Middletown transcript., 1874-10-31
THE GYPSY'S FLOWERS.
rHE oRIeIN or rHs STORY OF BLUE
BEARD.

An0Fo Wae 0ucc OPsutsu SeuseWs'
Of high rank. who had led very viii,
and dissoluts life. but now desired I,
settle down on his estate aud take I.
himself wife who would preside over
his household in fitting fashion
Being rich and handsome. his wickeu
ness rent for nsughs, and soon be w.
betrothed to lovely lady. whose famil,
were pleased with the sllisucs aud VIII.
broughi him 6ne fortune.
The welding was celebrated will
great pomp. and When be brought hi.
wife homs to his palace the poor of ,h,
place, Us usual. gathered about The door
aud ons.s y wlihsrsd old beygar ~oula,,
being loud in her praises uf the lady /.
beauty. and begging be permitttd |,
present her with = bouquet Of whit.
wild flowers that she had gathered il
the seods. II .1!!i
"A poor offering. my lady" said ,h,
woman. '.bot all the poor gypsy has to
give" I'D II
The lady took the flowers with .
smile, snd drDpred coin into the gypsy !.
hand. As she entered The door she
bent her lovely head and inhaled th.
perfume Of the flowers. ID s sHa
The servants remembered the action
and her s,nile ~ she psssed into her
apartment leaning on her husband :
arm. for it was the last they ever saw
Of her An hour. after she, lay dead.
aud al the doctors in Madrid GOULD moi
tell what killed her. pia aFaHaa
The young widower was very sad for
long time, but by aud BY be began IL
6nd life bright once more, and chose
for himself second wife. This lady
was younger and lovelisr than the 6rst.
though not SO rich. Her predecessor .
fate did mot alarm her, for she was
strong and full Of health. Death seem
ed to be very far from 50 radisns !
creature as she stood before the church
altar and plighted her troth to the man
with whom she hoped to pass her life ;
but those who remembered his FIRST
wifc's fate shuddered. a. at the fall OF
evening she entered the gates Of her
husbands villa. The same old gypsy
who had greeted the former bride stood
amid the crowd.
"Heaven and the saints bless you,
lady !" she cried, Il greeted her9whu
came here before and faded like q flower.
May you live till your hair is as white
as mine. Flowers are al ! have to
give. Will you honor me by taking
them, lady
The bride, as the other bride had
done. accepted the Offering, and repaid
the gift With coin. rr4 w., rs4
She held the blossoms loosely in her
hand. and passed into the hall. A
banquet was prepared and she partook
Of it. Wine was On the board; she
tasted it. When the dance began none
danced more gayly than the bride. Il
was q merry wedding; and when al
last in the early hours Of the morning
the music bad died away. the guests
departed. and the lamps we're extin-
guished, the beautiful girl turned with
smiles and bushes to seek her place Of
rest. As she crossed the threshold Of
the hall she stopped and picked some
thing from the floor.
my poor gypsy's aowers.' she said.
II win not reject the humble token Of
kindness !" and bending her face over
them she passed out Of sight.
Half IN hour sfterward the husband
also entered the bridal room. All was
still. The lamp-light fell over the pill
lows, but no fair head rested upon
them. He looked about him; in .. far
corner Of the room lay what looked like
; heap Of rumpled satin, at first sight.
he advanced toward it, and saw hand
that grasped convuhjvely little bunch
Of white flowers, and with cry Of hor-
ror. cast himself beside the body Of bis
bride She was dead /; she bore no
wound no sign Of injury about her.