Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-31
Getting Old Together.

Some years ago, a young man Of the name
Of Charles Letenier fell in love with the
daughter Of the physician with whom he was
studying. The physician was not rich and
Charles had nothing, so that, after all, he was
a very bad match for Elise Desmond, partic-
ularly as there was a very rich banker who
had asked for the hand Of Mile Elise, think
ing as matter Of course that her heart
would accompany it.
Monsieur Desmond accepted the bankers
settlement with great delight and Nine. Des-
mond assured her daughter that from her own
experience it was not at all necessary to love
her husband
Elise cried good deal, aud Charles swore
he never would love any one else; yet, in
spite Of both Of these facts, Elise was duly
married to the banker, aud Charles immedi-
atey sailed from Hare in the first ship to
New Orleans
Elise and Charles had had last interview,
in which they had vowed all sorts of loving
and romantic nonsense, and, among other
things, that should Elise ever be free, she
would fly to the other end of the world to
unite herself to her faithful Charles.
/ But the banker, though some years Older
than his wife, possessed good digestion and
a hard heart, and consequently was not likely
to die, and so he lived for almost twenty-five
years, when at length he gave up life and
his fortune, leaving Elise widow, and if not
an neousolable one, at least very rich one
Elise had rarely heard from Charles, but in
order that there might be some link between
them, she had constituted herself guardian to
a nephew Of his, an orphan
Elise had no children of her own, and she
loved this boy for his own sake, for he was
worthy of love- and also because he reminded
her forcibly Of the lover Of her youth Her
husband had, on his part, also adopted, not a
nephew but a niece, Melanie Serve, who lived
with them, and had for Elise the care aud af-
fection Of daughter
Now, it so happened that Charles nephew
had regular correspondence with his uncle,
from whom he disguised nothing, owning even
the love he felt for Melanie. He gave glow
ing description of her beauty, only forgetting
to mention her name. Charles, who had still
preserved in his heart the image of Elise as
she was on her wedding day, concluded that
his nephew was in love with her, and he be-
came angry and alarmed. He was now rich,
and began to feel longing desire to visit his
native country; for this purpose he began to
settle up his affairs, in the midst of which
came the announcement for which he had
waited twenty-five years-that Elise was
widow He wrote by the next ship an ardent
letter to his beautiful Elise, and by the fol-
lowing sailed for Europe
He announced his arrival at Hayre, stating
that on such day he would be at the feet of
Elise. On the receipt of this letter, Elise
began to prepare for his arrival, choosing the
style Of dress and colors which Charles used
to say became her most, and awaited his arri-
val, killing the time by giving AIelanie a de-
scription of her handsome Charles.
At length the bell rang. Elise, unable to
endure her emotions sank into chair while
Charles rushed into the room, and without
even casting a look at the middle-aged lady
dressed like a caricature, clasped Melane in
his arms, exclaiming
Elise dear Elise "
At this Elise opened her eyes Where
was Charles ? Not the bald-headed sedate
looking gentleman before her.
"Charles Letener Can it be?"
Elisel' responded Charles, "can it be? -
The fact was that both had forgotten TO
make the addition of how much twenty-five
and twenty-five would come to, and twenty
and twenty-iye hut now it all came with
rush. and Charles remembered that Elise was
forty-fve and Elise discovered that Charles
was fifty, and that he looked it to minute.
Charles was not at all aware he looked his
age, but he thought Elise looked fully hers
In this condition of things, the conyersa-
tion dragged considerably. Each had pre-
pared loye-speeches to say to one another, but
now they would sound ridiculous. Elise, in
order to break an awkward silence drew a
pretty gold box from her pocket and asked
Charles if he would take pinch of snuff
"My Elise taking snuff " almost shrieked
the astonished Charles.
E" For cold, siI ply"
Charles, nothing daunted, drew forth a
pipe, and lighting it, said;
"Ihe ladies in New Orleans always allow
it,"
"My Charles with pipe" exclaimed
Elise.
Simply for amusement"
Melane, feeling very much inclined to
laugh, called the attention Of Charles to a
picture she had Just finished. Charles ad-
yanced with Elise to the table and examined
the drawing, when, on looking up, suddenly
the youthful lovers Of former years discovered
on each Of their respective noses, gold glasses.
Fearing to make any new discoveries, !