original short stories-3-第23部分

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darkness　of　the　out…houses；　the　horses　began　prancing　on　the　straw　of
their　stables。　　The　cool　air　of　the　country　caressed　our　cheeks　with　the
smell　of　grass　and　of　new…mown　hay。

How　long　ago　it　is！　　How　long　ago　it　is！　　It　is　thirty　years　since　then！

I　do　not　want　you；　my　darling；　to　come　for　the　opening　of　the　hunting
season。　　Why　spoil　the　pleasure　of　our　friends　by　inflicting　on　them
fashionable　toilettes　on　this　day　of　vigorous　exercise　in　the　country？
This　is　the　way；　child；　that　men　are　spoiled。　　I　embrace　you。　　Your　old
aunt；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GENEVIEVE　DE　L。






A　WEDDING　GIFT

For　a　long　time　Jacques　Bourdillere　had　sworn　that　he　would　never　marry；
but　he　suddenly　changed　his　mind。　　It　happened　suddenly；　one　summer；　at
the　seashore。

One　morning　as　he　lay　stretched　out　on　the　sand；　watching　the　women
coming　out　of　the　water；　a　little　foot　had　struck　him　by　its　neatness　and
daintiness。　　He　raised　his　eyes　and　was　delighted　with　the　whole　person；
although　in　fact　he　could　see　nothing　but　the　ankles　and　the　head
emerging　from　a　flannel　bathrobe　carefully　held　closed。　　He　was　supposed
to　be　sensual　and　a　fast　liver。　　It　was　therefore　by　the　mere　grace　of
the　form　that　he　was　at　first　captured。　　Then　he　was　held　by　the　charm　of
the　young　girl's　sweet　mind；　so　simple　and　good；　as　fresh　as　her　cheeks
and　lips。

He　was　presented　to　the　family　and　pleased　them。　　He　immediately　fell
madly　in　love。　　When　he　saw　Berthe　Lannis　in　the　distance；　on　the　long
yellow　stretch　of　sand；　he　would　tingle　to　the　roots　of　his　hair。　　When
he　was　near　her　he　would　become　silent；　unable　to　speak　or　even　to　think；
with　a　kind　of　throbbing　at　his　heart；　and　a　buzzing　in　his　ears；　and　a
bewilderment　in　his　mind。　　Was　that　love？

He　did　not　know　or　understand；　but　he　had　fully　decided　to　have　this
child　for　his　wife。

Her　parents　hesitated　for　a　long　time；　restrained　by　the　young　man's　bad
reputation。　　It　was　said　that　he　had　an　old　sweetheart；　one　of　these
binding　attachments　which　one　always　believes　to　be　broken　off　and　yet
which　always　hold。

Besides；　for　a　shorter　or　longer　period；　he　loved　every　woman　who　came
within　reach　of　his　lips。

Then　he　settled　down　and　refused；　even　once；　to　see　the　one　with　whom　he
had　lived　for　so　long。　　A　friend　took　care　of　this　woman's　pension　and
assured　her　an　income。　　Jacques　paid；　but　he　did　not　even　wish　to　hear　of
her；　pretending　even　to　ignore　her　name。　　She　wrote　him　letters　which　he
never　opened。　　Every　week　he　would　recognize　the　clumsy　writing　of　the
abandoned　woman；　and　every　week　a　greater　anger　surged　within　him　against
her；　and　he　would　quickly　tear　the　envelope　and　the　paper；　without
opening　it；　without　reading　one　single　line；　knowing　in　advance　the
reproaches　and　complaints　which　it　contained。

As　no　one　had　much　faith　in　his　constancy；　the　test　was　prolonged　through
the　winter；　and　Berthe's　hand　was　not　granted　him　until　the　spring。　　The
wedding　took　place　in　Paris　at　the　beginning　of　May。

The　young　couple　had　decided　not　to　take　the　conventional　wedding　trip；
but　after　a　little　dance　for　the　younger　cousins；　which　would　not　be
prolonged　after　eleven　o'clock；　in　order　that　this　day　of　lengthy
ceremonies　might　not　be　too　tiresome；　the　young　pair　were　to　spend　the
first　night　in　the　parental　home　and　then；　on　the　following　morning；　to
leave　for　the　beach　so　dear　to　their　hearts；　where　they　had　first　known
and　loved　each　other。

