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Show DAILV SHORT STORY rasjdejsjrsjjsr CUT CT TH3 PAST.' ' . . . - . Everybody in Rue Bt Honor was satisfied sat-isfied that in all Paris there was no happier hap-pier couple than Monsieur and Madam Godet, that there was no neater or better kept store than theirs, and that If they should ever have any children they would be prettier and brighter than any one's else. . .. And for once people went not far away from the truth. The Oodets were really aa happy and contented as It was possible possi-ble for any one to be. until . A sunny day (n September M. Godet had gone -out on business, and Madame was .alone In their little Jewelry store, when a man entered who did not look at alt as If he had come to buy diamonds. At first she thought that he -was a beggar, and already put her hand in her pocket to giv him half a franc, when h growled: "Do you pretend that you ds pot know me, GsbrlelleT" Madame Godet turned pais and stammered: stam-mered: "I am sure I do not know you" The man came closer. "Maybe you win know me now I am Jules Raguln." Madam turned still paler, and nearly fainted. Tb man, with a smile, eat down In the velvet-covered armchair In which only the finest customers were allowed to sit, and, turning hia old hat lnsbia dirty, emaciated ema-ciated hands, said: - "I suppose you are glad to see me."' "How did you find me?" Madams Godet said. "1 have looked for you for days and weeks without finding - any trace. Of course, I went first to our old house In Rue Francalse, but the janitor said that you had not lived there for two years; but I had made up my mind that I would find yon. and her I am. , "But why did you comer The man did not answer, but his greedy eyes looked at everything In the store as If he was trying; to pick out what he wanted. "And all this belongs to youT Tou aeem to have had good luck since we parted. Gabrielle." Madame Godet did not answer. She kept on looking toward the door, where she expected to see her husband return.-How return.-How should all this end? Bh tried to think, but her brain seemed paralysed. "Why dla you come back, Jules Raguln?" Ra-guln?" she asked again, helplessly. The man laughed aloud. ' "How can you ask? Look at me. I haven't a sou In my pocket, and I have eaten nothing since yesterday morning." Madame Godet's eye filled with tears. She never could bear the Idea of anybody starving. ' "Go into the kitchen. Rene will give you all you want to eat and drink." But before she sent him out she brushed his hat and coat as well as she could, that her servant should not be too shocked st the sight of this unexpected relative of madame, who was soon eating ravenously of everything she placed before be-fore him. With throbbing heart she returned to the store. How could she ever tell her husband what had happened, and still she knew, that she must do it even If it would break her heart. She heard his steps now.. He opened the door and It seemed aa If he had never kissed her as tenderly before. "I walked so fast that I am quite warm." he said, "but I knew you wer waiting for m.. Was anybody here?" She threw her arm around his neck. "Somebody Is still here, Henri-Jules Raaruln." M. Godet turned pale. "He? Now? What does he want?" "He will teU us that soon enough." "He shall tell us that right now," and before his wife could stop him he called Into the kitchen: ' "M. Raruln." His wife came over te him and asked him for God's sake to be calm, but he was already as calm as death when he said: "I do not know What brings you here. Like a miserable scoundrel you left your wife three years ago and she has never heard from you. You never answered an of the advertisements In the -papers. You never In your life provided for your wife and you have lost the right to call yourself your-self her husband." "But we have never been divorced, and suppose I refuse to consent to a divorce?" "You will have to." Godet continued Icily, "and for the present you leave this house Immediately." Raguln's manner changed, and he became be-came disgustingly meek. "Far be It from me to think of ruining the happiness of your home, but I have no position, no money, and I shall be thankful to you until my death if you will let me stay with you a few days." So Jules Rasjuln wis allowed to stay and was treated with kindness by the Godets. who even equipped him with everything he needed, and tried, though in vain, to Ret him a position. One morning aa M. Godet came down In his store he found the safe open and empty but for a letter addressed to him. He tore It open and read: "My Dear Friends: I will no longer stand In the way of your happiness. 1 give my consent to the divorce and am going to America. To pay my nocessarv expenses 1 have taken from your safe 5C0 francs In caeh, 10o0 fanes' worth of diamonds, dia-monds, and 10.000 francs In bonds? I am sure you will miss neither 'be money nor me." When Mme. Godet came down she cried a little at the loss of their savings, but her husband only smiled and assured her that he did not mind It the least, and that everything had happened for the best. |