the environs of Pans, to fetes and
to places of amusement, and the passers
by, stepping to look U this couple, so
young and, so beautiful, on whom radi
ant happiness seemed to smile, ex
claimed: "Two lovers! Ah, they are in para
dise." This paradise became a hell.
By dint of spea' "n; of love to the
young girl Emile felt awaken in him
a magnetic echo, a world of strange,
nameless sensations, the power and na
ture of which he tried in vain to dis
regard, and which responded to his
mental conflict by imperious demands
and vehement defiance.
By dint of listening to Emile Hor
tense was forced to the secret confes
sion that there was no other voice in
the woild which could speak the lan
guage of true passion so well, and that
the woman who should receive such
love would indeed be happy.
The fire which they intended to fan
for another burned them to the quick,
and their scruples, their duty, their
vows to the absent one could not quench
it The flames spread and devoured
them. Without betraying their feelings
by word, look, or gesture, they gradu
ally avoided each other's society, and
never dared to speak of Paul, his love,
and his hopes. His name was never
mentioned. It would have sounded like
a reproach ringing in their ears. Emile
soon stopped paying Hortense any little
attentions, so afraid was he that she
would discover his secret He talked to
her of acquaintance which he pre
tended to have made, and of love af
fairs which never existed. He bought
photographs of pretty women at the
stationer's, and showing her one of
them, said: -
"That's my sweetheart What do
you think of her 1"
Hortense answered with feigned in
difference: "She is very pretty."
Then they separated, retired to their
roomB, and wept bitterly. For two
months Paul had not written. Emile 'a
letters were unanswered. Hortense had
written twice, but received no reply.
Matters had reached this pass on the
morning of that fatal first of Janu
ary. Emile awaited the appearance of
Hortense, to offer his good wishes and
presents for the year. He had succeed
ed in procuring from Paul's relations
his photograph, reduced from a por
trait, and had set it in a gold locket
bearing Hortense 'a Initials in a spray
of diamonds. When the young girl re
ceived the present she opened the ease,
and seeing Paul's photograph, she
blushed, turned pale, and began to
weep.
"Why these tears!" said Emile, al
most ready to suffocate. He quickly
recovered himself.
"You don't understand me," said
Hortense. "I weep, but it is from
pleasure," and she burst into sobs.
Emile went away, and did not re
turn until near evening. Hortense wait
ed for him, seated by the fireplace,
and still weeping. The locket, partly
open, was lying on the .mantelpiece.
Emile, quite perplexed by her appear
ance, mechanically cast his eyes upon
it, and uttered an exclamation. His
picture had taken the place of Paul's.
"What does this meant" he ex
claimed. "Hortense, what have you
done!"
"Leave me," she said, taking the
locket and slipping it into her dress.
"Leave me; don't speak to me I am
going madl"
"Mad!" repeated Emile, really
alarmed.
"Don't you seef Can't you under
stand anything!" the girl cried out, a
prey to violent agitation. "Don't you
see that this kind of life is imposisble!
Can't you understand that I love yon,
and that this life of falsehood and re
straint is killing met" and throwing
her arms around him, she hid her face
on his breast and sobbed, while he
trembled like one shaking with fever.
It required a few moments for this in
tense emotion to subside; then, making
a violent efiort, he disengaged himself
from her embrace, and obliging her to
sit down, said in a broken voice:
"Hortense, I love you I"
"Oh, Emile!" interrupted Hortense,
overjoyed.
"Let me speak. I love yon. For a
long time I have vainly struggled
against the feeling which has over
whelmed me, fool that I was. How
could one help loving youf When I
felt that intense love taking posses
sion of my heart the memory of Paul
rose up before me like a reproach. At
this very moment it causes me deep
remorse."
"But I love you," faltered the girl
"Be stilll Those words are a crime.
Poor boy I He is so full of trust; rely
ing on our honor, counting on your
fidelity, on my word, he" He
stopped, overcome by emotion.
"But why is he not here!" Hortense
asked, suddenly.
"Because he has confidence in us. I
will not betray him for any considera
tion. Deatn sooner I"
They paused, and a strange, thrilling
look was exchanged between them. All
their thoughts and emotions seemed to
be fixed on that idea of death, thus
abruptly invoked as a menace, a refuge,
and an expiation.
"Yes," said the young girl, crowding
all her long pent-up feeling into that
one second. "I would rather die than
think of '' She did not finish. She
was going to pronounce Paul's name.
