The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-13
LOVE IN THE CLOUDS.
BY II. L. II.

lS1 III. l.. IL.
Fifty-fonr years ago, I took tonr
through France, because | had plenty
of money and nothing to do. / got
through The northern departments
pretty fast; but made a rather leng-
thy stay in Auvergne, among the
hills. 1n fact, l stayed there all of one
summer.
l arrived there in the early days of
spring, when the wild blooms of the
commons were fresh and new, and the
leaves of the grape We're silky and light
green. The country was SO wild and
beautiful, and the air so life giving,
that | could no less than to decide that
l would tarry for Il few days. A Nigh
ty fine place that Auvergne is for il
young fellow of twenty-one; for truly,
the skies are fair and the maids are
fond. l doubt if there is spot of
equal size, unless it be Circassia, where
the same amount efefemale 1oreliness
may he found-that is to say, unless
it has changed amazingly since l was
there.
Well, not to be tedious, I came,
saw, aud was conquered by little
maid, whom / shall call, for convent
ence, Marie-her surname is of no con-
sequence. She WAS the daughter of {,
count, and beautiful as the creation of
a dream. So beautiful was she that /
loved her with all the soul had, and
my attachment grew stronger and
stronger daily. boated upon the wa
ter with her, and rode among the hills.
was like her shadow-like her sec
ond self; only we were of different
sexes. Soon l discovered that there
was some secret sorrow preying upon
her-some blight of the mind that dead
ened all her pleasures; and began to
think that my suit was vain. This
idea almost took away my wits; but tc
know the best, or the worst, l resolved
to bring matters to crisis, by offering
myself 10 her, body aid sonl. This
did, and met with what | had feared
a refusal.
"I respect YOU" said she, in Frencl
phrase "but, oh. heayensi ! can love
you neber. 1 shall never love mar
again"
.Again ~ said I, wildly. "And have
you loved another p"
"Ah!" she replied; chow well.
have loved as never woman loved be
fore-and as woman shall never. love
again. ~
Then felt that was fast bccomin:
Il sort of second fiddle hero in ;
French romance and it mattered lit
tie to me when, where, or how she wa
loved yet, to carry out the matter t.
its logical sequence, l inquired as Il
the particulars.
"AIust l, alas must l." cried Marie
wringing her hands--"must / once
more tell that tale of horrorg Oh
Monsieur Raynor, can not, can not
indeed, can not relate it now. Come
to me TO morrow, when the sun goe
down. am calmer then; and viii
once more, for the second and las
tine, tell to mortal ears q story tina
freezes my blood by the thought Of it
/. Adieu, Monsieur Raynor, till then!"
l went home, with my mind in thu
condition of vessel that is being dri
ven about by the angry gale. NJ,
hopes were a hopeless wreck and
feeling that had nothing now to at
tach me to existence, I praJed-yes,
prayed-for death. Can 1T be, | asket
of myself, that Marie-she whose an
gelic smile and gentle voice has wol
me to prize my life as, doubly precious
can never be mine OH! perish thu
thought! She wishes % dissemble fo
the time, only to prove my affection
Her sweet eyes can neyer-have neve
smiled for another as they have smilet
for me. Her voice cannot have givel
its enticing- tune to another's ears
She does but jest with me for a tru'
purpose. I feel it to be SO. I win s.