Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-10
WILMINGTON DEL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER TO- 1868

n Now, Mariette was not such fool as to b.
l. lieve that there were still fairies and mng
o clans in the world. Consequently the flow
). ers had been left there by Judge Hautma
d lin. Mariette would not even smell theI
because they had been contaminated by til
Vt breath from his nostiils; but she took thei
}, because they were prettier than wild fowerl
o The slip of paper she tore into thousan
# pieces and scattered it over the spot wher
the flowers had been laid. But this did nc
/; vex NJ. Hautmartin in the least, for his Low
d was immcasurably great after its kind as hi
s nose after its kind. Annoyance the third.
g AT last, however, in the course of CONVEX
: satlon, with the judge, she discovered tina
0 he was not the donor of the flowers. VIII
0 could it be? NIarriette was astonished whe
she made this unhoped for discovery, an
. from that time forward she took the flower
: with much more pleasure from the rock, bu
who had left them there? Marriette be
3 came Ga most unusual thing fora Dung girl
: very, curious She guessed first one, thel
another, young man in La Napoule, but /
: was not to be guessed She watched aut
, listened until late at night she rose earlier
in the morning; but she watched and listen
ed IN vain. And yet, twice week, the ma
, raculous flowers lay upon the rock, and OF
; the slip OF paperthat was wound round then
. she read the silent sigh addressed to her
: "Dedr Marriftte !" This was sufficient tc
have excited the curiosity of the most indii-
ferent person. dissatisfied curiosity, how
ever, becomes at last positive torture. An
noyance the fourth.
On Sunday Father Jerome again preached
upon the tcxt-"Wonderful are the dispen.
sations Of heavens" and Marriette hoped
that, by some wonderful dispensation, she
would be enabled to discover the donor OF
the flowers. Father Jerome, thought she,
is always right.
One summers night Marriette was awaken
ed by oppressive heat, and could not 20 to
sleep again. No sooner did she perceive
the first rosy tints of the morning appearing
above the surface Of the sea than she Joyful
" sprang out of bed, and, having dressed
herself, she went out to wash her face and
hands at the fountain. She took her straw
hat with her, as she intended to saunter for
an hour on the sea shore, and perhaps bathe
in secluded spot that she had discovered
But III order to get to the secluded spot it
was necessary 10 ascend the rock at the
back OF the house, and thence descending to
pass by some pomegranate and palm trees.
On this occasion Marriette could not pass
by for under the youngest ofthe palm trees
lay young man fast asleep, AID beside him
lay bouquet oft most beautiful flowers
She also saw piece of paper twisted round
the stalks. which probably contained an adj
dress for her How could M.rrieite pass BIZ !?
She stood still and trembled from head 10
foot. Then she determined to return home;
but before she had gone many steps she
stopped, and looked back at the sleeper.
But at a distance his face could not be re-
'cognized; now or never was the secret to
be discovered. She again trippcd lightly To-
wards the palm tree; but the sleeper appeal
ed to move, and she again ran away The
movement, however, had been mere imaei-
nation on har part, and she approached the
tree. Could il be possible that he is pretend
ing to be asleep, thought she, again running
towards home? But who would run away
on account of mere possibility !? She com
tnenced her journey to the palm tree with
renewed courage.
During this wayering of her mind between
curiosity and fear-this tripping backwards
and forwards between the house and the
palm tree-she had advanced each time
some steps nearer the sleeper, for curiosity
was overcoming her fear.
''Of what consequence is it to me whether
] he he asleep awake Tho path leatls past
him, and | merely pass by" So thought
Narriette; but instead of passing by, she
stopped in order to examine the sleepers
face, and put an end to all uncertainty CON
| corning the donor of the flowers. He mean
while continued sleeping IS soundly as if he
had not closed his eyes for month before.
And who was it-who else could 1t be---but
the reprobatc Colin
And so he IL was, who, by sending the mug,
had caused the poor girlso much annoyance,
and had involved her in the vexatious affair
with Nj. Hantmartin; he it was who had
teased her by leaving the flowers on the
rock, in order to excite her curiosity. And
whys Because he hated Marrieitc. and
treated her on all occasions in the most un-
pardonable manner. Whenever il was pos
sible be avoided her; but if that was not in
his power he made point of doing some
thing to annoy her. There was no girl in
La Napouc to whom he was not more civil
and obliging than to Marrictte. Only think.
he had never asked her to dance with him,
and she danced beautifully.
There he lay now, caught, betrayed. Re
venge took possession of Marricttes breast,
How could she insult him? She took the
buquel, unfastened it, and strewed the flow.
ers with just indignation over the sleeper.
But the slip Of paper, upon which g Dear
hlarriette was written, she stuck huIricdly
into her bosom. She wished 10 preserve
this proof Of his handwriting for future oc-
casions, Marriete was sly. She now
thought OF going away. But she was not
herself to leave the spot withou, having
paid Colin in his own coin. Accordingly,
she took the violet-colored ribbon from her
bat, twisted it light round the slceper's
arm, and tied Colin, with three knots, fast
to the palm tree When he awakes how
astonished he will bel How tortured by
curiosity TO know who has played him such
a trick. That he could not possibly discov-
er, and so much the better. He deserved it.
Marrictte was only too merciful To hiu
No sooner had she carried her plan into ex-
ecution than she began to repent of what
she had done. Her bosom heaveh impetu-
ousiy, and believe even tear stood in her
eye as she locked compassionately at the
criminal. She walked slowly back towards
the pomegranio trees, and often looked
round while slowly ascending The rock
Then, hearing her mothers voice. she hur-
ried home.
That very day Colin played another trick.
What did lie do? lie resolved to put poor
Marriette to the blush. Alas ii had not oc-
cured TO her that her violet-colored ribbon
was known 70 every one in La Napoule
Colin knew ii only loo well. He wound it
reund his hat, and displayed it everywhere
as a trophy. Every one exclaimed, s'It has
been given him by Marriette!" And all the
young girls exclaimed, "The villain y and
all the young men, who liked AIarrictte, ex-
claimed, "The villian!'
"What, Madame BIanon!" shouted Judge
Hartmartin as he entered her house, and he
shouted so loud that his words were echoed
marvellously in his nose. What! is it
possible that you have allowed my intended
bride to give her hat ribbon to farmer Colin F.?
1t is high time TO solemnize our marriage.
When that has taken place l shall have a
right to dictate"
81 quite agree with you" replied Madame
Manon. ''lf matters have come to that, we
must have the wedding Immediately. That
will put an end to all such nonsense"
'tBut, Madame Manon, your daughter
perseveres in refusing my proposal"
'"Prepare the marriage feast u
''But she has not given me one kind look;
and if sit down beside her, the little wild
thing jumps up and runs away"
IN. Hautmartin, prepare the marriage
feast y
''But if Marriette will not consent?"
"We shall take her by surprise. The GER
emony shall be performed on Monday by
Father Jerome We shall easily induce him
to consent; for am Marriettc's mother,