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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43292 ***
+
+Wanderings of French Ed
+by Joseph Adelard René
+Published 1899
+Wright & Company, New York
+
+The beginning of life is like the morning of a spring day and dreams
+are to one's soul what sunshine is to that day--often too brilliant
+to last; but human nature needs a stimulant, and that stimulant is
+the ideal which takes place in the soul of every human being when
+ambition for the future is born.
+
+Who does not remember nursing golden dreams in days gone by? Such is
+the human heart; it lives on fiction, and feeds on happy dreams for
+the future.
+
+When about twenty years of age, Edward Cottret was at the end of his
+schooldays, and the desire to realize an old cherished dream was
+uppermost in his soul. That old dream was to go to the United States,
+make a fortune, come back home and astonish the natives.
+
+The little village where Edward was living was all excitement when it
+was learned that old man Cottret had decided to let his boy Ed go to
+the States. Some blamed him, others thought it was proper, but they
+all joined in wishing the boy godspeed and good luck.
+
+The day to depart had arrived, and at the little station parents and
+friends were assembled to bid him farewell. His mother and sister
+were taking turns kissing him, while crying, and his father, sad but
+solemn, stood by, waiting for a last chance to give him, his only
+son, fatherly advice. The shrill whistle of the locomotive was heard,
+and then it was like the last part of a funeral ceremony, and even
+Edward, who up to this time had succeeded in hiding his emotion, felt
+his heart growing too big for his chest, and when he held the
+quivering hand of Marie Louise, his sweetheart, he completely lost
+the power of speech, and when she said: "Ed, don't forget me," he
+could only stare at her.
+
+The train was now ready to start, and standing at the end of the car,
+Edward was holding his father's hand, who also felt tears in his
+eyes. The last seconds were painful to all, and it almost seemed a
+relief when the train moved and handkerchiefs fluttered in the air
+his last farewell. Had it not been for the noise made by the moving
+train his sobbing would have been heard by those on the platform.
+
+The last ones to leave the station were his father, his mother, and
+his sweetheart. They stood there until the smoke from the locomotive
+could be seen no more. Edward saw the last houses of his native
+village grow smaller, and long after he could not see them he stood
+at the end of the car while tears were coursing down his cheeks. When
+he went inside he felt a strange sensation of loneliness which seemed
+to increase as the distance grew between him and his village. When
+the train stopped at the next small station Edward was tempted to get
+out and walk back home; but at this his pride revolted, and the train
+as it moved again seemed to mock him.
+
+Try as he might he could not revive in his soul the old dreams for
+the future, and when night came, stretched on the hard benches of the
+second class coach, he slept just long enough to dream of his mother
+and his village. Once he woke up, thinking he held the quivering hand
+of his blue-eyed sweetheart.
+
+After a restless night, morning found him aching in every limb in his
+body, but glad that he was nearing his destination. Worcester, Mass.,
+was the city where he expected to first walk upon American soil, and
+after searching in vain upon the yellow time-table to find the exact
+time he would arrive, he turned to a fellow-passenger, a big fat
+fellow, whom he addressed in French, saying: "A quelle heure
+arriverons nous a Wor-ces-ter?"
+
+The big fellow look puzzled at first, then smiling, he said: "Talk
+United States."
+
+Edward failed to understand the meaning of "talking United States,"
+but answered "thank you," trying to look satisfied with the answer.
+
+About two hours later the conductor came in and said: "Worster!
+Worster!" and shortly after the train stopped in a large depot.
+Almost everyone stepped out except Edward, who had no idea that
+"Worster," as the conductor called it, and "Worcester" were the same
+place. "Don't you want to get off here?" asked the conductor.
+
+"No, I am going to Worcester," answered the French lad, but the
+conductor picked up some of his things and smilingly informed him
+that he was at the end of his trip.
+
+After finding his way out of the station, Edward stopped an instant
+to look around and immediately he was surrounded by a lot of cabmen
+yelling, gesticulating and wanting to take hold of some of the boy's
+parcels. Surprised and almost scared he tried to make them understand
+something in French, but failed, and he was getting in a rather
+embarrassing situation, when an old gentleman, who had witnessed the
+proceedings, stepped up to him and asked him in broken French where
+he wanted to go. "God bless you!" thought Edward as he looked up into
+the kind old gentleman's face, and told him where he wanted to be
+directed to.
+
+The old gentleman walked part way with him, and then gave him
+directions to find a hotel kept by a Frenchman, where he said Edward
+would be well treated. After a few minutes Edward found himself in
+front of a cheap-looking boarding house, bearing the name "Hotel de
+Montreal," and he walked in. Every one in the place spoke French, and
+he felt at once like a new man. His face brightened up and his
+old-time courage came back as he told the proprietor that we wanted to
+stop there for a few days.
+
+The remainder of that day was spent in sight-seeing and in gathering
+information about addresses given him by his father and friends of
+some compatriots in business in that city, from whom Edward expected
+to receive employment and get his start in American life.
+
+Early the next day he started to call at each place, sure that he
+would have no trouble in finding employment, but his enthusiasm was
+somewhat cooled when compatriots in business informed him carelessly
+that they could do nothing for him. At each succeeding place he met
+with the same fate, until a call had been made at every address.
+
+His modest pocketbook was depleted, and the light of hope that bums
+in every man's soul was getting dim, and its rays were like those of
+a flickering candle. Golden dreams had left his heart one by one to
+make room for the cold and cruel reality. Was that the United States
+he had read and heard so much about? Where every one could make
+money? True, there was much activity, but it broke his heart to think
+he had no part in it. He felt small and lost among these strangers
+who passed by him without noticing him; he, who in his native village
+was used to be quite an important personage. He would have given ten
+years of his life to be back home, but alas! his money was now nearly
+all gone.
+
+That night he went to bed earlier than usual, not to sleep, but to
+cry in despair. In the stillness of the night he thought he could
+hear the sobbing of his old mother, and in the darkness of his little
+room he imagined he could see the sad face of his blue-eyed
+sweetheart. He had never thought that life could be so bitter, and to
+his young soul the weight of his sorrow was indeed great.
+
+The next morning, sitting in what they called "the-waiting room,"
+Edward noticed a young man enter, carrying under his arm a large
+package of frames. Edward was attracted by the strange and unhappy
+light in the young man's eyes, and the hyper-sympathetic nature of
+the French lad made him forget his own misfortunes while looking at
+the newcomer. There is a certain affinity between
+unfortunates--miserables. After placing his package on the floor the
+stranger sat down near Edward, and after rolling a cigarette he turned
+toward Edward and asked him for a match, which was handed to him, and
+this proved to be the beginning of an acquaintanceship which brought
+about a friendship of the kind  that endures, and is one of the greatest
+gifts to humanity.
+
+Misery accelerates acquaintanceship, and in a very short time they
+knew all about each other. Edward's new-made friend was a Russian,
+and his limited knowledge of the French language was a great help in
+their conversation.
+
+Benjamin Oresky, his new friend, told him his story, and with all the
+impulsive generosity of his nature, the French lad felt a great wave
+of sympathy in his soul for the young Russian. Poor Ben! After
+running away from Russia, on account of some trivial political
+trouble, he had learned that the government had arrested his father,
+accusing him of helping his son to run away to America, and as a
+result of this trouble, his mother had died; and he felt guilty of
+her death.
+
+After learning the Russian's sad story Edward felt that his own
+misfortune was not near so great as Ben's, and he decided to do all
+in his power to help his new friend, at least in a moral way.
+
+Benjamin Oresky was twenty-one years old; indescribable suffering had
+caused premature wrinkles in his handsome face, and the streaks of
+silver in his black curly hair told of unhappiness, while in his
+brown eyes shone a light born of martyrdom.
+
+The brotherly love that had sprung up between these two young men was
+the result of a condition of circumstances that brought this mystic
+virtue in all its purity. It came to their souls like a soothing
+balm, and it gave birth to ambitions that otherwise would never have
+been felt.
+
+They were each other's confidant. Their interests were mutual, and in
+their friendship they found the nucleus of courage to hold them up in
+days of adversity.
+
+Edward's old dreams of fortune came back, and he succeeded in getting
+his new friend to share some of them. A partnership was arranged
+between the two, and from this time Edward began to peddle frames
+from house to house. It was hard and far from the realization of his
+old dreams, but it was better than starvation, and the hope of better
+days, combined with the example of the Russian, gave him courage to
+follow this rather humble trade.
