The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-16

VIII not venture to say whether 1T is
possible for little boy of twelve to fall in
love with girl of eight-to fall in love with
her SO that the feeling survives long separ-
alton, and abides with tenacity of vital
power which seems unconquerable. But
it is a certain that little Desiree had so
deeply impressed Eustace Dunraven that
the memory of her was always with him.
For year or two he kept incessantly ha-
RAISING his mother with petitions and
prayers to be taken to Desiree. Then, as
he began to have u clearer intelligence, and
to understand that thousands of miles can
separate loving hearts, he implored and pc
titioned no more but he thought of Desi-
rec all the same. Mrs. Dunraven listened to
his occasional talk of Desiree with keen
pain and sadness; for she had learned
something which she would not tell as yet
to her son. 1t was this one day she hap
pened to see an old copy of New Orleans
paper at the house of u friend, and turning
listlessly over its pages, she was shocked
and grieved to see in the list of deaths the
name of Desiree Constant, aged nine years
and three months, at the house of her un-
cle Angelo Ryland, Esq
So she was dead, then, and the cold,
sharp faced aunt was right, after all.
Mrs. Dunraven resolved that she would
not yet tell her boy Of she death of his
quondam little play-mate.-Whe the dis
tinctness Of his memory of her should have
4 I.
not till then.
Two years after their arrival in Canada,
Mrs. Dunraven and Eustace paid a visit to,
some friends in New York. One day as
Mrs. Dunraven was coming out of book
store in Broadway, Eustace clutched her
dress, and cried, "Oh mamma, look, look
-Desiree " Then he ran two or three
PAGES on and cried out, "Desree p
Mrs. Dunraven looked in the direction
which the boys gestures and movements
indicated, and she saw carriage driving
ON and there was child's face seen for a
moment at the window, which did certain
ly seem to her to resemble that of poor lost
Desree. At least it was the face of q
dark-eyed child, with clustering dark hair
and the child did seem to be looking eager
ly back. But that fact was easily to be
explained. The child, who probably bore
some little resemblance to Desiree, was
doubtless attracted by Eustace's sudden
cries and gestures. The whole incident was
piteous and pathetic. Mrs. Dunraven's
heart was keenly touched by the mournful
expression in the face of her boy, as, disap-
pointed, he came back to her.
swell, DEAR" she said, "you were mis-
talxen?"
Mistaken Oh, no, mamma; it was
Desiree. wonder she did not stop the
carriage ?"
"But Eustace, my child, it could not
have been Desiree."
Mamma, don't you you think should
knew me-"
Mrs Dunraven shook her head sadly. She
saw no use in pursuing the discussion any
farther. Poor Eustace was quite perplexed
and miserable all that day. Indeed, the
holiday in New York was spoiled for him.
There was something wonderful in the hold
which the recollection of the dark-eyed
child had on the boy. You might have
, thought he was full grown lover, yearn-
J ing for mistress. At last, his mother
thought it right to tell him what she knew.
The certainty of the worst seemed to her
less likely to be wasting and injurious than
the pressure and excitement of barren hope.
, So she gently but firmly broke the news to
him that Desiree was dead. He flushed all
red with horror at first, and his lips and
, hands trembled but then he broke out with
the words:
5 Mamma, it isn't true. 1t was a mis-
, take Of the paper, or it was somebody else
Of The same name. But it was not Desiree
/ saw her that day in Broadway, and she
{ saw me. Desiree is alive, and I'll find her
Q yet ~
, Mrs. Dunraven wrote letter TO Mrs. An
: gelo Ryland, New Orleans, reminding hel
t of their slight acquaintance on the voyage
r from Europe, and of the affection EustacC
+: had formed for Desiree; and asked if il
0 was true that the dear little creature wal
y dead. After the lapse of some weeks shs
t received the following answer:
MY DEAR MApAME--I we'll remembel
our too short and slight acquaintanoeshp
a which might have ripened into something
. closer but for my invalid condition. i shall
never forget your kindness TO the beloved
child who is now an angel in heaven. 1t il
0 too true that Desiree Constant has beer
r long since removed TO that better lanG