1914-04-18 — Page 7

SHORT STORY.

THE DE

LA POMMERAIS AFFAIR

BY MARIE BELLOC LOWNDES.

for happiness and repute.

72

το

it.

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1914.

door and opens it.

on, watching to see how she is that Madame de Pawr had Madame de Pawr had had a bad And then, to her sobbing joy, taking his extraordinary proposal, relations better placed then she fall and was obliged to keep to she goes that the man standing "I intend to pay the premiums was herself. How dreadful it her room. As she continued to on the landing is none other than myself! I have been doing ex- would be if, when the hundred feel far from well, a kindly neigh- her one-time lover, Edmond de la tremely well for the lags two or thousand dollars insurance fell bor sent her the doctor she hersel treated her for shook and for Pommerail Eagerly, trom-three years, and I think I can do in, these people were to come for- always consulted. He naturally

yeat it for her three children! blingly, abe

ahe aake him, in. "But it-the more so that the risk will ward, olaim the money, and in- believed Seraphine's story, and don't take off your coat," she says not be for very long.

for it's so cold in

And then, as she looks at him He sought out an honest law. bruise, which was non-existent. solicitously

with a queer feeling of misgivi.g. yer, whom he informed that he Bat days lengthened into weeks had at various times lent a large and Madame de Pawr did not get here per

sum of money to the widow of an But be strips off his handsome well, indeed, she may,- far-lined garment and takes both bursts out laughing. "Oh, no her thin hands to hier

in no

79

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Turn.

2

"she

SHORT SERMON.

Stepping along a rather diemal street one day, my eye rested on

stood over it. I discarded two a page torn from some periodical

the other words, in smaller type, which lay in my paiWhen I words standing out clearly; all were obliterated by the in which was then falling. The

The neighbourhood did not I do not mean you are going to artist called de Pawr, further ex-any better. The doctor attending | words were "Be cheerful.

general practitioners are aware, On the plaining that he had done this her was puzzled, but, as all

a severe nervous shock acmetimes suggest cheerfuluese, and these "I mustn't make love to die!" he blys gaily.

irt, seemed like a ray of sunshine [Edmond de la Pommorais was sitting opposite to him a very you," he says, smiling," for I'm opatrary, you have the kind of when he was a very young man Frenchman would understand,

At last some one seems to have in a dark plaon; or like a piece s young physician, noble, gifted, beautiful girl accompanied by her married now, Seraphine! But constitution that will help you to and much in love with the lady takes a very mysterious, curious word, lying amidst the water and And he reveals to her an amaz. and even, to a certain extent, told Madame de Pawr's sister that of common glass which one often happily married, and just enter mother.. Bo struck was be by her ing upon a brilliant career. The appearance that he followed the thought that I would just come live to a hundred ! No, that's not This provided a motive that any ing scheme, which, if fraudulent sympathize with. He also told

Do the xt visitor we see in the reflecting the beautiful light of grime of which he was accused two ladies home. He discovered in and see how you were getting what I mean at all!

the fact to come out, as he was little flat is Seraphine's sister, the king of the skissThere are many towns, many streets, many Poor Seraphine, feeling as if in intention, is yet most agree the lawyer that he did not wish the poor lady was really very ill. aees in a field, ostohing and

Madame Ritter. was peculiarly brutal. He was that their name was Dabiey, and, on and if there were anything I

homes, and many lives, the pre- defended by the most celebrated with some trouble, he obtained could do to help yous"

"After we have paid one or now happily married to a wife to

"What is this I hear about vailing colour of which seems to advocate of the time; the Eman introduction to them. Very

ha drib. They lack cheerfulness. two premiums, you will have to whom he was devoted. Fortu and bursts into tears.

am prepared to hear you say, press Eugenie herself interceded shortly after, he declared his love she must be living through a hap-able simple to carry out.

