The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-30
selected Story.
A BOUQUET OF ROSES

Walking in my garden the other day, |
stopped before a tree covered with yellow
roses, and looking at them reminded me of a
tale, which will relate, ,.-..-.-
Two years since, dropped in to spend my
evening with an old lady, who resides near
my house. She is a most charming person.
-amiable, clever, witty, and charitable in ali
things. She is passionately fond OF flowers ::
and you will scarcely credit the coquetrv and
gallantry expend in making bouquets for
her, nor how much | rejoice at her surprise
when L bring her a flower of the name of
which she is ignorant, or which is very I'M
common in our part OF the country.
One evening, when [ arrived at her house.
found her seated with an old gentleman who
had been residing on his property more than
year,-a handsome estate in the vicinity
which has been left him by distant relative,
on condition of his taking the name of his
benefactor; consequently he was called Mon
sleur Descoudraies. He had obtained an in
PRODUCTION to my old lady, and ! had every
reason to be jealous of his assiduities. They
became warm friends, and passed almost ev-
cry evening together, playing backgammon.
bowed silently, on the evening in ques-
ton, as entered, not TO interrupt the game.
When it was finished, | presented Madame
de .Lorgerel bouquet of yellow rosesN6aich
had brought for her.
My roses were very beautiful, and singular
ly SO, because the continued rains of the sea-
son had blighted most of those OF the neigh
boring gardens; but had taken the precau-
tion OF sheteriny mine by a shed; and they
were, perhaps, the only ones to be met with
in perfection. Madame de Lorgerel ut
tered an exclamation of delis ht when she
saw the beautiful bouquet. Monsieur Des
coudraies said nothing, but seemed preoccu-
pied. looked at him with surprise, not well
able to comprehend the mysterious influence
of the yellow roses. Madame de Lorgerel
shortly afterwards spoke of something else !;
and l thought had been mistaken.
A minute or two subsequently Monsieur
Descoudaries suddenly burst out laughing,
and said, "Would you believe that this bou-
quet has evoked, as by magic, an entire epoch
of my very youthful days? For five minutes
was in imagination only twenty years of
age,-lor five minutes | became again in love
with woman, who, il she exists, must be
at least sixty years of age. / must tell YOU
this history; it is one that has had an i'm
mense influence on my life, and of which
the memory, even now, moves me in an ex-
traordinary manner, even now, when my
blood is just warm enough to keep me alive,
and enable me to play backgammon. | was
twenty,-that is more than forty years since
1 had just quilted college, where Young
men were kept little longer than they are
In the present day, Alter well weighing the
matter, but without consulting me, my father
decided on my future path in life, and an
nounced tome one morning that he had OBJ
tanned lieuteDancy for ne in the - regi-
ment, then in the garrison at Auvergne, and
desired me to leave in three DAYS. | was NOT
a little taken aback, Tor several reasons. In
the first place l disliked q military career: ;
bat that objection the sight of dashing
uniform would soon have overcome; added
TO 1t, lew ambitious hopes excited, and a
little music would all combined, have made
made either Cesar OF an Achilles of me.
But Was in love. Nothing in the world
could have induced me to utter a word of
THIS TO my father, whose only reply TO such
confidential communication would have
been to send me away that very night. But
had an uncle-and what an unclei He was
he was then man of the same ace as |
am now; but he was still young-not for
himself, for no old man ever renowned Sa
tan and all his pOmp and works better than
he d,-but for others. He loved the young,
and perfectly understood, without being jeal-
GUS of them. He did not deem the iniirmi-
ties of age progress; neither did he length
OF years necessary to be wise. From excess
i've goodness and good sense ne lived in the
happiness of Others. He was ever found
sympathizing with the noble and generous
Ioihes OF youth; he was the, confidant and
protector OF all true lovers, of those debts
young men contract, and OF all youths hopes
ana iears L went to him and said uncle,
/ am very unhappv'
i bet twenty louis you are not was the
reply. "''' ''''
'Ah, uncle, don't laugh! Besides YOU would
lose.' 'N "0'i'
If lose III pay and perhaps that would
help to console YOU "'''"
No, uncle, money has nothing to do with
my grief u"
Come, tell me your tale
My father has just informed me that T
have lieutenancy in the--regiment'
What a dreadful misfortunel One of the
most gallant regiments in the service,-a
handsome uniform, and all the officers are
men of rank
Uncle, don't wish to be soldier
now! You don't wish to serve? Do you
happen to be coward?
l uoht know yet; nevertheless, YOU are the
only man whom would permit to address
such question to me-
very wen, then, Cid, my good friend, why
uoI YOU WISH 10 be solder?'
Uncle, because l want to marcv,
'Ohp
There's no oh in the question. Uncle Pm
in love- o'e Ill
'And you call that misfortune, And
pray who is the object of your ardent flame D
'Ah, uncle, she's an"
Il know she is, of course,-it is always an
angel A little later in life you will prefer a
woman. But by what mortal name do you
call this angelo"
She is called Noemi, uncle.'