+
+At times, when they met at night, after a lucky day and counted their
+receipts, they were elated, while other times, not being so
+fortunate, they felt discouraged.  More than once, Edward decided to
+write home for money, but at the last minute his pride stopped him.
+
+"No, never! I will not let them know that I am poor, humiliated, a
+failure!"
+
+It had been decided that they would go west as soon as they would
+have saved the necessary capital, and at last, after three months of
+hard work and close economy, they found that they had enough money to
+abandon the frame business and start for the West.
+
+Edward was all excitement. His golden dreams had all come back. After
+buying a new suit, he went and had his picture taken, sent one home,
+another to Marie Louise, and told them of the wonderful things he was
+to accomplish out West. Preparations were made and tickets bought for
+St. Paul, Minnesota, and as he stepped aboard the train to leave
+Worcester he could not help but think of the difference between his
+departure from home and his leaving Worcester now. His heart was
+overflowing with gladness, and there was nothing but happy tidings in
+his soul. There was no sad parting at the station. No, his only
+friend was going along with him, and he felt a keen pleasure in
+leaving a city which had been so ungrateful to him. The luxurious
+palace car was a revelation to him, who had never seen anything like
+it, and he felt like a man who is traveling toward success. He could
+hardly refrain himself from singing when the train started, but his
+friend Benjamin was indifferent, and when Edward began to speak about
+the wonderful things they were to do out West, Benjamin simply
+smiled.
+
+"Won't we be happy, Ben, when we have lots of money?" asked Edward.
+
+"I may find distraction in making money, and pleasure in seeing you
+happy, Ed, but there cannot be any happiness for me," answered the
+Russian, with sadness. Then he spoke of his dead mother feelingly. As
+to his father, it was a queer anomaly, but the Russian had none of
+that filial love of which Edward's heart was so full. No; there was
+some mysterious cloud between Benjamin and his father, and Edward
+pitied his friend from the bottom of his heart.
+
+The rumbling noise of the fast train, as it moved toward the West,
+was music to Edward's ears, and he enjoyed it too much to be able to
+read, and while Benjamin was reading one of Tolstoi's novels, Edward
+rested his head on the back of his seat and closed his eyes, letting
+his mind wander in dreamland.
+
+When night came they decided not to buy tickets for the sleeper, in
+order to economize, and both slept well, stretched upon the benches
+of the palace car. Morning found them both quite fresh, and the
+Russian went back to his novel, while Edward studied the faces around
+him.
+
+There were all sorts of faces. Some told of happiness and health,
+others spoke plainly of sadness and misfortune; others still were
+enigmas--they told of nothing, and if they had known of stormy days,
+and drank of some of life's bitter cup, there were no traces left. A
+few seats ahead of him Edward noticed a tall chap with his arms
+around the waist of a woman with golden hair. Her face told of new
+matrimonial bliss and he seemed to be so happy that he was satisfied
+to look at his bride without speaking. Edward thought how he would
+like to have Marie Louise as his bride and going West also, when he
+heard something falling and turning around in the direction where the
+noise came from he saw a beautiful young girl who was vainly trying
+to pull off part of her sleeve from under the window-shade, which had
+just fallen, causing the noise. Edward hesitatingly got up, and
+succeeded in releasing the young lady from her awkward position. She
+thanked him, and when he looked into her large brown eyes he felt
+that they were the most beautiful he had seen in all his life. He
+went back to his seat, and felt sorry at once for not having spoken
+to her. The more he thought, the more he wanted to speak to her,
+until at last, he got up and boldly walked up to her seat, but
+imagine his surprise there--he found himself unable to say a word.
+She looked up, and seeing his embarrassment, said something that he
+failed to understand, but her kind smile brought back his courage and
+his power of speech. Picking up her things, she made room on her seat
+and he sat down and began the conversation in broken English.
+
+A woman of twenty, with a mass of auburn hair-that color that is
+three in one, golden in the sun, brown in the shade, and dark in the
+evening. Her eyes were large and soft, shaded by long eyelashes. It
+was difficult to tell their color, but they possessed a magnetic
+power that Edward felt at once, and every time he looked in her eyes
+he felt dazed. His whole being seemed to become involved in a spell
+of strange happiness, and listening to her, he felt that she could
+make him her slave. When he told her of his going to St. Paul,
+Minnesota, she said that she had often been in that city, and had
+many friends living there. Her conversation was easy and fascinating,
+and Edward did not dare to make any comparison between her and Marie
+Louise, whose name came to his mind more than once. After an hour or
+so of conversation she told him that she could speak French, and
+immediately proceeded to talk that language, to his astonishment, and
+he mildly reproached her for not having spoken that language before.
+
+"I just love to hear any one speak English the way you do," she said.
+
+While talking French she held Edward spellbound. She spoke of Daudet,
+Zola, George Ohnet, Chartrand, and many other modern novelists of the
+French school, and it developed that her favorite authors were also
+his.
+
+"Why don't you stop in Chicago and see the city?" she asked him, at
+the same time inviting him to call at her home, and giving him a
+dainty, engraved card upon which he read her name: "Nellie King,"
+with her address written with a lead pencil.
+
+Edward could hardly believe his ears, and said that he would be
+delighted to stop in Chicago, but he was not alone, and his friend
+might not want to.
+
+"I am sure that you can induce your friend to stop a day or two, if
+you care to, and I would be very glad to entertain you while in the
+city," she said with her most winsome smile.
+
+"If you really care to have me stop, I will, even if my friend does
+not want to," said Edward, entirely decided to do so.
+
+He went over to his friend Ben, who was just awakening from a doze,
+and mentioned the idea of stopping in Chicago.
+
+The Russian was surprised and said: "Why, Edward, we know no one in
+Chicago; what's the use to stop there and, spend time and money!"
+
+"Yes, I do know some one there," answered Edward, blushing like a
+maiden. "I know a lovely girl who would like very much to have me
+stop."
+
+The Russian looked surprised, and asked Edward where he had met that
+girl.
+
+"Right in this car," answered Edward.
+
+Ben smiled pitifully, and said: "Poor boy, you must not let your
+heart run away with your common sense; we cannot stop in Chicago."
+
+Edward was thoughtful for a minute, and then said:  "I will stop
+anyway, Ben--I have made up my mind to.
+
+"Well, if you have, I will also stop; but Edward, look out, it is
+dangerous to get acquainted too quick with a girl, especially a
+Chicago girl," he added.
+
+This last remark made Edward angry, and he was tempted to take
+offense, but he knew that his friend had no intention but to give him
+good advice, and then they were to stop in Chicago--that was what he
+wanted.
+
+When they arrived at the great metropolis of the West, Edward offered
+to see Miss King to her home, while the Russian was to wait at the
+station until his return.
+
+When Edward came back, his friend asked him: "Did she cry when you
+left her?"
+
+"Ben, I don't like to hear you speak this way about her. No; I won't
+permit any joking about it."
+
+"All right, Ed, but what do you know about her?"
+
+"I know that she is a good girl, and that she is not making sport of
+me."
+
+"How do you know it?"
+
+"She told me so."
+
+"Oh! la! la! la! She told you so, eh? Don't you know that women can
+say anything?"
+
+"Never mind, Ben, you are not my keeper. This is a personal matter."
+
+Edward knew that his friend was an enemy of womankind, and therefore
+he saw fit to close the discussion as soon as possible.
+
+They left their baggage in the check-room and went to a cheap hotel
+where they had lunch, and afterward the Russian asked Edward about
+the program for the afternoon.
+
+"My program is already made," said Edward. "I shall call on Miss
+King."  They walked together in the direction of her home, where they
+parted, after having agreed to meet later at the hotel.
+
+When Edward rang the doorbell his heart was beating so hard that he
+could bear it, and when the colored servant came to take his card, he
+felt as if walking in a dream. The servant led him into a beautiful
+boudoir, where he sat waiting for Miss King, ho soon came in.
+
+"I am so happy you came," she said as she entered.
+
+Edward murmured something about being very happy himself, as he held
+her hand in his. Everything in the room was exceedingly rich and
+artistic. In one corner a Venus de Milo seemed to be smiling at him,
+while from another corner a Cupid was apparently ready to shoot at
+him. It was more luxury than Edward had ever thought of, and the
+whole thing was like a dream.
+
+"Where are her father and mother?" he asked himself, and she seemed
+to guess his thoughts, and said: "I am Chez-moi, not Chez-nous; my
+family lives in Montreal, and I must tell you I am an actress."