Help her? Of course he can simulate a serious illness the nately, so he went on to say, his

Was on he says anxiously. "It's very for him; but he was condemned for the girl and asked her hand Py, dream, breaks down utterly

drab," and to answer." We might to death on the pitiless evidence la marriage. Madame Dublay, of a woman. Mrs. Bellos, Lowndes disapproving of so unconvention help her, though she hates to ask sort of illness which means leath ex-friend, though she would not your having had an accident?

"Do I?" Madame de Pawr all be more cheerful if we would, has made this osse the basis of aut a way of contracting a ma-

trouble your policy, to give notice to the quite willing to insure her life ly well,"

despite our conditions," study in Mactures. The de la trimonial alliance, refused for or accept help from him! Never within a short time. Now you pay the money back.

presents a some time to entertain the idea, as she bead in such terrible will be bound, by the terms of friendly terms with him, andudd, because you look so extreme-They have much to make them There was a man who always Pommerais Affair' baffing and complicated psycbo- But Mademoiselle Dubiay fell difficulty-the chief

deeply in love with her romanticing, of course, the children. insurance agent through whom for the aniount is question. De logical problem to the reader]

suitor, and in the end the mother If only she could afford to send it has been effected of your la Pommerais did not inform his laughs mysteriously. "Well, I

But she hasn't even enough to when he learns how ill you are, hundred thousand dollars. He appear to be!" We first mest Edmond de la gave way, and the young people them to the humblest day-school! critical condition, Seraphine, and honest lawyer that the sum was a am not perhaps quits as ill as I Pommersie at the age of four-and- were married amid the confeed them, and in addition she is the insurance office, alarmed at said the sam was twenty thousand What can I do for you, my saw the worst eide of things, and hundred thousand dollars, will very large amount for a young haven't got much money, as you seemed to hang heavy, One poor know, but I would very much night, following a day of even rather do without something greater restlessness than usual, of one of hor little girlé. twenty. Ho has just passed his gratulations of all their friends, last medical examination with for Edmund de la Pommerais was terribly anxious about the health the thought of having to pay out a dollars and even that seemed a dear?" says the other. "I over whan the olands always De la Pommerais professional make you a handsome offer of doctor to have leat a

The lawyer, however, knew myself than see you ill and he dreamed that an angel came to him and told him that brilliant success. greatly to the known to be in recsipt of a con-

The other is really touched by he had been chosen to preach a joy and gratification of his father siderable income from hie pro instinct is aroused. I will see an annuity to be paid you as long widow. (who is himself a famous country fession, and his bride had a very the child," he says, "and I will as your life lasta! I do not now

no elaborate doctrines, no harsh doctor) and of his doting mother. good dowry.

However, Doctor de la Pom- do everything I can to cure her."exactly what offer will be made that very old money transactions miserable."

And then for the mother, on you; that will, of course, depend do sometimes take place between The parents think it better that

Believera were to be he should start practising in merais was not so well off as he hearing this, gces, and forches on how ill they think you. But, foolish young men and designing her solicitude. I wonder if you new gospel. There were to be Paris; and so it is in Paris that appeared to be. He gambled, as the little creature from down in any case, I do not think it can women, and, taking the prospe could really keep a secret,

joyful, to smile and to make carde; he also, which was far stairs he proceeds to examine possibly be less than four or five oas doctor's word for what had whispers hesitatingly. When creeds, no theological intricacies, "Of course I should never merry. In his dream he set out we first make acquaintance with so many Frenchmen gamble, at

he does his best to reassure the so that, with my help, you will be transferring the policy of ineur-how important it is that no one fulness. him.

ation of value received." Young de la Pommeraia is more orions, speculated on the oild carefully, tenderly, and thousand france a year--the more happened, he made out a deed I tell you what it is, you will see the new pospel, was to be Cheers De la Pommernis took the dream of repeating anything you to teach this new gospel. At He is Stock Exchango. exceptionally handsome.

