The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-06-03
WHOLE NUMBER S76.

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| the unpretendiDg stranger coldly by.
Il wonder what flower she repre-,
sentss" laughed gorgeous Tulip.
"Pebaps Mourning bride" sneered
the Rose.
"No, nay dears," said the Morning
glory, IS think she must belong to an
| antediluvian flora," which sally was
greeted with merry laughter.
"Kerci! how can they be so heartless,
SO discourteouss exclaimed Azalea under
her breath, while her cheeks were burn
ing with indignation. All the generous
emotions of her brave young spirit were
awakened.
The Empress now Joined the merry
circle with many more pretty women
anogay cavaliers, who seemed 10 take a
malicious pleasure in the evident morti-
fcation of the ditfident and plainly
dressed stranger.
Azalea pressed her lips tightly to-
gether to keep back the angry thoughts
surging in her heart. Summoning up all
the courage at her command, she left the
group collected around the Empress, and,
to the amazement of her companions,
bravely crossed the long salon to where
The lonely old lady sat.
"That noble young girl deserves the
ribbon. of the Legion of Honor" OBJ
served a gray headed veteran, who wore
the decorations of a General. 1he
naughty bellies to whom this remark was
addressed were for moment abashed
Azalea's silent rebuke was felt far deeper
than lords.
NV the lady in black, whom we will
call Nine. s., had noticed the con-
temptuous glances, if she had not heard
the unkind sarcasms, of these thought
less beauties, and, being of a sensitive
nature, had felt deeply wounded. 1mag-
inc her surprise, then, to see one of the
with golden hair floating around her like
ripping sunlight, and eyes blue and
timid as wild violets, coming with airy
steps toward her. Nine. s. had
an insight into human nature as quick as
it was keen, and, with one glance of her
brilliant blacas eyes, she read in the
quivering lips and flushed cheeks of the
lovely young face turned toward her the
honest indignation and heartfelt sympa-
thy of the girls soul. Her heart was as
warm as her wit was ready, and, taking
AZalea's hand in welcome, she said:
"1ou are as good as you are beautiful,
my child"
In what way, pray, madamc?" asked
Azalea, smiling. She was strangely at
tracted TO her new friend by her beauti-
tiful eyes. They were so bright and
sparkling so full of expression and tell
der feeling, that Azalea forgot her plain
dress in gazing into their wondrous
depths and listening to the rare music of
her voice.
"You ask me why?" returned Nine
s. because you crossed this I'M
mense salon to come and sit by me.
Upon my word, you are more coura-
geous than should have been"
"And yet" replied Azalea, Z" if were
to tell you my ears and trepidations you
would laugh at ne, am sure"
Laugh at your exclaimed Nine.
s. with moistened eyes and trem-
bling voice. "Neverl neverl / am your
sister henceforth, my dear young friend.
VIII you tell me your Christian name?"
"Azalea."
"Azalea? What pretty name! l
am glad of it, for it will suit my purpose
exactly. You must know, my love, that
l am writing book, and l mean it shall
bear your name, and you shall find some
thing In it which shall remind you of to-
night and our acquaintance"
And she kept her word. Azalea had
almost forgotten this little incident
when, one morning, a few months later, a
volume of blue. and gold was placed in
her hands bearing her own name, AZ
alea." With wonder and delight Azalea
turned to the title-page and discovered
that her friend was well-known and
distinguished authoress. She readily
guessed now why Josephine had sighted
her, for it was well known that Napoleon
greatly dreaded this writer's sparkling
wit and keen sarcasm. The tears sprung
to Azelea's eyes as, turning over the il
Illuminated pages, she came upon the lit
tie incident here portrayed, in which
Nine. s. had pictured her as an
"angel of goodness and beauty"
AS "Azalea" was really finely
wrought tale, full of pathos and beauty,
it quickly became a favorite, and was not
only sought for and admired over all
France, but was speedily translated into
other tongues.
Although AZelea was not her real
name, she was a real girl, and this is the
way she came to be heroine, honored
and loved by half the world, while the
more dazzling bellies of that evenings
entertainment, who stopped to ridicule
woman of noble genius simply be-
cause she was plainly dressed, have
passed into oblivion, unhOnored and un-
Il u