Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-10

bring us together again. All, know it The
pearls, they are charmed !"
"Ah, M. L'Estrange2" ?" answered, II can re.
sist no longer. 1 will wear your pearl and it
shall at least be a souuenir of days never to be
forgotten."
As he was replacing the box, card-photo-
graph fell to the floor picked it up. and was
handing it to him. when my eyes fell upon
face of snch rare loveliness that l held the lit
tie picture as il apellbound-a woman's face.
softly outlined, delcatelv rounded a pure, calm
forhead, crowned with 'braded tresses darkly
bright y tender, unsmiling lips, that wore
sweetness deeper and hoier than smiles ;
chm and cheek that might well have served as
models for sculptor. There were soft laces
resting about the throat and lace shawl,
thrown gracefully over the stately head, rested
lightly on the shoulders, like a radiant cloud.
But tho eyes were the glory of the picture
large, dark, spiritual eyes, that looked into
yours with unfathomablo meaning in their liquid
depths.
NIy self .possession and my good manners re-
turned at the same moment.
81 beg your pardon said, deprecatlnBly, as
gave the picture to its owner but it il 30
beautiful 1t il your wife p
"AIy wife? No." ho sad, with low, wise
smile, "but it is my Marguorte-my pearl "
There was no time for further speech We
wcre at Calumet. LEstrange threw his arm
around me in his impulsve French flshion, and
kissed my cheek with warm " God bless you !!
Another moment and our short chapter OF ro-
nance was ended.
But there was no second chapter2 Certainly,
or | should hardly have thought it worth while
to tell you this. l returned to New York in
few weeks, had my pearl mounted precisely US
/. .Estrange had directed, and wore it, at first
with Interpretations feeling that 1t was truly
link between us, and would one day draw us
together. 1t was, indeed, al he had said, sign,
token. 1t kept fresh and green in my memory
what else might have gradually faded away AZ
ono of tho many forgotten incidents OF life
that was changefu and full OF adventure.
Bnt it was not his face only that it recalled. 1
never wore it without seeing, in vision. tho
dark, soul-t eyes that had looked up at his
from the photograph the pure calm brow, the
tender wistful mouth OF my friends % Marquee
rite" Not his wife, but doubtless his betrothed.
What other meaning could 1 give to the sudden
light that Illuminated his face as he exclaimed,
in that last, hurried moment at is my Margue-
rite--my pearl J"
81 shall write you from San Francisco" he
had said But days, weeks, and months length-
ened into years, and heard nothing. My pearl
scarf-pin was the only token that those charmed
days OF traYel had been more than dream.
believed that lie was dead.
Last summer was in Paris. Early one morn
ing went to the Madeline, and, leaning against
one of tho fluted columns, watched the worship
ers az they came and went. The sun shot yell
low rays through the grained windows in the
roof tho chanting of IL hidden choir sounded far
off and dream-like the scuptured Magdalen OF
uncertain light and the whole atmosphere OF
the place was bewilderinB.
As stood near one of the great bronze doors,
a lady, voiled and gathering the folds OF her
mantle closely about her throat, passed me with
light step. The figure was exquisitely grace
ful, and watched her with young mans idle
curiosity as ahe knelt at her prayers, wondering
If her face was worthy OF the form. AS she
rose, fresh breeze from an opening door blew
back her veil, ana | caught passing glimpse OF
her features.
All the blood in my veins rushed madly to my
heart. Surely it was the face ofmy dreains-the
face of my friends Marguerite Yet it seemed
II younger face perhaps less Madonna-like than
in the picture, haloed by cloud-like drapery.
You zee had not forgotten the slightest Pc
culiarty of the photograph. eouldhave sworn
to the very pattern OF the lace.
Before recovered my SENSES she had disap-
peared.
For three days haunted the Madeline in vain.
On the fourth 1 caught glimpse OF her again
stopping to drop a coin in the hand OF pallid
child. But it was a fete day, and the crowd
swayed in between us. After that saw her no
more.
went to Switzerland, lingering for month
among its mountain passes made short run
into Italy, and came back. WAS lettering along
les Champs Elysees one evening i'll lit OF home
sickness, half inclined to take the next steamer
from Havre, and to end this rowing life, when
became aware of boin5 we;ohod-watclied by a
dark figure under the shadow of the opposite
trees The red sunaet-ght fell full and strong
where was standing, but it was twilight all
about mo. changed my position hurrledly ana
hastened on
But in moment heard quick footsteps be-
hind me, then run and shout. An arm feli
across my shoulder, hand clasped mine, and II
well remembered voice cried
at il you have found you al, mon ami
mon ami But 1t was the pearl, even as told
YOU no in that wild Calumet" And Hippolyte
L'Estrango pointed to the scarf-pin wore that
day. " But you are grown older, monsieur. You
are changed; and was not thinking of you at
that moment. But the great pearl shimmered
in the sunlight, and it drew my eyes to the face
above it, Said not that it was charmed ?"
1t is needless to speak of the happincs OF that
reunion, all the greater for the mood in which it
found mo.
AZ shall not lose sight of you again, said M.
L'Istrange "You will go home with me to-
morrow, to Strasbourg. Marguerite-you re-
member and he smiled more brightly than
before" Marguerite will be glad to know my
friend. Very often have | talked OF our days
together" -
ment | sllrank az from coming pain, hidden
danger? Then every instinct in my manhood
rope in auick rebellion. My friends wifo WAS
vesta to me even in thought; sacred as If shrin-
cd and guarded by inapproaclable distances.
| would go with him.
Why had he not written mo Simply because
| he had lost my address," only this and nothing
more"
1t would take too long to tell of our delightful
| journey, and pass ON rapidly to the hour whel
the towers OF Strasbourg rose before Ills, and the
| lofty spires of her cathedral pierced the clouds
| My friends chateau was outside the walls oi
| the city, on rising ground.
'See y he said, with sweep OF his hand, al
tho carriage rolled along, "this is not 30 grand
30 fresh, AZ your great New World; yet it is
| fair picture"
| He might well say so. Tho seven-gated cit,
| Law at our feet; the blue Rhine wound along be
tween storied banks; the branching Ill glidet
through the town, picturesque with its man.
| bridges in tho far distance rose the Vosge
| Mountains, and the Black Forest of of Germany
| And now we were at the chateau, statel,
pile, ivy-clad and moss-grown, yet bright, seem
| ingly with an eternal youth.
marguerite, this is the friend OF whom 20,
have 30 often heard me speak-Edward Npon,
said Il Estrauge AZ / entered the salon an hou
after, and II fair sweet womanly faco-the fac'
| at tho Madeline--looked up from the bit OF EN-
proidery over which it was bending.
sis she like the picture-my Marguerite Z
asked my host; but, before l could reply ht
went on ''By that name you first heard OF her
and by that name you are to know her now. W.
are to live in Arcadia for Il whole enchanted
month, and, as fitting, we are to be to each 9th
er Marguerite, and Edward, and Hippolyte
Have not the kind Fates proved that we are akil
and toldyou years agof Why else have the
brought us together y
/ bowed low above the lady's hand; but d
| a. ,,n hars ! .NarUuaritar - Naither did / cal