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-The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wanderings of French Ed, by Joseph René
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
-almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
-re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
-with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
-
-
-Title: Wanderings of French Ed
-
-Author: Joseph René
-
-Release Date: July 24, 2013 [EBook #43292]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WANDERINGS OF FRENCH ED ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Jerry Kuntz
-
-
-
-
-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."
-
-
-
-
-
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