Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-10-15
Interesting Gale.
UNDER THE ROSE.
From the French Of Alphonse Karr.

our yellow rose Is the souvenir OF a
curious history.
1t was my habit to visit, some two
years since, an elderly lady residing in
my neighborhood, whom | admired for
her esprit, no less than for her amiable
and benevolent disposition. She was
passionately fond of flowers, and you
would scarcely credit the pains | took in
arranging the bouquets that | OCCASION
ally presented, or how delighted | was
at her establishment at receiving a flower
that was rare to her, or of variety not
common in the country.
met at her house the other evening
an old gentleman who has lately taken
possession of very large property in the
neighborhood, which he had inherited
from some distant relative, on condition
that he should assume his name, and
who, in consequence, is known as NJ :.
Descondraies.
lie caused himself to be presented at
my old friends, and | might with rea-
son, be jealous Of his delicate attentions.
The acquaintance soon ripcnod Into a
mutual friendship, and they spent near
ly all their evenings together at trictrac.
ralrtca silently withuut. intorruTn-
ing the game. When it was finished
offered Madame Longere bouquet Of
yellow roses, which | had brought for
her.
My rose was very beautiful, which
was not the case with the yellow roses Of
that year, the frequent rains having Sc
riously interfered with their aoresccnce.
Mine, however, being protected by au
overhaDging roof, were, perhaps, the on
Iy ones that were well opened Madame
Longcrel exclaimed with delight, at the
sight of the bouquet.
My flowers elected no remark from NJ
Descondraies, who was apparently ab-
sorbed in reflection. | was at loss tc
account for their mysterious influence up
on him; but presently Madame Longere
engaged his attention by some remark
which diverted mine from the circnm.
stance. After moments silence, he
remarked:
&" You know not that this bouquet re.
calls, as if by magical process, an epocl
of my life that relates entirely to my
youth. Within five minutes | am TWEEN
ty years of age! within five minutes
am again in love with woman who
should be sixty years old, if indeed she
still lives. | must relate to you this his.
tory; it is circumstance that has ex.
erted upon my whole life a great inAu
ence, and Of which the souvenir, ever
at this day, when my blood has scarcely
heat enough to nourish life, and to cna
bic me to play at tric-trac. affects me t.
an extraordinary degree.
4" was twenty Git is now more than
forty years ago, and had just left col.
lege, where they used to keep young men
longer than they do now-a-davs, After
having sagely chosen for me without my
concurrence, a profession, my father one
morning announced to me that he had
obtained my appointment as lieutenant
in the regiment of 4 n 4 in
garrison in the city of Auvergne, and
babe me hold myself in readiness to
leave in three days.
vas somewhat taken aback by this
for several reasons: In the first place
bad no taste for military life, though that
was, in sootb, an easily overcome objec-
ton the sight Of rich uniform, few
exciting phrases, ard little martial nlu-
sic would soon have made me an Achil-
les or Caesar as they preferred.
&" But was in love.
" Not for the world would | have
thought Of limiting a word of this TO my
father, his only reply would have been
an order TO depart that very evening -
But I had an uncle---and such an uncle
3" He was a man Of about the same age
as ! am now, but he remained young in
spirit; not selfish, for no old man ever
with better grace, The pomps
aud vanities Of Satan but for the sake of
others. lie loved the young; he under
stood them, without being envious of
hem. lie did not consider bis infrmi- !
les as advancements, nor old age neces-
iarily wisdom; but by dint Of good sense
md good nature, he lived for the bappi-
Tess Of othorg lie mingled in all the
follies, in all the noble weak
less Of youth he was the con6dant aud
Of all their loves. Of all their