+
+"An actress!" he repeated, stupefied.
+
+"Yes, an actress, and my name is not Nellie King; but I will tell you
+all about this later."
+
+"How can you be an actress and live like this?" asked Edward, in his
+simplicity, looking around.
+
+"Oh--I make lots of money--I have been successful," and then she told
+him her life.
+
+Stage-struck, she had left her home three years before, and her
+parents knew not where she went. Her voice bad won great success for
+her from the beginning, but when the excitement of the first success
+had passed, she found herself lonesome, unhappy, craving for some one
+to love, some one who would care for her, and not for her success.
+She spoke of the men who sent her baskets of flowers and begged to be
+her slave; these men she despised, she said, "because they care for
+me only on account of my success--let my voice fail and they will
+stop sending flowers. It flatters them to be seen with me, because I
+am a success; but when I have grown old, and my voice will be gone,
+what will they care for me then?" and tears came to her eyes when she
+said these last words.
+
+"Why don't you go back to your home in Canada?" asked Edward,
+feelingly.
+
+"My mother has died since I left, and how I have cried! I have felt
+that I was the cause of her death, and I know that my father would
+never forgive me."
+
+"Poor Nellie," Edward said, holding her hand, tempted to kiss it.
+
+"Oh! Edward, motherless, and without any real true friends, don't you
+pity me? The only time I am happy is when I look back to the days of
+my childhood; then I smile as one must when dreaming a happy dream in
+the quiet of the night."
+
+During all this time Edward had listened with tears in his eyes. His
+sympathetic nature had thrown open the doors of his heart and soul;
+he was enraptured, and it was all he could do not to fall at her feet
+and tell her of his love. He wanted to live his life with hers; he
+felt drawn toward that strange nature, and loved her intensely, as he
+sat there holding and pressing her hand. There seemed to be an
+established current of a mysterious magnetic fluid that drew his
+whole life to her.
+
+"Have you ever loved any one, Edward?" she asked him, looking him in
+the eyes.
+
+For an instant the name of Marie Louise fluttered in his mind, and
+then he said: "I don't believe I have until now."
+
+She did not appear to take any notice of his last words, but a
+satisfied look came over her face. She changed the subject and asked
+him if he was going to St. Paul on the morrow.
+
+"I will have to--my friend will not want to wait any longer."
+
+"Let him go alone," she suggested.
+
+"But what will I do here?"
+
+"What will you do in St. Paul?"
+
+"Well, I do not know--but we will likely go into some kind of
+business, my friend and I, and then I can come back and see you."
+
+She looked at Edward for an instant, and a queer light came in her
+eyes, as she said: "You will not go; you can do just as well here as
+in St. Paul. As to your friend, let him go; or, if he will remain
+here, I will help him to find something to do."
+
+Not go! It was a new turn of things, and Edward did not know what to
+say.
+
+"Tell me that you are willing to remain in Chicago, Edward, and I
+will arrange the rest with your friend," pleaded Nellie.
+
+"All right," said Edward, "if only you can induce him to stay, I will
+be glad."
+
+It was decided that they should both walk to the hotel where Ben was
+waiting, and talk the matter over. Nellie went into the next room,
+and coming back in her street costume, they started at once to meet
+the Russian.
+
+Edward was dubious. He feared that his friend would think him crazy,
+and he felt keenly the injustice of compelling him to remain in
+Chicago on his account, but love was in his heart, and he would have
+done anything rather than displease Nellie; in fact, he was no longer
+his own master--she held full sway over his mind.
+
+When they arrived at the hotel, the Russian was much surprised to see
+Edward with a lady, and he was really embarrassed when Edward
+presented him to Miss King. Nellie sat in front of the Russian, and
+after a few moments of conventional talk the main subject was touched.
+At first the Russian could hardly grasp the idea. Why should
+they stop in Chicago, when they had taken their tickets for St. Paul?
+
+"You can sell your tickets at a broker's office, at a small loss,"
+said Nellie, "and the chances of finding employment are just as good
+here as in St. Paul, in fact, better, because I can help you here."
+
+"You can help us? How?" asked the Russian.
+
+"If you tell me what you expected to do in St. Paul, I will answer
+your question," said Nellie, while Edward followed the debate between
+the two without saying a word.
+
+"Well, so far as I am concerned I am willing to do anything honorable
+and earn good wages," said Benjamin.
+
+"All right; remain here, and I will see that you get an offer of a
+position before to-morrow night. Will you stay?" and she looked him
+straight in the eyes, until the Russian said "Yes."
+
+Edward walked back to Nellie's home leaving his friend wondering what
+in the world was to happen next. In the evening when Edward came back
+he hardly dared to look his friend in the face. He felt guilty in
+compelling Ben to stay in Chicago, and felt that if misfortune was to
+result, he would be responsible; but to his surprise his friend
+seemed perfectly pleased and said that if things did not go well in
+Chicago it would always be time to go further West.
+
+The next day when the two friends were coming out of the dining room,
+a letter was handed to them addressed:
+
+"Benjamin Oresky, Esq.,
+1620 Twenty-third Street,
+City."
+
+Benjamin tore the envelope open and read:
+
+"I am in need of a secretary, and I would like a young man who could
+do my work and study medicine. If you are willing to accept such a
+position, and feel inclined to the study of medicine; call at my
+office at eleven o'clock A. M to-day. Yours,
+Dr. P. J. McNaughton,
+Professor Chemistry.
+No. -- -- Street."
+
+"What is it?" asked Edward when he saw Benjamin turn pale.
+
+"My God, Edward, just what I have always been wishing for! A chance
+to study medicine is offered me. That Miss King must be an angel."
+
+At the proper time the Russian called on the author of the letter,
+and was told what would be expected of him. The doctor was a
+professor in a medical college, and he wanted some one to attend to
+his correspondence, help prepare his lectures, etc., and would pay
+for the course of lectures to be attended by his secretary as well as
+pay him a sum of money every month.
+
+Everything was satisfactory, and all the arrangements were made.
+During their talk the doctor stated that his friend, Miss King, had
+strongly recommended him, and for that reason he was given the
+preference over many other applicants.
+
+That day, when the two friends met the Russian was happier than
+Edward had ever seen him. To study medicine had always been his
+greatest ambition, and all at once his wish was to be gratified.
+
+"We will go to the theater to-night," suggested Edward, who produced
+two complimentary admission cards.
+
+"All right, old boy, I'll go anywhere you say," said Ben, in better
+spirits than Edward had ever seen him before.
+
+At the theater they were led by the usher to a sumptuous box, where
+they could enjoy a full view of the whole audience, as well as of the
+stage. As they sat watching gorgeously dressed women pass by,
+accompanied by men in full dress, they felt somewhat out of place,
+and it would not have been necessary to be a close observer to see
+that it was their first taste of high life.
+
+The play was a modern one, in which the tragic and the comic sides of
+life are brought out, and from the first, the two friends were
+entirely taken up with the action on the stage, forgetful of
+everything else. Now they laughed so loud that the people around them
+were surprised at them; then during some sad scene, they both wiped
+tears from their eyes, to the extreme amusement of many.
+
+All at once the music from the orchestra became soft and sweet, as if
+brought from far away, then, a woman whom Edward recognized at once,
+appeared on the stage, and the whole audience seemed to go wild.
+Nellie King, the star of the play, and the wonderful singer, was used
+to such ovation, and after smiling and gracefully bowing to the
+audience, she sang a love-ballad. Her voice, sweet as melody itself,
+carried to the audience the loving words of the song, each word pure
+and distinct. At times her voice was low and plaintive as if
+pleading, emanating sadness to the listeners, then it rose until its
+volume filled the whole building; it was violently passionate for an
+instant, and then again the words came with so much sadness that they
+seemed to come from the shadow of death. It spoke of unsatisfied love
+and despair, and the singer's voice was so true and fascinating, that
+when the last words had been sung, many in the audience were
+surprised to feel tears upon their face.
+
+Edward was so affected that he could not speak, while the Russian was
+saying, "Jerusalem! What a voice!"
+
+The whole audience seemed mad, and flowers were thrown upon the
+stage, hats in the air, and they were calling for Nellie's
+reappearance.
+
+When she came again, her face was pale, and her eyes wandered until
+they seemed to rest for an instant upon the box where Edward was
+sitting; then as a smile passed over her face, she sang in French one
+of Albani's favorite songs. It is the song of an exile. It is full of
+pathos, and tells of the longings of the exile for his far-away home.