Emile took her two bands in his, placed
himself in front of her, and with a
penetrating look scanned her face, in
search of confirmation of the desperate
thought juBt expressed.
"Would you!" he asked slowly, with
determined energy.
Hortense rose, and with solemn af
fection exclaimed: "Instantly!" and
falling into each other's arms they re
mained in a long embrace. This was
their death sentence.
The following morning at an early,
hour the postman appeared at the door
with a letter bearing the postmark of
New Orleans. He knocked and rang
without avail. No one answered, and
he was going away when a neighbor
stopped him, saying that Emile was at
home. They rang and knocked again.
Suddenly the neighbor turned pale.
"Do you smell anything!" she asked,
frightened.
"No," he replied.
"That smell! Charcoal! My God!
Could anything have Happened!"
The concierge was called, and said
that the night before very late Emile
had gone out to buy a sack of char
coal The neighbor remembered that
the evening before at different times
she had seen Hortense at the window,
For Governor
U
WM. A. CARTER
,Of Portland, Republican
Realizing' that conditions hare become
uch at to require draatio measures for
the reduction ot taxes and the consequent
high cost of living, William A. Carter was
the first gubernatorial candidate to an
nounce this in his platform and to stand
for the semi-annual payment of taxes.
The curtailment of a number of useless
boards and the consolidation of others,
with a saving of at least $500,000 annual
ly to the taxpayers of the State Is to be
put up to tne people at the November
election in the shape of an initiative meas
ure, prepared by Mr. Carter and which la
now being circulated for signatures. Other
prominent planks in the Carter platform
re s stand for laws to prevent the Legis
lature from repealing laws made by the
people; to prevent cold storage of food
products until same shall have spoiled, for
the purpose of maintaining high prices;
law giving Governor power to veto single
items in appropriations; rigid law en
forcement and good roads. Lawn for the
protection and advancement of interests
of working people of the Btate, and build
ing up of Industries, which he advocates,
re of particulsr interest to all who are
her eyes all swollen and red from cry
ing.
There is no doubt about it," she ex
claimed, "they have perished. We must
send for the magistrate."
The magistrate on arriving forced
open the door. The woman's predictions
were only too true. Emile was lying
extended on a lonnge, Hortense on a
chair, both cold and insensible. Beatora
tives were immediately applied. Alas!
all their efforts to revive Emile were
useless. The carbonic acid gas had done
the work. He was dead. Hortense still
breathed. They succeeded is restoring
her. When she had recovered her
senses, the magistrate proceeded to
open before her the letter addressed to
Emile. It contained only the words:
"My Dear Emile: I hope yon are
well and happy you and your little
sweetheart for you know very well
that I am not so foolish as to believe
that you are waiting for my permission
to fall in love with Hortense. Don't let
your conscience trouble you for break
ing your promise. I have been married
a month. PAUL."
Hortense, on hearing this, rose, ran
to the lounge where lay the body of
Emile, and showing him the letter, with
feverish excitement, exclaimed:
"Look, Emile, look I Isn't it an ex
cellent joke!"
Then she bunt into a peal of hys
terical laughter.
She was insane.
Tacoma to Build Fruit Warehouse.
. After a conference between city of
ficials and a representative of the Bay
Island Producers' Union the Tacoma
council authorized Engineer J. E.
Corbin to prepare plans for a receiv
ing warehouse for perishable freight
that will be an addition to the munic
ipal dock. The council specified that
the building must not cost in excess
of $20,000. The idle money in the
municipal dock fund will be used to
build the structure.
Interested In the upbuilding of the Btate,
while his advocacy of more active partici
pation of women in legislation, particular
ly in laws affecting schools, home and
domestic relations, are in line with his
alogan:- "PROTECT THE HOME." In
asmuch as he Is strong advocate of good
roads, his candidacy should appeal strong
ly to those In outlying districts.
Mr. Carter was born In Greenville,
Tennessee, forty years ago, and at the
age of 18 moved with his parsntt to
Jackson County, Oregon. Ho worked as
farm hand, section hand, where he
received $1.87 day, and in the mines
while studying law of nights. He was
admlted to the bar to praotloe In 1888
nd been successful In his profession
since. That year he was captain of
company of volunteers from the Bogus
River Valley to fight in the Philippines.
Wss City Recorder of Gold Hill, Oregon,
four terms. In 1901 he was sent to the
Legislature from Jackson County and led
the fight In that body for the reduction
of railway fares from four to three cents.
He is married and has three children.
Paid AdVenaeaeal