The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-15
A MOSS ROSE.

o. 20 the astute discrimination, philosophical
attainments, and general education OF GER
tain German lady now residing in this city.
'Astute discrimination and philosophical
attainments' are emphasized here, or intended
20 be SO, because the story about TO be
hated on the authority of this lady, and in
which she appears to have played prominent
o part. is 80 strange and incredible that it has
been deemed necessary to refer to her clear
ness of perception and her logical turn of
mind to establish the respectability of her
evidence in the premises ...-.
ZOOS Before leaving Berlin, her native city,
about eight years ago, she became the init
mate friend and companion of q certain Miss
Alice G., very beautiful young girl,
who, among her other accomplishments, was
noted for her music and embroidery. Or
eumstances so ordered it that these two LADIES'
travelled together through the greater part OF
GERMANY France and Italy with the mother
Of Alice who was a wealthy Invalid Wme
sojourning in the vicinity OF the Lake OF
Como. Alice, at the instance of her friend,
began a piece OF embroiuery, meenueu W
ga represent a basket of flowers, the central fea-
tpre of which was to be full-blown moss
rose filed with crimson, as Alexander Smith
has it, Gradually the canvas became almost
odorous, as bud after bud seemed to open to
Cgh the sunbeam of her needle as 1t ghnted
4, through the pink and pearly dawn of her
rsa fingers. Already had punches of leaves fallen
with careless grace over the verge Of the ex-
quisitely-wrought wicker-work; some rich In
sr that brown, intellectual tnge 80 dear to
b. Wouvermans, and others bright with all the
-g u emerald loveliness of spring.
W.. ''During the progress of this delightful bou-
az quet, and whenever the fair embroiderer sat
-K8 down 10 it, she invariably began to sing some
portion of that unrivalled cavatina, Robert
toi que j'aime'-a circumstance to which her
Az attention had been called frequently, but
which she as constantly treated with light
hearted laugh. In this way matters sped un-
til the whole basket was filed, save vacant
spot in the midst of the clustering flowers
yet to be occupied by their flushed queen.
At this juncture the mother of Alice was sud
denly recalled to Germany; and, both the
% ladies accompanying her, the embroidery
needle was, of course, laid aside for the time
being. This a source of some
little disappointment to of the
party at least, as the piece of needle
O. work was intended as souvenir for the
lady first mentioned in this little history, and
as abe most desirous of possessing 1t COM
pleted to the very last touch. Seeing that
some time could not but elapse, however, be-
fore the work could be finished, she took
charge of the canvas humoro1sy exacting O
promise from Alice that, whether dead or
alive, she should add the central and crown
ing flower to the group-which promise was
as jocosely, but quite as explicitly, given; and
that too, on the very last day of December, 1860.
r Through some family complications, not ne
eessary to explain here, the party broke up on
arriving at Paris, Alice and her friend meet
wards sailed for America, reaching this city,
where, as already intimated, she now resides.
"From the moment of her landing here,
and up to within the last couple of months,
she corresponded regularly with her friend,
who, although no longer girl, was still un-
married, Notwithstanding the ripeness and
fascination of her beauty. In the letters that
passed between them, occasional mention was
made of the unfinished embroidery; when
Alice always jocularly renewed her pledge to
fuieh the M whether dead alive
So beautiful was the basket of flowers in even
its incomplete condition, it was the practice
of its fair and intellectual custodian to exhibit
it, at times, to such of her friends as she
deemed judges of such things; while it was
her custom, every New Years eve before re-
tiring to rest, to place the embroidery frame
before her, on which the canvas still lay
stretched, for the purpose of communing in
spirit with the loved one beneath whose fin
llg gers it first began to glow.
''In this way time stole steadily on until
the night of the 31st of December last, when
this frame was again brought from its hiding
place, and shown to lady and gentleman
who happened to drop in on its owner. After
their departure she who had priced it SO
I dearly placed it in a small parlor ad Joining
her bedchamber, where, after dwelling with
fearful eyes upon the happy scenes il
awakened, she suddenly formed the resolu.
tion of adding the missing flower herself; and
to this end as she was an accomplished en-
tl broiderer, she laid out all her colors on the
, table, determined to commence the work Oh
the following morning. Full of this resolve
she sought her bed, where she was soor
asleep.
''How long she had remained in this state
of unconsciousness she unable to say
but when she again became aware of her exis
tence, she was both surprised and alarmed te
discover that the apartment in which the EN-
broidery frame stood was filled with pale
greenish light, and, more inexplicable still
it was occupied by some one who was hum.
ming air that was familiar to her. AS hel
senses became more collected her heart stood
still! There could be no mstaking the voice
It was that of Alice and the song was
Robert toi que Jaime !! Slowly but surely
great fear overshadowed her, until she wa
totally paralyzed. In vain she attempted t,
cry outl She could neither speak nor move
30 completely was she overpowered; and haS
not merciful Inconsistencies again takel
possession of her, she entertains the idea tina
her life would have been the forfeit.
'Tt was long after daylight before the spel
which had seized upon her was broken; an,
when, after hasty toilet, she appeared il
the brealdast-room, her pale and agitate
eountenance bespoke at once that she was il
at ease A foreign letter in mourning en-
velope lay'beside her plate. With tremblin
hand she broke the seal. Alice G wa