+Once Edward bad heard the same song in Canada, sung by Albani
+herself, but he had failed to be fully impressed by these lines:
+
+  "Rendez-moi ma patrie
+  Ou laissez-moi mourrir.
+  Rendez-moi mon pays,
+  Ou laissez-moi mourrir."
+
+After the play Edward was in such a state of mind that his friend was
+actually unable to get a sensible answer from him, and, arrived at
+their room, he wanted the Russian to stay up and speak of the woman
+whom he now fairly adored; but Ben, while full of enthusiasm and
+admiration for the same woman, was doing some hard thinking, and he
+could not bring himself to believe that such a talented person could
+be so taken up with Edward, to be in real earnest in her actions
+toward him. When Edward gave him a chance to speak, he said: "Edward,
+my boy, you have that woman on the brain, and I am fearful of the
+results. In you she has found a source of diversion, and her actions
+now, I am afraid, are the result of a fancy which might pass away at
+any moment, and I advise you strongly not to let your enthusiasm run
+away with your heart and  common sense."
+
+"What? Do you mean to say that you believe that Nellie is not
+sincere?" asked Edward, turning pale.
+
+"I do not say that; but, Edward, she may be misleading herself. She
+is impulsive by nature, and you came in her life at the proper moment
+to allow her erratic imagination to create a romance with you as the
+hero; but you know that there is something else in life besides
+romances and illusions."
+
+"True," answered Edward; "but this illusion, if illusion it is, is
+worth the reality to me, and every hour that it will last is worth a
+year of the life I have lived heretofore."
+
+When they retired later, Edward could not sleep. He was in that
+nervous state that increases the activity of the mind too much. As
+his excitement about Nellie began to subside, a faint picture of his
+first sweetheart came to his mind. First, it was only like a passing
+glimpse; but it persisted in coming back, and after a while Edward's
+mind was impressed with a vivid image of Marie Louise. Every detail
+was perfect. Her large blue eyes, so true and so innocent, were full
+of a reproachful expression which brought sorrow to his soul, and
+then the sad face would vanish and make place for Nellie's picture,
+whose large brown eyes never failed to set his brain on fire. His
+sleep was only a continuation of these emotions, and in the morning
+he was tired and nervous.
+
+After breakfast the Russian went to Dr. McNaughton's office, to make
+final arrangements about his position, while Edward sat in their
+room, trying to fathom the mysteries of the future. Getting tired of
+this inactivity, and knowing not what to do until the afternoon, when
+he was to call on Nellie, he decided to take a stroll and see
+something of the great western metropolis, that immense agglomeration
+of all nationalities, where men of all colors can be seen, but where
+every one seems to be in a hurry. People in Chicago seem to be always
+on the run; they rush along, knocking each other, sometimes they get
+jammed, and then they swear, but push their way, and on again they
+rush. The millionaire and the gamin who blackens shoes rub elbows.
+The fakir who is always on the lookout for a victim, and stock
+brokers go through the crowd side by side; the African, the Chinese,
+the Jap--in fact, representatives of almost every nation under the
+sun are seen in the great flood of humanity.
+
+Edward drifted aimlessly with the moving mass. No one paid the
+slightest attention to him, and he felt lost in that human sea. He
+was overcome by a sense of smallness which he had never felt before.
+The atmosphere was loaded with a dense fog, and his clothes were soon
+saturated with a moisture that made him feel heavy. Once he got
+caught in a jam, and when he succeeded in extricating himself, he was
+considerably bruised and scared, besides having lost his bearings: in
+fact, he had to ask a policeman to direct him which way to go to find
+his hotel, where, disgusted, he decided to go, feeling that he could
+never find any pleasure in living in Chicago.
+
+Arriving at the hotel he was handed two notes. One, from his friend
+Ben, telling him that he was at work, and would not come to the hotel
+for lunch; the other was from Nellie, asking him to come and have
+lunch with her. This invitation was to him like a ray of sunshine
+through a clouded sky. He went to his room and carefully made his
+toilet, his linen being all soiled from his morning's excursion.
+
+When he met Nellie at her home she was radiant and made him feel at
+once that he was most welcome. The minute he looked into her eyes he
+felt the same charm overcome his whole system, and all at once life
+again was nothing but happiness.
+
+She spoke of the play and asked him if he had enjoyed the French
+song, "Rendez-moi ma patrie," and Edward told her that never in his
+life had he enjoyed anything so much. Their lunch was a dainty one,
+served by a colored maid, and after drinking a small glass of fine
+wine, Edward felt the most happy sensations tingling through his
+whole nervous system. All the poetry of which his nature was capable
+came to the surface, and he was surprised himself at the way he could
+speak to Nellie. He spoke of his dreams when he left home, and she
+told him that she would help him to realize them, and he believed
+every word she said. The whole afternoon was spent in the most
+delightful tête-à-tête, and when darkness came, Edward was surprised
+that it was so late. Upon leaving her it was agreed that on the
+morrow they were to take up the question of his future life in
+Chicago.
+
+After holding her hand in a caressing way, he bade her good-by, and
+the next instant he knew that the charm had left him. He was seized
+with a chill, caused by the Michigan Lake breeze, and the delightful
+intoxication of a moment ago gave way to the feeling of morose
+unhappiness. He felt a great shame come over his soul when he
+remembered that he had sworn to Nellie that never in his life had he
+loved any one but her; again Marie Louise's image came to him, and he
+walked to his hotel, carrying a great load of unhappiness and misery.
+At the hotel Benjamin was waiting for him, waiting with a satisfied
+smile upon his face, the very picture of contentment.
+
+"Well, Ed, everything is fixed. My work is not much, and I am given a
+free course in medicine. I attended the first lecture to-day, and I
+can't tell how glad I am, my boy! How about you?" he asked.
+
+"Oh! I don't know yet--I may not remain in Chicago, Ben," answered
+Edward, trying not to appear too discouraged.
+
+"Why? Can't she help you to get some employment, Ed?"
+
+"Will see to-morrow," answered Edward, going to his room, where he
+threw himself upon the bed, and felt much like sobbing. His head upon
+his hands, he remained in that position for a long while, thinking
+over the situation. He did not have the fascinating presence of that
+wonderful woman, Nellie, to brace him up, and the future seemed very
+dark indeed. Suppose she could not find him a position? What would he
+do? His money was nearly all gone. He would not allow her to support
+him. His manhood revolted at that thought.
+
+If she did find him employment, he hated Chicago; he could certainly
+not be satisfied in that city. His friend, the Russian, had a
+position, but his salary was so small, that he knew he could not
+depend on him for much help. He knew now that the happiness he so
+keenly enjoyed when in the presence of Nellie was only momentary, and
+always gave place to excessive depression afterward. His exalted idea
+of honor compelled him to realize that his conduct was dishonorable
+toward Marie Louise, to whom he had promised to remain faithful. And
+what would his good and religious mother say if she knew that he was
+in love with an actress? These thoughts were not conducive to
+happiness or peace of mind, and Edward did not know what to do.
+
+The next morning Ben went to the clerk of the hotel and settled their
+bill. Then he told Edward that he had found a good and cheap
+boarding-place, where they could both stop for less than one-half
+what they were paying at the hotel. This change pleased Edward and
+kept him busy part of the forenoon, because he had to see to the
+moving of their baggage to the boarding-house, Ben being obliged to
+go to his duties.
+
+
+This new place was one of those many cheap boarding-houses patronized
+mostly by poor students and clerks, and as it was in a back street,
+it was comparatively quiet, a fact that Edward noticed with
+satisfaction. It was kept by an old, motherly Irishwoman, who seemed
+to take a special liking to Edward from the first, which was greatly
+increased when she learned that he was a Catholic. She asked him many
+questions, and finally wanted to know what was the nationality of his
+roommate.
+
+"Russian," said Edward.
+
+"Roosian? Faith, that's a Jew!"
+
+"No, just a Russian," said Edward again, laughing.
+
+"What's his name?" she asked.
+
+"Benjamin Oresky."
+
+"What's that?--say it again."
+
+Edward repeated his friend's name, but the good Irish lady could not
+grasp it, and she said: "Sure, that's a Jew, your friend is, and look
+out for him; he may be an exception, but people that killed Christ
+are not good people. It's me that do tell you this, and kape it to
+yourself."
