The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-03-26
Mistfllanenns.
LOVE IN THE CLOUDS.

- - w ~ yNesio oe3V toOh q iuh
through France, because had plenty Of
money and nothing to do. got through
the northern departments pretty fast /;
but made n rather lengthy stay in
Auvergne, among the hills in fact, l
stayed there all of one summer.
l arrived there in the early days of
spring, when the wild blooms Of the
commons were fresh and new, and the
leaves Of the grape were silky and light
green. The country was SO wildly beau
tiful, and the air so lifegiving, that l
could do no less that to decide that l
would tarry for a few days. A mighty
fine place that Auvergne is for a young
fellow of twenty-one; for, truly, the
skies are fair and maids are fond. 1
doubt if there is spot Of equal size, un-
less it be Circassia, where the same
amount of female loveliness may be
found-that is to say, unless it has
changed amazingly since was there.
Well, not to be tedious, came, l
saw, and was conquered by little maid
whom I shall call, for convent ence,
Marie-her surname is of no conse-
quence. She was the daughter OF
count, and beautiful as the creation OF
dream. So beautiful was she, that low
ed her with all the soul 1 had, and
my attachment grew stronger and
stronger daily. boated upon the wa
ter with her, and rode among the hills.
was like her shadow-like her second
self; only we were of different sexes.
Soon discovered that there was some
secret sorrow preying upon her-some
blight Of the mind that deadened all her
pleasures and began to think that my
suit was vain. This idea almost took
away my wits; but to know the best or
the worst, resolved 10 bring matters
to a crisis by Offering myself to her, body
and soul. This l did; and met with
what leared-a refusal. .ltt
81 respect you," said she, in French
phrase shut, oh! heavens! can
love you never. l shall never love a
man again." iu. ..4s
"Again !' said /, wildly. "And have
you loved another" aA sl'' ,
"Ah" she replied show well! l
have loved as woman never loved be-
fore--as woman shall never love
again!" ...s' ...
Then felt that was fast becoming
a sort of second fiddle hero in French
romance and it mattered little to me
when, where, or how she was loved;
YETI carry out the matter to its logical
sequence, inquired as to the particu-
lars. ..-
"Must /, alas must l, cried Marie,
wringing her hands-"must l once
more tell that tale of horror? Oh, Mon
sieur Raynor,I cannot, l cannot; indeed,
l cannot relate it now. Come to me to
morrow, when the sun goes down. am
calmer then; and will once more, for
the second and last time, tell to mortal
ears IA story that freezes my blood by
the thoughts of it. Adieu, Monsieur
Raynor, till then"
went home, with my mind in the
condition OF vessel that's being driven
about by the angry gale. My hopes
were hopeless wreck and feeling that
l had nothing now to attach me to eXis-
tence, Iprayed--yes, prayed for death.
Can it be, asked of myself, that Maria
--she whose angelic smile and gentle
voice has won me to prize my life as
doubly preeious-can never be mine?
Oh, perish the thought! She wishes to
for the time only to prove my |
affection. Her sweet eyes eau never
have never-smiled for another as they |
have smiled for me. Her voice cannot |
have given its enhancing tones to 9TH
ers' ears. Shed but jest with me for
a true purpose. feel it to be so. will
go to her tomorrow eve, and have it
from her own lips.
The day came upon the earth the next |
with all the rich and varied
glories that dawn ever brings to France. |
The landscape was gorgeous with the
tints Of the early sunbeams |
and the emerald of the vegetation, and
hegroves were vocal with theglad carols
of the birds but there was no joy in ii
all for me. The sun ascended TO its
fervid meridian, and slowly--oh, SO
slowly !-passed over westward in all
its golden splendor; declined, finally,
and sank below the horizon, like a
great fiery ball. The day seemed to last
for hundred years. .gE... .s.....
p just at the setting of the sun, leap
ed over the wall of the fence belonging
TO Marie's father. She was there faith
ful as seyer to her promise. y8,.I IL
> 'Oh, speak, Marie!p / cried wildly,
"SDeak quickly and saw vou did but tri.