Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-07
SELECTED STORY
TOO LATE:
THE CURSE OF THE LILIES.
BY HELEN LUQUERR

BY HELEN LUQUERR.
Many years since, house stood in tn
suburbs of Memphis, built in the customar
Southern style, with verandah runnin;
around three sides, and approached by
terraced walk from the darby rolling Mis-
sissippi. Around it were acres of gardens
tastetully laid out aud ornamented with til
rarest flowers, and their perfume foated
almost sickening, upon every breeze.
The mansion and all its appurtcnances
even to the quarters Of the house servant
in the rear, were brilliantly illuminated
and the colored lamps, swinging amid th'
emerald foliage of the trees, gave one pass.
ing at distance the idea that fire flies hae
rested for time upon the branches, Of
paused in their airy flight to drink the dew
drops from leaf or flower
1t was the wedding night of the fail
daughter of the house. In all the charms
of youth and beauty, and radiant with love
satisfied, she stood waiting impa tiently tho
moment that should change her from girl
hood to wifeheol dressed in snowy satin
and misty lace, with feecy veil half hiding
her form, and orange flowers twined annie
her ripping golden hair, and her eyes blue
as the cloudless heavens, whose stars were
reproduced in the placid waters of the mimi
lake where the tiny gold and silver fish
now lay dreaming.
A year before she had never seen the man
to whom she had given her heart and was
about to give her hand. He was Frenchmar
by the name OF Claude Lavasier, educated
refined, and noble in both form and feature
and had wooed and won the beautiful dar
ling of widowed father. But the consen
Of that father was very hard to gain. L
would have been difficult for him to have
given her up to any one, but to one who
was stranger was almost an ilnpossibility
Education, evident good birth, the mos,
gentlemanly manners, and the stronges
letters Of recommendation we're all disre.
garded. He shook his gray head sadly
and murmured, "Wait yet a little," wher
the lovers pleaded for an Immediate union
but love conquered at last, as it ever does,
and reluctant consent was gained-condi
tionally, however, that Estelle and her hus
should make their home at his house.
Once having given way, Charler Lamor
did all that it wes in the power of man to Dc
to make the festivities worthy of the occa
sion, and never did the banks of the far.
running river ring with sweeter music Oh
merrier laughter. Each guest endeavoree
to 20 beyond the other in cheating the ole
gray beard Time ofhis power, and the hour
passed unnoticed to those within the mar
sion
But there were others who measured
every second, aud trembled at every beat
ing Of the pulse-two, OF least. who were
taking the most intent note of time. Offer
they paused, as they climbed up the bluff
and passed forward along the flower fringee
and serpentine walks, and listened Then
as they stood in the shadow of the trees
with the interior Of the house plainly reveal
ed to them, the younger of the strangers
turned CHASTITY pale, clutched a branch t.
keep herself from falling, one hand over he
heart, and, shading her black eyes Will
the other, whispered, "Too late !, 0, m,
God too late
MAY the curse Of heaven fall upon him !!
answered the old, wrinkled and bent wo
man, who was her companion, shaking will
lmpotent anger.
For few moments they took irresolute
with the soft, voluptuous mualc filing thei
ears, the girl trembling with emotion ant
the old woman with rage, and the latte
continued:
Eyes, my birdie, it is too late, There j
nothing left US but to 60 back and die il
the little Vine covered cottage on the bank
of the Seine. 0, mon Dieu. mon Dieu =
that my old eyes should see this day Come
Nathalie, let us turn back"
"Hist, grandmerc I Will not 90 back
not move single step until [ see his fac
until | stand before him and tell"
Her voice became indistinct, and tn
sentence was finished in a convulsive sigh
Pressing her hand upon her heart to stl
its wild beating, she stepped from the con
cealment of the trees to the side OF the llttl
lake, whose edges were fringed with water
lilies. With low cry, the girl flung her ne
self upon her knees, gathered handf1
of the creamy blossoms, pressed them htful
ly to her hot lips. and, with fearful eyes
exclaimed
"See, grandmere, you vi I'll not-csnne
ask me to go away until [ have given MI
these He must then remember now ne'
stranger, met young girl upon the ban
of our own beautiful river, trying to reac
such flowers how the merry laugh Oh "a
girl brought him to see who las ne sal ia
had so sweet voice. All, me An me!
Hush, ma petit enfaut."
land don't you remember now nc Sw ''l
himself over the water and gathered me
great handful, which now lie laded an ~,
scentless among the costly and beautllul CIV
he brought me from Cairo =? But come .
grandmere, We are wasting precious .ihls
See, I am rested and strong again. ana u
not feel that dreadful pain about my pea'
now"
Her actions did not agree with nef Wot u
for as she stepped forward she PlesSeHT h he
hand even more tightly to her s'oe. 80. ..,,
rapidly neared the house, met al eylly n .ul
by the happy strollers and at leng.u' ,1 Rs
| -. 1850. u - A. c;Jo npnOSItc to tndt Wuci