The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-05
Selected story.
GETTING OLD TOGETHER.
A FRENCH LOVE STORY.

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 very bad match for Elise Desmond,
particularly as there was very rich banker
who had asked tor the hand of Mile. Elise,
thinking as matter of course, that her heart
would accompany it.
Monsieur Desmond accepted the bankers
settlement with great delight, and Mme
Desmond assured her daughter that from her
own experience it was not at all necessary to
love her husband.
Elise cried good deal, and Charles swore
that he would never love any one else; yet'
spite of both these facts, Elise was duly mar
ried to the banker, and Charles immedla1ey
sailed from Havre in the first snip W @'o"
Orleans.
Elise and Charles had had last interview,
in which they had vowed all SORTS Vi loving
and romantic nonsense, anu, among otner
things. that should Elise ever be free, she
wonId A. TO the other end of the world to
mite herself to her faithful Charles.
But the banker, though some years older
than his wife, possessed a good digestion and
hard heart, and consequently was not likely
t. 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 inconsolable one, at least very rich
but in order that there might be some link be-
tween them, she had constituted herself guar
dian 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
nephew, but niece, Melanie Serve, who
lived with them, and had for Elise the care
and affection 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
glowing description OF her beauty, only for
getting to mention her name. Charles, who
had still preserved in his heart the image iof
Elise as she was on her wedding day, con-
cluded that his nephew was in love with her,
and he became 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 ar
dent letter to his beautiful Elise, and by the
following sailed for Europe.
He announced his arrival at Havre, stating
that on such day he would be at the feet Of
Elise. On the receipt of this letter, Elise be-
gan to prepare for his arrival, choosing the
style OF dress and colors which Charles used
TO say became her most, and awaited his ar
rival, killing the time by giving Melanie de-
scription OF her handsome Charles. At
length the bell lang. Elise unable to endure
her emotions, sank into chair, while Charles
rushed into the room, and without even cast
ing look at the middle-aged lady dressed
like carlcature, clasped Melanie in his
arms. excaiming:
"Else! dear Elise p
AZ This Elica oponad bar axoe VHI,o.o 1000
Charlesp Not the bald-headed, sedate look
ing gentleman before her.
Charles Letenier! Can it be?'
"Elisep responded Charles, "can it be?n
Inc 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-one; but now it all came with
rush, and Charles remembered that Elise was
forty-fve, and Elise discovered that Charles
was nifty, and that he looked it to minute =
Charles was not at all aware he looked his
age, but he thought Elise looked fully hers. J
In this condition of things, the converse
ton dragged considerably. Each had prepar-
ed love-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 II he would take pinch of snuff
My Elise taking sDuffw almost shriekeI
the astonished Charles. 0u se3il III
For cold, simply"
Charles, nothing daunted, drew forth
pipe, and lighting it, SAID:
it," - ''''o"
my Charles with pipen exclaimed Elise.
simply for amusement"
Melanle, feeling very much inclined to
laugh, called the attention of Charles to a
picture she had Just finished. Charles ad-
vanced with Elise to the table and examined
the drawing, when, on looking up, suddenly
the youthful lovers OF former years discover
glasses.
Fearing to make any new discoveries,
Charles took his leave, but was not long in
coming to his senses, and on his return to
Elise no longer expected to find a young girl,
but was obliged to acknowledge that Elise
was quite fine woman. Elise had also dis
covered that at fifty man was in the prime
OF Iife. Their meeting was therefore more
agreeable and their conversation pleasant,un-
til Charles took up the paper and commenced
to read. II
elise" said he, all at once, ''there is rise
in cotton"
"Cotton," thought Elise; and Charles eyes
sparkled just as they used to when he said
Elise entertained Charles with somewhat
t1resoMe account of lawsuit, and insisted
that Charles should read all the papers, till.
tired and weary, Charles exclaimed: ,eFe
@Pm deuced hungry, Elise; do let us have
dinner"
Elise ordered it at once.
There was time," said she, sswhen men
thought more of their hearts than of their
stomachs."
"There was timel when women thought
more OF love than of law" promptly replied
Charles.
A few days after this Elise was Obliged to
visit her country residence, and asked Maui
rice to go with her. "He is like what Charles
used to be and what thought he would still
be-"
Maurice was full Of life and spirits, which
caused Elise to sigh for the Charles of her
dreams.
Maurice accompanied her into the garden.
and, while she was busily engaged in talking
to the gardiner, he hurried her away to see
the effect Of the sun on the lake; than he be-
gan to recite poetry.
bricklayers." W .F,..g.r -
;Bricklayers! no, never You n1nst come
with me into the woods
81 shall get my feet wet"
"Neyer mind, said Maurice ;"let us forget
all here in the beautiful country"
"But am really hungry, Maurice
"Hungiy, aunt then let us go to some out
of-the-way farmhouse, get some bread and
milk, and sit on the grass and eat it."
II prefer wine, and am afraid OF the
rheumatism"
The day passed, and Elise had accomplish
ed nothing. Maurice was so mpulsiye there
was no resisting his will. and when after
series Of follies, tired, cold and hungry, she
got into the carriage to drive home, her first
thought was. IL wish L had brought Charles.n
Meanwhile, Charles had got into the habit
OF going every day to the house of Elise. She
had gone away again, but Melanie did her |
best to entertain him. She chartered. she |
laughed, she danced about the room.
"How like what Elise was-how time
changes woman, to be sure" IL |
Melanie sat down to the piano.
ism that very DOisylp said Charles. aT |
don't hear any tune in it, -
"Why, it is beautiful sln
tuneP" 7sisf i..s,ss - .-''--''5' '''e'
81 don't play old fogy music"
tits much better than all that banging
Elise used to play what you call old fogy m1-
sic" ~ .o- sss Ell. ,,f.
$50 she does now" -
"She used to love opera and plays, too.p
Eyes, but operas and plays now are so
beautiful and touching, and yet she never
cares to 60" fe ba..
"They are all NONSENSE mean the old
operas" -
II never go to hear them"
FINDING nothing to talk abont indoors,
tney went INTO the garden. p
uni suddenly exclaimed Melanie, 'just
LOOK AZ InaI beautiful walL1owero