+
+At noon when Ben came, Edward told him of his conversation with their
+landlady, and they both bad much fun about it; and all during their
+lunch they could not help but smile at the way she looked at Ben.
+
+After lunch Ben went back to his work, and later Edward was on his
+way to Nellie's place. This time he was firmly decided to speak
+business and find out if Nellie could help him get a situation at
+once. "I can't live on love," he said to himself, as he stood at her
+door.
+
+When Nellie came in the boudoir where Edward was waiting, she noticed
+the change in his face. He was pale, and the dark rings around his
+eyes told of sleepless nights. She greeted him with more cordiality
+than ever, if possible, and Edward felt her charm creep upon him like
+the sensation which follows drinking old wine.
+
+"Poor boy," she said, holding his right hand in hers, "I am afraid
+you don't feel well, or that you have been worrying," and she looked
+him straight in the eyes.
+
+A smile of beatitude spread over Edward's face under the influence of
+her gaze, and he answered: "To tell the truth, Nellie, I have been a
+little anxious about my future, but I guess it will be all right."
+
+"Of course it will be all right," she said, and inviting him to be
+seated, she asked him if he would not like to become an actor.
+
+"An actor?" he repeated, "I be an actor? I never thought of it, and
+then, how could I become an actor in the States when I can hardly
+speak English correctly?"
+
+"That part of it is all right, Ed. I have a friend, who is now
+writing a new play, and there will be a Frenchman in it, and you
+would be just the man to take that role."
+
+"Well, but I have never done any acting; in fact, I know absolutely
+nothing about it," he said.
+
+"There is a beginning to everything. Your voice is good. You are tall
+and handsome,'' she added smilingly.
+
+"Oh, bosh!  Nellie, you are making fun of me. I know I was not born
+to be an actor, and never will be one."
+
+"Won't you try for my sake?" she asked him pleadingly.
+
+"For your sake, Nellie, I would do anything, but please don't ask me
+to make a fool of myself."
+
+"No, no, nothing of the kind, Edward. You can take lessons in
+elocution, and later try the role I spoke about."
+
+"Take lessons in elocution? Dear, it takes money and time to do these
+things, and while I have the time I lack the other.
+
+"I will loan you the money, Edward, and later, when you make lots of
+it, you will pay it back to me. Can I tell my friend, the author,
+that I have his man for the role of the Frenchman?"
+
+"I don't know, Nellie; I must have time to think it over," answered
+Edward, who was too surprised to grasp the full meaning of this
+proposition.
+
+"All right, you will let me know to-morrow, won't you, Ed? and please
+take my advice and accept this chance to become an actor. I feel that
+you would succeed on the stage--truly, I do, Ed."
+
+After talking over this new scheme, Edward left Nellie, and went to
+his boardinghouse, where he wanted to consult with his friend Ben.
+
+The Russian saw no reason why Edward should not follow Nellie's
+advice, and he strongly encouraged him to do so; but to Edward, there
+were many points to consider. What would his parents say? What would
+Marie Louise think of him, if she learned that he wanted to become an
+actor? Had she not in her last letters begged of him to be good and
+true to his promises? He had not answered that part in which she also
+complained of the chilliness of his late letters. Another point that
+he felt keenly, was the eventual necessity to accept pecuniary help
+from Nellie; of course, he reasoned that it was to be paid back, but
+his sensitive nature made him realize that even then it would leave
+him under moral obligations to her, and his spirit of independence
+revolted strongly. But what was he to do?
+
+"Try it on condition that if you don't like it, you'll go into
+something else," suggested the Russian, and Edward made up his mind
+to do so.
+
+The next day, Nellie was delighted to learn from Ed ward that he had
+decided to follow her advice. She immediately gave him two hundred
+dollars, which he accepted after much hesitation. He wanted to give
+her his note, but she would not have it. They went to the writer of
+the new play, and Edward was introduced to him as the gentleman who
+was to fill the role of the Frenchman. The author seemed pleased with
+Edward's appearance, and predicted success for him.
+
+The next thing was to find a professor of elocution. Nellie knew
+where to find one, so they went to him, and it was agreed that Edward
+was to take three lessons a week; and he felt much encouraged
+himself.
+
+That night Edward wrote home that he had found employment, but failed
+to give any details, and it was with much difficulty that he
+succeeded in writing a few pages to Marie Louise and these were
+certainly disconnected, and lacked considerable of the old lover's
+style which he used in other days. In a postscript he pleaded
+nervousness as an excuse for the nature of the letter, and hoped that
+she would not mistrust him.
+
+During the following day, he settled down to work with all his
+energy, with the result that he had very little time to worry. The
+more he studied the play in which he was to take part, and of which
+he had been given a copy, the more he liked it.
+
+He called upon the author, with whom he at once became on friendly
+terms, and met many actors there, who seemed to be very nice people;
+gradually Edward became more and more one of them. Every day he spent
+some time with Nellie, who was most pleased with his success, and
+once more the world seemed to be right.
+
+The company of which Nellie was the star was billed to in New York
+City about a week later, and when Nellie told him that she would be
+absent for four weeks, they felt that they would much miss each
+other, but agreed to write every day, and then four weeks would soon
+pass.
+
+While Nellie was gone, Edward was induced to join an actor's club,
+and was given an opportunity to study the life of that class of
+society.
+
+Edward spent much of his leisure time in the club rooms, where he
+could read many journals published in the interest of stage people.
+The membership of this club was composed of actors out of employment
+or playing in the city. Edward became acquainted with a great many of
+them and was surprised at the number of bright young men who were
+wasting their time, apparently waiting for a mere chances of some
+engagement.
+
+Some of them were young in years, beardless yet, but they looked old,
+and were "old-youngs," showing upon their faces the ravages of fast
+life. The walls of the club rooms were covered with lithographs of
+modern actors, among which Edward noticed Nellie's. Among the members
+of the club he felt a special liking for an old man, who; in turn,
+seemed to take much interest in him. This old actor, past sixty, had
+been at one time a very famous man; in fact, had enjoyed a national
+reputation-but unfortunate speculations and old age had reduced him
+to poverty, and he was living on a pension paid him by some
+benevolent actors' society.
+
+He offered to help Edward in his work, and was so kind to him that
+Edward made a confidant of him. When the old man heard Edward's
+story, tears came to his eyes and he said: "Poor boy--my life was
+started like yours--and I pray you to abandon the idea of going on
+the stage. The life of an actor is the most miserable any one can
+live--of course, there are exceptions; men who are born actors, and
+find success at each step--but they are not many, and even among them
+you will often find unfortunate beings whose life is a drudgery. You
+are young, you left good parents who expect much of you; you have a
+sweetheart in your little native village, whose love is of the truest
+kind. Hers is not the result of a passing fancy and you don't want to
+break her heart, do you?"
+
+"No," said Edward, greatly affected by the old man's talk.
+
+"And," continued the old actor, "suppose you should meet with some
+success on the stage. That does not mean that you will make money,
+no, the salary that you will command for the next ten years, granting
+that you will be successful, will not be more than enough to pay your
+expenses; and remember, my boy, once an actor, you will never be good
+for anything else; unless you are an exceptional man. Of course, you
+are starting under good auspices. Miss King is a great singer, and
+somewhat of an actress, but she does not know how soon her voice will
+fail her. She is of an erratic nature and possesses a golden heart,
+but she is a mere slave to her emotions, and the proof is the way she
+became interested in you, my boy. I do not want to be harsh on
+her--no--she has befriended me more than once; but, Edward, she has a
+right to cause her own misfortune, not yours. It was through an
+accident of this kind that the doors of the stage were opened to me.
+I was young then, young as you are. I loved a woman, and she said she
+loved me. I left everything to follow her on the stage, and the only
+sunshine of my life was during the first few years of our married
+life. But what is a couple of years of happiness when a whole life of
+misfortune is to follow? I will not tell you what happened," said the
+old man, feelingly, "but she tired of me. Her emotional soul made her
+heart beat for another, and we parted! She died a miserable
+death--craving my pardon, which I gave her, because she was not to blame.
+It was her nature, and her vocation was conducive to such things: I have
+never told this story to another, and to-night, when I tell you, it
+is because I want to save you-for your sake, for your parents'
+sake--for your sweetheart's sake!"
+
+Edward was stunned. He could not speak; he simply stared at the
+speaker, who wiped his eyes.
+
+After a moment of silence he said, "My God, what will I do?"
+
+"Young man, what would you have done had you not met that woman?"