Bat e kept those worrying poor mother. All the child able to appear very ill, with no ance to his client "in consider should ever know!"

Were Madame de Pawr au hon-

And than Madame de Pawred, but he only smiled in return. eat woman, sha would, of coures, document homo and copied it told me," cries Madame Ritter. Gret he was scorned and ill-treat- taller than the majority of French-

he only sang and made merry, men, and he has a frank, open, facts to himself, and no one in wants is good food, and you can ren! risk to yourself!""

secret is! His father's the whole of the brilliant Paris of depend on me to see that she gets

Again he sits dowa, for, though raject this scheme, root and exao:ly, the only difference being one hundred thousand dollars kindly contenance.

And now we come to a carious fo the courtyard they laid stripes. pationis b..ve given him excellent the Second Empire seemed a

Larry that day. Poor had a terrible straggle. She has

Lut he was not eren, now introductions in the capital, and happier aan than Edmond de la he has everything that can make Ponimerais when his wife, in due or the seems to be branch; but the poor soul has that he substituted the words tells her sister what her great They took him to s prison, but Seraphine-how happy she is!-known what it is, not only to be for "twenty thousand dollars. " course, presented him with a He has been settled in Paris beautiful little girl.

Two days after the child's the more so that her old friend hungry herself, but to see her

questions her kindly, eagerly. children hungry. And then, so satisfied: as a further picerotaan, fact, and one which does not upon his back; but his face about thre months when an old.

How about your sister, Madame insurance office! She tells her he asked Madame de Pawr to redound to the oredit of linman lighted up with joy. At last the Does abe self that an insurance office is make a will leaving him any nature. Seraphine de Pawr's people were impressed, and flook fellow student rushes into the birth a kindly friend called.

"Why don't you have your

like the government! No one money which came to her under sister instead of expressing horrored around him. They were eager bachélor apartment pleasant

two people had made to obeat the dresses, and their positions. The Madame de Pawr shakes ber minds cheating the government, or insurances, iu order that head surprise at what was being to test for themselves this naw where he has set up his house baby insured?" she said to the Kitter ?" he asks.

already pious ones offered to hold grids. "I wish you would doctor. By paying a very small help you at all?"

We are now at the beginning auffer torture and punishment and fashionable beauties wished tako over a case for me!" he yearly premium you will be able

Trusting Seraphine, blinded by sight insurance companies, as I am, she has not enough to can like a big insurance office? did his own little daughter. exclaime."I have to leave Paris in sen or twelve years to provide bead. "No, I see very little of her so why should one mind cheating might look after her children, done, went away promising to religion. They offered to give to forsake their elaborate tolist. And so, foolish, trusting

her gratitude, for to her the to-night--and this patient of yourself with a really good sum now. You see, though not so poor a great prosperous business con whom, he said, he loved as he keep secret the plan which these up their riche, their beautiful

complete her help me, so she bardly ever

Seraphine accepts, without a

Madame de Pawr has already

No," said the leader; “yo mine is much to be pitied. His of money

"That's a great pity," he says word of remonstrance, her one annuity she hoped to get out of the last act of the sombar

been in bed a month, sad abe pame ia de Pawr, he and his wife education.

Ele was struck with the notion comes. are both artists, and the wife is

and, after careful inquiry, sough thoughtfully, and then, drawing time lover's iniquitous proposal, of the insurance offices seemed dram enchantingly pretty!"

his chair close up to here, he Nay, more; on this, is very first autold wealth, assented to all

Once more we find Madame de beginning, in very truta, es look are not called to do any of ther whispers impressively: "Listen, visit, she, at de la Pommerais' be desired. With his usual good nature, out an insurance agent and in Edmond de la Pommerais took oured his baby girl..