Night　had　come；　and　the　dance　was　going　on　in　the　large　parlor。　　'The　two
had　retired　into　a　little　Japanese　boudoir　hung　with　bright　silks　and
dimly　lighted　by　the　soft　rays　of　a　large　colored　lantern　hanging　from
the　ceiling　like　a　gigantic　egg。　　Through　the　open　window　the　fresh　air
from　outside　passed　over　their　faces　like　a　caress；　for　the　night　was
warm　and　calm；　full　of　the　odor　of　spring。

They　were　silent；　holding　each　other's　hands　and　from　time　to　time
squeezing　them　with　all　their　might。　　She　sat　there　with　a　dreamy　look；
feeling　a　little　lost　at　this　great　change　in　her　life；　but　smiling；
moved；　ready　to　cry；　often　also　almost　ready　to　faint　from　joy；　believing
the　whole　world　to　be　changed　by　what　had　just　happened　to　her；　uneasy；
she　knew　not　why；　and　feeling　her　whole　body　and　soul　filled　with　an
indefinable　and　delicious　lassitude。

He　was　looking　at　her　persistently　with　a　fixed　smile。　　He　wished　to
speak；　but　found　nothing　to　say；　and　so　sat　there；　expressing　all　his
ardor　by　pressures　of　the　hand。　　From　time　to　time　he　would　murmur：
〃Berthe！〃　　And　each　time　she　would　raise　her　eyes　to　him　with　a　look　of
tenderness；　they　would　look　at　each　other　for　a　second　and　then　her　look；
pierced　and　fascinated　by　his；　would　fall。

They　found　no　thoughts　to　exchange。　　They　had　been　left　alone；　but
occasionally　some　of　the　dancers　would　cast　a　rapid　glance　at　them；　as
though　they　were　the　discreet　and　trusty　witnesses　of　a　mystery。

A　door　opened　and　a　servant　entered；　holding　on　a　tray　a　letter　which　a
messenger　had　just　brought。　　Jacques；　trembling；　took　this　paper；
overwhelmed　by　a　vague　and　sudden　fear；　the　mysterious　terror　of　swift
misfortune。

He　looked　for　a　longtime　at　the　envelope；　the　writing　on　which　he　did　not
know；　not　daring　to　open　it；　not　wishing　to　read　it；　with　a　wild　desire
to　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　say　to　himself：　〃I'll　leave　that　till　to…
morrow；　when　I'm　far　away！〃　　But　on　one　corner　two　big　words；　underlined；
〃Very　urgent；〃　filled　him　with　terror。　　Saying；　〃Please　excuse　me；　my
dear；〃　he　tore　open　the　envelope。　　He　read　the　paper；　grew　frightfully
pale；　looked　over　it　again；　and；　slowly；　he　seemed　to　spell　it　out　word
for　word。

When　he　raised　his　head　his　whole　expression　showed　how　upset　he　was。　　He
stammered：　〃My　dear；　it'sit's　from　my　best　friend；　who　has　had　；a　very
great　misfortune。　　He　has　need　of　me　immediatelyfor　a　matter　of　life　or
death。　　Will　you　excuse　me　if　I　leave　you　for　half　an　hour？　　I'll　be
right　back。〃

Trembling　and　dazed；　she　stammered：　〃Go；　my　dear！〃　not　having　been　his
wife　long　enough　to　dare　to　question　him；　to　demand　to　know。　　He
disappeared。　　She　remained　alone；　listening　to　the　dancing　in　the
neighboring　parlor。

He　had　seized　the　first　hat　and　coat　he　came　to　and　rushed　downstairs
three　steps　at　a　time。　　As　he　was　emerging　into　the　street　he　stopped
under　the　gas…jet　of　the　vestibule　and　reread　the　letter。　　This　is　what
it　said：

　　　　　SIR：　A　girl　by　the　name　of　Ravet；　an　old　sweetheart　of　yours；　it
　　　　　seems；　has　just　given　birth　to　a　child　that　she　says　is　yours。　　The
　　　　　mother　is　about　to　die　and　is　begging　for　you。　I　take　the　liberty　to
　　　　　write　and　ask　you　if　you　can　grant　this　last　request　to　a　woman　who
　　　　　seems　to　be　very　unhappy　and　worthy　of　pity。
　　　　　Yours　truly；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DR。　　BONNARD。