+
+"I would have gone West," he answered.
+
+"Well--go West now. Go, before she comes back and has you under her
+influence. Go, and you will feel all the better in time."
+
+"But it would be dishonorable to go in this way, with her money,"
+said Edward.
+
+"Ah! would it not be much more dishonorable to use her money to bring
+unhappiness to her and to yourself? And you can repay that money
+later--in fact, you will repay her much sooner if you go away than if
+you stay and go on the stage."
+
+In his heart Edward felt that his adviser was right, and he thought
+he could bear the voice of Marie Louise saying, "He is right."
+
+"I'll follow your advice," said Edward, shaking the old man's hand
+tenderly.
+
+"God bless you, my boy! I feel that I have done a good act in my late
+days of life, and I know that you will thank the day you met me when
+later you think of this. Where will you go?"
+
+"I don't know," answered Edward; trying to smile.
+
+"I have a friend out in Montana who owns a big ranch. He is an old
+classmate of mine and I often go and spend the summer months with
+him. I will write a letter which you will take to him. He will give
+you something to do; it may not be very fine work, but I will
+guarantee that it will be healthy and conducive to happiness. Do you
+like horses?"
+
+"Do I?" spoke up Edward, brightening considerably; "I should say I
+do."
+
+"Good! Meet me here to-night at eight o'clock," and the old man
+walked out.
+
+Edward lingered at the club for a short time, then went to his
+boarding-house, where he found his friend Ben waiting for him.
+
+"Ben, I am going to leave the city," he said, after sitting down.
+
+"Going to New York, I suppose," answered the Russian, smiling, and
+thinking that Edward had decided to follow Nellie.
+
+"No, sir, I am going West. I have decided to quit the idea of going
+on the stage."
+
+"What! Going West? What's the matter; Ed, are you crazy?"
+
+"No, I don't think I am crazy, but I may have been," and then he
+explained the whole thing to his astonished friend, who finally
+agreed with him, but was sorry to part with Edward, and told him so.
+
+"Never mind, old boy, we will meet again, when we have settled in
+life," said Edward, beginning to arrange his trunk for his early
+departure.
+
+After supper he and the Russian walked to the Actors' Club, where the
+old man was waiting, with a letter addressed to
+
+Mr. Frank Goodnow,
+Grass Village,
+Montana.
+
+The three sat and talked until late. The Russian took a great fancy
+to the old actor, who in turn was favorably impressed by Ben. This
+meeting was the beginning of their friendship, and they visited each
+other, finding much pleasure in their relations.
+
+It was decided that Edward would leave the next morning, and the old
+actor agreed to be at the station to bid him good-by.
+
+When they returned to their room, Ben went to bed, but Edward sat
+down writing letters until late in the night. Among these letters,
+one was difficult to write satisfactorily, and he wrote many before
+he was satisfied with the one he was to send to Nellie. He bad
+decided not to let her know his whereabouts; this, at the suggestion
+of his friend, the old actor. The letter he decided to mail to
+Nellie, read as follows:
+
+"DEAR AND KIND FRIEND NELLIE: After much thinking, I have come to the
+conclusion that I was not born to be an actor, and furthermore, that
+it would not be right for you and me to carry on our little romance.
+Life is not a dream, and while I have greatly enjoyed our little trip
+in dreamland, I foresee the day when we would both have to face life
+in its reality, and I feel that bright as life has been with you thus
+far, the day is not far distant when we both would see the clouds of
+unhappiness accumulate over our heads--and I know it is better to
+part in sunshine than in the shadow of unhappiness. I cannot find
+words to express how grateful I feel toward you for your extreme
+kindness to me. I leave it to your kind heart to imagine the
+greatness of my gratitude, and the immensity of the sacrifice I now
+make. The moments spent in your presence were the happiest of my
+life, and my soul never knew how much a human being could enjoy the
+happy dreams of life until I came under your influence. I will always
+remember you as the brightest star in the firmament of my life, and I
+will pray that you may never know the bitterness of misfortune. With
+a last loving kiss, good-by, and forgive me!  My friend, Ben Oresky,
+will some day pay you back the loans you made me.
+"Yours, with best wishes for your future happiness, EDWARD."
+
+He could not help but shed tears as he sealed this letter, but at the
+same time he felt satisfied. He felt like a man after accomplishing a
+hard duty; but it was done and he was almost proud of the fact.
+
+The next morning, at the station where Ben accompanied him, they met
+the old actor who, true to his word, was there to bid him good-by.
+
+Once more Edward was carried to an unknown country, but this time he
+felt easy. He was strong with the feeling of having sacrificed much
+for the sake of his duty, and already there seemed to be much more
+room in his heart for Marie Louise, of whom he could not think
+without blushing. After a day and a half of fast traveling he arrived
+at Grass Village where he was met by Mr. Goodnow, to whom he had
+written. This gentleman was a real western type, and Edward was
+pleased with the cordial manner in which he was received.  After
+being taken to the house, Edward gave Mr. Goodnow his letter of
+recommendation from his old friend, and went upstairs to a room to
+wash himself. When he came down, he met the whole family, and felt at
+home from the first.
+
+While Edward was getting acquainted with his new duties, his letter
+to Nellie had reached her, and as she read it, she felt hot tears
+come to her eyes, and for an instant her heart felt as if pierced by
+an arrow. She had never realized until then how much she really loved
+that young man. As she eat holding his letter in her hands, she saw
+her dream of anticipated happiness crumbled to pieces, and such a
+despair as had never before entered her soul came to her. "My God! My
+God!" she said, and then closed her eyes.
+
+The heart of a woman is a strange thing, and Nellie's heart was one
+of the strangest. Having never before known what love was, she had
+all at once felt her whole being infected by a mighty passion, a
+passion such as no human being can feel twice, and now the object of
+her love had vanished. He was gone without even saying where. Her
+sorrow was almost as great as her love, and from this time Nellie
+King was a different woman. She broke her engagement in New York and
+came back to Chicago, where she tried in vain to learn where Edward
+had gone. The Russian had promised Edward not to reveal where he was,
+and he was true to his promise, hard as it was to refuse Nellie, to
+whom he owed his situation.
+
+For twelve months Edward had lived on Mr. Goodnow's ranch, and his
+reputation as the best and most fearless rider on the ranch, as well
+as the most graceful, was a recognized fact, and that was enough to
+make him popular. His little mare, a perfect type of that class of
+horses, called "bronchos;" was the prettiest and swiftest on the
+ranch, and he had named her "Nellie," and indeed, any woman would
+have been proud to give her name to such a beauty. There were twelve
+cowboys on Goodnow's ranch, and every week, one of them had a day
+off, which was spent at his own discretion.
+
+Cowboys as a class are a queer lot of men. They are fearless and
+brave to excess, and being isolated from society so much, they are
+often eccentric; but their eccentricity has its charms.
+
+The fraternal feeling which exists among these men is of the genuine
+kind, and they are exceedingly generous in helping each other in case
+of misfortune. They practice all sorts of manly sports, and the feats
+they can accomplish on horseback are wonderful. It is an easy matter
+for some of them to lean on one side of their saddle while going at a
+great rate of speed, and pick up a small object on the ground. They
+are skillful shots in many ways, and one way that never fails to
+impress the "tenderfoot," is the shooting of a clay pipe at a
+distance of twenty-five feet, while held in the mouth of one of them,
+who apparently does not see much excitement in the act. It is great
+fun for them to "break in" a "tenderfoot," by which name they call
+any aspirant to the vocation of cowboy.
+
+The meanest bucking bronco is brought to him to ride and behold! if
+the poor candidate cannot hold on to the saddle while the kicking
+brute is playing circus, the cowboys add to the excitement by their
+yells, often throwing small stones at the bucking cayuse.
+
+Edward went through all their initiatory proceedings, and came out
+with the respect of the lookers-on; his popularity counted from that
+time.
+
+Since his departure from Chicago, Edward had received many letters
+from his Russian friend, but very little had been said about Nellie.
+He was now a different man, not only in his general appearance, which
+was much improved by the open air life, but also morally. He had sent
+two hundred dollars to Ben, who paid it over to Nellie, and while he
+still felt more than a kindly feeling toward her, it was nothing like
+the old passion. On their "day off" cowboys usually go to some
+saloon, where they drink and play cards, and generally have as
+exciting a time as they can to make up for the monotony of their life
+in the field; but Edward preferred spending these days at the home of
+his employer, whose daughter Grace showed much partiality for the
+French lad, or French Ed, as he was now called by every one on the
+ranch.