Life then went on just as over his friend's case, and went

as been giving her, wue transformed, to see the sick painter. It is on usual outwardly prosperons and Seraphine! I have thought of a dictation, writes a letter to an

ed: Then he woke. It record that he behaved with ex-radiantly happy, inwardly can way in which I believe not only insurance agent, whose name and Pawr sitting idly in her little from the confinemen. and the things, so long as you can b kered with secret money cares, your own fature but that of you address he gives, setting out that cheerless sitting-room. But she anhealthy life she loading cheerful where you are. One t

raining when he looked out; traordinary kindness and gen erosity of this poor man, whom the more so that Edmond de la children can be assured. But she wishes to insure her life, rad is no longer looks anxious and (hough she is oprefal to thror one they practised onverfnincs I must warn you that it would be by a gentleman who has a direct happy and wretched, as she was

is receiving each week a pension arrives at the fit

I think the time has come, somehow he could not bring hi be found already dying. Nay, Pommerais, thougha popular and before telling you of my scheme that the premiums will be paid careworn. She is no longer and away all the medicine ta dost until the whole land boat more, not content with doing all successful doctor, was not yet on

Thus she not only consents to from the generous de la Pomme- he could for the artist himself, he the highest rungs of his profes- very serious thing both for you interest in the matter, as he is the three or four months ago; for the Emond de la Pommernis again pessimism, and doubt disappe

one anything about it, and also showed unbounded kindness to sion, and medical fees in France and for me if you were to tell any father of her three children!

will send une of the insurance the beat interpretation on ere the latter's beautiful wife and rale far lower than they do in that its success, as you will see, act with utter want of honesty, rais, and, though he does not he exclaims,

her little girl. Is it likely that I should tell self and the memory of her hus time to time, and he has cured Now it is very probable that he that day he found himself putt We now come to the second depends on our absolute secrecy." but, further, she dishonous hercome, often, still he comes from insurance agent that you are ill.dll to gramble or complain. three children; and when de other countries.

asks band in her eagerness to give up

new gospel, but it is in sore I And so, when she hears a step companies' doctors to examine thing. The world was a differ a your condition, and it won't do place. Cheerfulness is no At breakfast t Pawr finally died, it was Dc stor

"Did her, unequal struggle with the

of praction. which has become again de la Pommerals who paid part act of the drama, and we fine

ourselves this time in one of those any one of the funeral expenses.

Strange to say, the business of familiar, if not a frequent, sound for whoever comes to find you as former friendship?" There then happened what tiny flats which form the apex of Madame de Pawr proudly.

you seem very ill-in fact, which thin, would it not be batte Beason it with a joke rather doubtless has of.on happened most oldfashioned. Paris houses. ever apost to any one of ouwolf of want.

"No," retaras Doctor de la insuring this poverty-stricken upon her stairs, she runs to the you are now. So I propose to "I have come to see you," says will make you very ill-for a under such circumstances: the This particular flat contains only

When we come to the stiles, v young physician went on seeing three roome, and in it poor Pommerais gratefully that is woman for the enormous saw of door and opens it, with a happy give you a drug which will make when the porridge happens t the beautiful widow, and soon Seraphine de Pawg, now well over

forty years of age, toila on at her quite true. Well, I must ask you me hundred thousand dollara emile.

She is too poor to now to listen very carefully to was carried through with the

greatest smoothness, secrecy, and the doctor, coming in and draw little while. But the bad effects to make a fuss and be su they fell in love.

and Seraphine de Pawr was con-painting.