When　he　reached　the　sick…room　the　woman　was　already　on　the　point　of
death。　　He　did　not　recognize　her　at　first。　　The　doctor　and　two　nurses
were　taking　care　of　her。　　And　everywhere　on　the　floor　were　pails　full　of
ice　and　rags　covered　with　blood。　　Water　flooded　the　carpet；　two　candles
were　burning　on　a　bureau；　behind　the　bed；　in　a　little　wicker　crib；　the
child　was　crying；　and　each　time　it　would　moan　the　mother；　in　torture；
would　try　to　move；　shivering　under　her　ice　bandages。

She　was　mortally　wounded；　killed　by　this　birth。　　Her　life　was　flowing
from　her；　and；　notwithstanding　the　ice　and　the　care；　the　merciless
hemorrhage　continued；　hastening　her　last　hour。

She　recognized　Jacques　and　wished　to　raise　her　arms。　　They　were　so　weak
that　she　could　not　do　so；　but　tears　coursed　down　her　pallid　cheeks。
He　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　the　bed；　seized　one　of　her　hands　and
kissed　it　frantically。　　Then；　little　by　little；　he　drew　close　to　the　thin
face；　which　started　at　the　contact。　　One　of　the　nurses　was　lighting　them
with　a　candle；　and　the　doctor　was　watching　them　from　the　back　of　the
room。

Then　she　said　in　a　voice　which　sounded　as　though　it　came　from　a　distance：
〃I　am　going　to　die；　dear。　　Promise　to　stay　to　the　end。　　Oh！　don't　leave
me　now。　　Don't　leave　me　in　my　last　moments！〃

He　kissed　her　face　and　her　hair；　and；　weeping；　he　murmured：　〃Do　not　be
uneasy；　I　will　stay。〃

It　was　several　minutes　before　she　could　speak　again；　she　was　so　weak。
She　continued：　〃The　little　one　is　yours。　　I　swear　it　before　God　and　on　my
soul。　　I　swear　it　as　I　am　dying！　　I　have　never　loved　another　man　but　you
promise　to　take　care　of　the　child。〃

He　was　trying　to　take　this　poor　pain…racked　body　in　his　arms。　　Maddened
by　remorse　and　sorrow；　he　stammered：　〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　will　bring
him　up　and　love　him。　　He　shall　never　leave　me。〃

Then　she　tried　to　kiss　Jacques。　　Powerless　to　lift　her　head；　she　held　out
her　white　lips　in　an　appeal　for　a　kiss。　　He　approached　his　lips　to
respond　to　this　piteous　entreaty。

As　soon　as　she　felt　a　little　calmer；　she　murmured：　〃Bring　him　here　and
let　me　see　if　you　love　him。〃

He　went　and　got　the　child。　　He　placed　him　gently　on　the　bed　between　them；
and　the　little　one　stopped　crying。　　She　murmured：　〃Don't　move　any　more！〃
And　he　was　quiet。　　And　he　stayed　there；　holding　in　his　burning　hand　this
other　hand　shaking　in　the　chill　of　death；　just　as；　a　while　ago；　he　had
been　holding　a　hand　trembling　with　love。　　From　time　to　time　he　would　cast
a　quick　glance　at　the　clock；　which　marked　midnight；　then　one　o'clock；
then　two。

The　physician　had　returned。　　The　two　nurses；　after　noiselessly　moving
about　the　room　for　a　while；　were　now　sleeping　on　chairs。　　The　child　was
asleep；　and　the　mother；　with　eyes　shut；　appeared　also　to　be　resting。

Suddenly；　just　as　pale　daylight　was　creeping　in　behind　the　curtains；　she
stretched　out　her　arms　with　such　a　quick　and　violent　motion　that　she
almost　threw　her　baby　on　the　floor。　　A　kind　of　rattle　was　heard　in　her
throat；　then　she　lay　on　her　back　motionless；　dead。

The　nurses　sprang　forward　and　declared：　〃All　is　over！〃

He　looked　once　more　at　this　woman　whom　he　had　so　loved；　then　at　the
clock；　which　pointed　to　four；　and　he　ran　away；　forgetting　his　overcoat；
in　the　evening　dress；　with　the　child　in　his　arms。

After　he　had　left　her　alone　the　young　wife　had　waited；　calmly　enough　at