+
+Mr. Goodnow's only daughter Grace was a splendid young lady of
+eighteen, and quite a musician. She was very small and her face was
+too baby-like to be called real pretty, but her large blue eyes were
+soft and full of melancholy. She was a very interesting talker, and
+her horsemanship could not be excelled. She never failed to cause a
+smile of satisfaction on her father's face whenever she mounted
+Topsy, her spirited little thoroughbred black mare.
+
+Grace always looked ahead to the time when French Ed was to come into
+town, because she took much pleasure in his company. It was great fun
+for her to ride his mare Nell, while he rode Topsy.  Together, they
+would take long rides, sometimes taking their lunch with them, and
+stopping by some little running brook, where in the shade of some
+tree they would eat and enjoy life.
+
+Grace was very much interested in everything that pertained to
+Edward's life. She too questioned him about his past, his schooldays,
+his folks, and one day she gave him one of her pictures to send to
+his sister. She never seemed to tire of hearing him talk, and he
+always found much pleasure in talking to her.
+
+She admired him with that admiration that often leads to love, while
+he liked her with that feeling that is more than friendship and still
+cannot be called love. At times, Edward thought that he would like to
+take her little baby face in his hands and kiss her on the lips; but
+he knew what the result would be, and he contented himself in
+imagining how good it would be. Once, while Edward was singing a new
+song with Grace at the piano, he bent to see the notes, until his
+face rubbed against hers, and then he felt a strange dizziness come
+to his brain, and was raising his arms to put them around her neck,
+when she suddenly stood up and looked him straight in the eyes, and
+said, "Ed--"
+
+Had she slapped him with her little hand he would not have felt
+nearly so bad as he did facing those large blue eyes, so reproachful
+and sad.
+
+"Play 'El Diavolo,'" he asked her trying to hide his embarrassment,
+and she did.
+
+Early the next morning Edward was on his way to his work. He had a
+distance of about twelve miles to ride, and the morning was so
+perfect that life seemed a blessing on such a day. It was one of
+those mornings that fill the soul with exhilaration, and makes you
+think of the greatness of the Creator of this wonderful world. The
+little wild flowers along the road were covered with dewdrops, which
+glistened under the first sun rays like millions of diamonds. The air
+was full of that sweet fragrance found nowhere but on the vast
+Western prairies, and Edward was thinking how good life was. He was
+nearing the place where thousands of steers were grazing, and was
+humming the air of a French song, when all at once he heard a
+rumbling noise. It was distant and much like the noise one hears when
+approaching the sea. Edward placed his hand to his ear and stopped
+the mare, in order to make out what was the meaning of that noise.
+Raising himself on his stirrups, he looked in the direction where the
+rumbling sound came from and saw a dark spot which kept growing as
+the noise increased, until a moment later the ground was actually
+trembling, while a big cloud of dust indicated the coming herd of
+crazed steers. It was a stampede--and while Edward had never seen one
+before, he knew its dangers. His little mare was now rearing and
+snorting with great evidence of fright, and Edward hardly knew what
+to do. He knew that to try and stop the maddened steers was an utter
+impossibility, but felt that it was his duty to try and do something
+to prevent the terrible disaster which is always sure to follow a
+stampede, when thousands of valuable animals fall of exhaustion and
+are trampled to death by the others, or, as sometimes happens, they
+dash themselves to death from some high precipice, where the first
+ones to reach are pushed over by the oncoming, until thousands have
+been sent to destruction. Edward knew this and he also knew that the
+stampede was now heading toward a dangerous marsh where thousands
+would perish, unless something was done to prevent them from going in
+the direction they were then taking. It is a fact that the best way
+to stop a stampede is to get the animals circling round, and this is
+often done by the cowboys, who ride with the leaders of the stampede,
+and lash them on the head until they gradually keep turning; but it
+is one of the most dangerous actions that a cowboy can be called to
+do. A stumble of the horse and both rider and horse are sure to be
+trampled upon by the frenzied herd, and of course, that means
+destruction.
+
+Edward could soon distinguish some of the other cowboys, riding
+furiously by the side of the running herd, but apparently unable to
+reach the leaders, and in a moment he made up his mind to do it
+himself, and immediately starting his mare at a rather slow canter,
+he let the stampede come nearer and nearer until he could hear their
+hard breathing; then, taking his long lasso in his right band, he
+half turned himself on his saddle, and while at a very rapid gait, he
+kept striking the furious beasts in the face, until they began to
+alter their course, and turn to the right, which was exactly what he
+wanted. By this time the other cowboys had joined him, and the great
+moving mass was now beginning to circle around; but just then
+Edward's mare missed her footing and fell forward, turning a complete
+somersault and breaking Edward's right arm above the elbow. It was
+almost miraculous that he never let go of the reins, which he held
+with his left hand, but was again on the saddle as soon as his mare
+was on her feet, his right arm banging limp by his side, and causing
+the most excruciating pain as it moved with every motion of the mare.
+His face was also badly bruised, blood flowed freely from his mouth
+and nose, and when some of the cowboys came to his rescue he was
+riding on his saddle like a drunken man. They made a sling with a
+piece of lasso, and after bathing his face in the water of a near-by
+spring, they decided that two of them would go back to the village
+with Edward, while the rest would remain and watch the still excited
+herd. They started very slowly, knowing that the motion caused by
+cantering or galloping would make Edward's arm pain him much more;
+but Edward, after inquiring if his mare was badly hurt, and being
+told that except for some blood running from her nose, she seemed to
+be all right, they were surprised to hear him say: "Boys, let's go a
+little faster or we will never reach home."
+
+The ends of the fractured bone could be heard grinding against each
+other at the galloping motion; but had it not been for the cold sweat
+that covered his pale face, no one would have known that Edward was
+suffering intense pain, except for the gritting of his teeth now and
+then.
+
+At last they reached Mr. Goodnow's, and when Edward was helped into
+the house, he was so exhausted that he could not speak. The two other
+cowboys told Mr. Goodnow of the occurrence and of the heroic action
+by which Edward had saved many thousands of dollars.
+
+"To hell with the steers!" said the rancher. "I would rather have
+lost the whole damned lot of critters than see this boy crippled and
+suffering like this."
+
+When the doctor came, he said that Edward had sustained a compound
+fracture of the humerus and that it would take many weeks, in fact,
+two or three months before he would be able to use the arm. He also
+suggested giving chloroform, to reduce the fracture and set the arm,
+but Edward smiled faintly and said, "I guess I can stand a little
+more, doctor; go on with the job." After the arm was set, the doctor
+mentioned that it might be better if his patient was taken to the
+hospital, where he could see him every day.
+
+"No, sir--we'll take care of him here, Doc; and don't spare the
+expense. Come every day, and I'll stand the bill myself," said
+Goodnow, and Edward noticed an expression of satisfaction upon
+Grace's face.
+
+She washed his face carefully, and tenderly, and from this time she
+was his nurse, and a more faithful nurse never lived.
+
+When the doctor came the next day, he found that Ed ward had not
+slept all night, and that while his arm was not very painful, his
+head was a source of great suffering. After taking his temperature,
+the doctor anxiously examined his head and ordered ice-packs to be
+continually kept on it, and taking Mr. Goodnow aside, the doctor
+informed him that Edward was suffering from cerebral fever, and that
+he would likely become delirious very soon.
+
+Late in the afternoon, while Grace was placing fresh ice upon his
+head, he suddenly raised himself in bed, and grasping her hand he
+began to talk excitedly; but as he spoke in French, she could not
+understand him. Still, from the strange look in his eyes, she knew
+that Ed ward was delirious, and she called her father in.
+
+"Lie down, Ed, lie down, like a good fellow," said Mr. Goodnow.
+
+Edward stared at him an instant, and then fell heavily back in bed,
+still speaking French. After a while, he sat up again, and this time
+excitedly began to talk in English, asking, "Where is Nellie?"
+
+"She is in the stable; lie down, Ed, lie down, my boy; Nellie is all
+right," said Mr. Goodnow, carefully pushing him back.
+
+"I want to talk to her--bring her in here-I want her to sing for
+me--please bring her in here!"
+
+"Poor fellow, he is completely out of his head--he wants to hear his
+mare sing," said Goodnow, who could not help but smile at the idea of
+Edward's mare singing.