He gets up, goes to the door, simplicity. Edmond du la Pom-ing off his lemon-colored kid will pass away ïn about twenty-

A mother and father siderably older than Edmond de send her three children to school, what I am going to say.” was over and life becomes to her more and la Pommerais; sho

contrary, he took the very great hour. It also occurred to me, feeling dreadfully sick

Madame de Pawr willingly partaking of their midday under strained conditions; thirty, and according to French more a losing struggle with fate. opens it, sees that there is no one merais did not personally appear gloves," because my wife is in four hours, sad during that time it not be better to laugh Several years have gone by on the landing, and then site in the matter at all. On the the country and I had a spare you must bear the discomfort of surmount them than to gro

The first thing we must do ja est care to remain invisible, dear friend, that the time had queer." notions it was out of the question

"It does First she informs the insurance was a fift in the late, not that the two should marry. They since she last heard of Edmond down again. became, Jowever, secret lovers, de la Pommerais, the "good- and during the three years the looking, sunny-natured young insure your life. You are not though he was, at last, obliged come when you had better begin

cheerfully, especially as I'm she takes the "medicine" pre unhappy. Their little

paratory to the visit she expects facing the son, which s intrigue lasted Dootor de la Fom- man who gave her three such much over forty, you are a very to allow his name to be quoted as to pretend to be ill!"

year. merais paid the major part of the happy years; but she still cher-healthy woman, and it will be guarantor, for the premium was. She laughs gay, she anye agent of her illness. Secondly, but just enough to make spoon to her month th Once the first premium had feeling remarkably well!"

"Yes, but it's not too soon if from the insurance companies the window, and as she li lady's expenses and those of her isbes a very tender feeling for comparatively easy to insure your close on to four thousand dollara seem rather eGOD,"

him, and she cannot forget how life for a large sum at a reasonable

Bat the agent is quite conten raya fell directly on the Madame de Pawr looks at him, been paid, the policies were made At last, as almost always occurs kind, how generous, and, at one rata.

bewildered. But I haven't a out (for the risk was distributed our scheme is to succeed. You doctor! in those stories of illicit love, the time, how absolutely devoted to

Just now she is sitting by her penny in the world she cries. among eight offices-probably in will have to keep to your room

How could I possibly pay in order that the agent might have and you must send for a doctor with the name of the respectable She put the spoon quickl young man grow weary of the, herself he had been.

not know it, and never will know spoonint of eunshine irregular situation in which he found himself, and there came a wood fire, keeping it very low, insurance premium? Tonly wish large commission), and then it must not be I; it had better be practitioner who is attending her mouth, and exclaimed "Shall I pretend to have an it, insurance offices never do sand be a bright girl now!' day when, to the great anguish for road is dear and she has no I could insure, even for only five the young doctor put the whole a complete stranger. As to the regularly, and, though she doea mother Five swallowed

the Five

thousand francs?" the important problem of how to of Madanie de Pawer, her lover mot coming in for two long thound francs for the children." of his considerable intellect to illness" He hesitates. bade her a solemn farewell day. But she has sent

For a while Edmond de la chin downstairs to a kindly echoes the young man, laughing secure the ultimate payment of accident on the stairs?" she medical men to see those of their enough; it broke the ice

That samo night the people in among respectable people were ness noted at once. idea is to insure your life for five The was not easy, for he was they are!" And he node gravely arouse the deepest resentment then at the child, and ti Pomer is devoted himself on neig bour whose kitchen fire is" That would be no good! My the policies directly to himself. suggests."You know how steep insured who are ill, it would and mother looked at es

anxious to keep altogether out of tirely to his profession. He was alwayo burning.

Suddenly she turns round, and hundred thousand francs!"

the next morning one of themt building up a good practice, and his family were busily engaged ber careworn face flushes, for she Madame de Pawr looks at bim it until the moment should come the house were disturbed by a they to do such a thing.

has heard a firm stop on these if a fears that he has sud-when the money would actually loud noise on the staircase, and He was aware, as we have seen, were surprised to hear that staircase outside. There comes denly lost his sa

children.

:

...

Our

Bscret?"

"

in trying to find him a saitrole

wife, when, one day, while travel ling in an omnibus, he noticed

fall due.

ring, and eagerly she goзs to the

"And, what is more," he goes

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aesents.

be-Dond

21

-44 to inform that

at the farmer?

Gloom, sadnes

Next Saturda

many things to up cheerfulness, but need Bea theme