+
+Then Grace came in, and when Edward saw her, he seemed pleased, and
+trying to raise himself, he said: "Please, Nellie, sing me that old
+song--I mean that French song, you know?"
+
+Grace looked at him, and tears came to her eyes when she noticed that
+tender and pleading expression on his face, and she hurried out of
+the room.
+
+"She is mad at me, or she would not refuse to sing for me--oh, just
+once--let me hear 'Rendez moi ma patrie'."
+
+From this time Edward was delirious and failed to know any one around
+him, and the doctor's prognosis was not very encouraging as to his
+ultimate mental recovery.
+
+A great part of the time the poor fellow spoke French. It was much as
+if the cruel winds of adversity had blown back the pages of his life
+already lived, and he was apparently living them over again.
+
+He spoke of his mother, Marie Louise, Benjamin, Nellie, but seldom
+mentioned the name of Grace. During many weeks he remained delirious.
+His arm had got well enough to permit him to move it without pain,
+but the light of intelligence seemed to have left him forever. His
+face was emaciated, and his eyes had lost their old-time brightness.
+A strange phenomenon was gradually changing the color of his hair
+from brown to white, especially on one side, where he had struck the
+ground when his mare stumbled, and his appearance was that of a man
+at least ten years older than he was. During all this time many
+letters bad been received at his address, but when handed to him, he
+never displayed the least interest, or tried to read them.
+
+One day, Mr. Goodnow came back to the house with his friend, the old
+actor, who had taken so much interest in Edward, and it was really
+pitiful to witness the sorrowful expression on the actor's face as he
+held the hand of Edward, who failed to show any sign of recognition.
+When later, his old friend Ben came, it was the same thing, and the
+Russian cried like a child; but Edward showed no sign of any emotion,
+and his case was considered entirely hopeless.
+
+He got well enough to roam around, but he never was allowed to go
+alone, and Grace was his most constant companion. She led him to the
+most beautiful places on the ranch, and once, while sitting in the
+shade near a flowing brook, where she read to him, she felt sure that
+he had given sign of returning intelligence when he had said, with a
+pleased smile, "Beautiful," but alas, it was only a flash, and his
+condition remained the same.
+
+A few days later, during the quiet of the night, the horrible word
+"fire" was heard in the Goodnow's house, and the next instant the
+flames were coming through some of the windows. It seemed evident
+that everybody in the house was doomed to destruction, and when a
+great crash was heard, Goodnow leaped from a second-story window,
+where he expected his wife to follow; but the poor woman, thinking of
+the danger of her daughter, walked to the other part of the house,
+reaching the girl's room in time to see her escaping through the
+window. Then, already suffocating, she only had strength to reach the
+same window, but not enough to raise herself and leap over it, and
+the next instant the flames had enveloped her and she died a victim
+of her motherly love.
+
+Grace, crazed by her  anxiety for her parents, was running around and
+calling her mother and father, and when she found her father alone
+she knew that her mother was dead, because the part of the house
+where she slept was already nothing but a burning mass.
+
+Until then, no one had thought of Edward, as it seemed useless to
+think of saving anybody who might still be in the burning house, and
+when Grace cried out: "Edward! Edward! where is he?" As his room was
+on the ground floor she went near his window, and smashing it, called
+him by name, and God knows it was not too soon, as the fire, which
+had apparently neglected that part of the house, seemed to come to it
+with renewed energy, and a moment later the whole house was wrapped
+by the cruel flames. When some of the neighbors, attracted by the
+glare, came to offer assistance they saw the most pitiful spectacle
+possible.
+
+Grace was crying and running around calling for her mother, while
+Goodnow stood by, sobbing like a child. At a little distance from the
+house, sitting near a large tree, was Edward, looking strangely at
+the burning house, as if fascinated by the sight; and now and then
+clapping his hands, he would say, "Good play, is it not, Ben? But why
+don't she come back and sing again?"
+
+A most horrible crash was heard, and Goodnow's home was no more. It
+was now nothing but a burning pile of cinders and it was with great
+difficulty that friends could induce Goodnow and his daughter to come
+away from the terrible scene, while Edward himself seemed to want to
+linger. At last they all went to the nearest neighbor, two miles from
+Goodnow's place. Later, they tried to find something of the remains
+of Mrs. Goodnow, but so well bad the fire done its work, that not a
+trace of the unfortunate woman could be found, nor anything of the
+old actor, who had failed to save himself from the fire.
+
+Goodnow, with the energy which is characteristic of the western
+ranchman, decided to rebuild at once, and while doing it, he sent his
+daughter to Flatville, the nearest city, where one of his brothers
+was living, and Edward to St. Mary's Hospital in the same city.
+
+Edward did not appear to realize that he was in a new place, and
+remained the same careless and helpless being, with the difference
+that he stayed in bed a great part of his time, while at Goodnow's
+home Grace used to make him take long strolls on the ranch. She was
+still his faithful friend, and every day she brought him flowers, and
+now and then she read to him as she used to.
+
+After he had been in the hospital two or three weeks, a new sister
+came, and took charge of Edward, among her other patients. Her name
+was Sister Mary, and a sweeter face had never worn a hood. From the
+first time she came in Edward's room her voice seemed to have a
+peculiar effect upon him, and while she was near him his eyes always
+followed her, which fact was rather strange considering that he had,
+ever since his illness, paid no attention to any one. The doctor
+noticed this fact and jokingly told Sister Mary that she had come in
+time to save his patient.
+
+One day, Sister Mary was surprised to hear her patient ask her to
+sing, and as she looked at him, he said: "Please, Nellie, sing that
+old song, won't you?"
+
+Sister Mary turned pale and would have fallen to the floor, had the
+doctor not happened to be coming in.
+
+"Please, Nellie--sing, only once, won't you?" Edward was imploringly
+repeating.
+
+"Still wanting his old mare Nellie to sing for him," said the doctor,
+before he noticed Sister Mary; then seeing her reeling and ready to
+fall, he said:
+
+"What's the matter, sister? Are you sick?" and held her up.
+
+"Please help me out of this room, doctor," was all she said, and to
+the doctor's questions later, she answered that her name used to be
+Nellie, and that she used to sing, and she added. "I used to know
+him."
+
+The doctor saw at once that there was a romance somewhere, and in his
+anxiety to experiment, he begged sister Mary to come back to the room
+of his patient and sing for him.
+
+"It may be the key that will open his brain to let in the rays of
+intelligence," he pleaded, and at last Sister Mary consented to go
+back and sing.
+
+"Edward, Nellie will sing for you," said the doctor to his patient,
+watching carefully the expression of his face.
+
+"Good!" said Edward, clapping his poor bony hands together, and
+showing evidence of great satisfaction upon his face.
+
+At the foot of the bed, facing the invalid, stood Sister Mary. Her
+face was pale and her lips were trembling, but by a supreme effort
+she sang:
+
+  "Rendez-moi ma patrie,
+  Ou laissez-moi mourrir,
+  Rendez moi mon pays
+  Ou laissez-moi mourrir."
+
+At the first sound of the sweet voice, Edward sat up in bed, and
+watching eagerly the face of the singer, his eyes filled with tears.
+When the voice ceased he fell back saying, "My God! Nellie!"
+
+"I have killed him," said Sister Mary.
+
+"No, you have saved him!" answered the doctor, bending over his
+patient, whose face was covered with cold sweat, and every nerve
+twitching.
+
+"Sing again," commanded the doctor, and once more the sweet and
+tender voice of Sister Mary was heard, and Edward opened his eyes.
+When the song was over, he looked strangely at the doctor, and said,
+"Where am I? Where is Nellie?"
+
+"You are all right," said the doctor; and Sister Mary walked out of
+the room, going to the little chapel of the hospital, where she
+prayed the most fervent prayer of her life. "My God. Give me the
+strength to keep away from him," she prayed, and her prayer must have
+been heard, because Edward never saw Sister Mary again.
+
+From this time Edward's recovery was gradual and uninterrupted.
+
+From the time he first lost his reason he remembered nothing. A month
+later he was in Chicago visiting his friend, the Russian, and from
+there he went to his home in Canada, where no one ever expected to
+see him again, except Marie Louise, his first love, who said that she
+always felt that he would come back.
+
+"Tell me of your life," she asked him.
+
+"It would do you no good," he said, and never told her; but he often
+asked her to sing, "Rendez-moi ma patrie."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wanderings of French Ed, by Joseph René
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43292 ***