Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19
EASTER EGGS.

IL,
Inc cnLoren bring them, beggars bring them
your friends send them. cone come In china
lows, some In baskets arranged With moss and
Plates You aT Sem not ARE hon simply presented on
one com1ert. else the Inconvenience might de.
cluSuv Oe very great since every egg Is boiled
co, Sne S1ns,stsnee OF bullet, and Is OF course
cSio. nevertheless, the custom is pretty. and
s4e eggS themselves are pretty, the bright hue,
gwen tnem by the dye with which tney are
, pUieo endulng them with most picturesque
sometimes they are presented in Company with
yesettes ana gofres-two kinds of cake very Don
uiaL IN Belgium-the latter being species Of
pancake, while the other Is the Identical cake
which In foreign pictures OF Little Red Rtsfiaa
nooo we see depicted In that hapless dam sel,.
o1asket, Side by side with the Evolutionary but.
During my first Easter in the Ardennes. a
Mnole love story came to my ears through an
Easter egg and little basket OF galettes.
VIII not tell the tale; it shall tell itself.
near monsieur Is going to Lieye" said a
sweet voice.
! lowered my gun with its muzzle to the
GROUND. and looked at the speaker. She was
the brightest, neatest little figure had ever
seen; brunette, with sparkling hazel eyes,
and blue-black hair, and cheeks Of brown b
lnody hue-a very picture OF health and come y
strength. Not very delicate or refined looking
perhaps; yet, nevertheless, having the happier
beauty of sound mind In sound body with
an an tnat cneerfuiness about her which is one OF
the BEST gifts Of robust health.
1Mademoiselle, 1t Is true. go to Lleye on
Easter-even. Can / do anything for you there?"
The brown cheek grew ruddier, with just a
Tiny t1nge OF crimson, which was gone In a mo-
ment, for these bruDetteS do not show upon
their faces every shade of thought and feeling
as the sensitive blondes are fain to do.
,,re Monsieur ,o sic Is very good; II only might ven
"Ask," l responded, smiling. 81 will execute
your commission with pleasure
First, IL Monsieur would let me explain who
am i am Fifine, grand niece to Madame
the honor to be my housekeeper, and had
heard her speak often Of Josephine as good,
konest girl, who did much of the work on the
little farm which her father rented.
'.MademOiSeIle Josephine, pray enter and seat
yourself; then you shall tell me what you want
This little conversation had taken place In
my garden, just as / was going out in the hope
OF shooting some hOOpOeS which had seen In
meadow close by. The April wind was cutting
and Keen, and was glad, therefore, to get the
pretty Josephine into a warm seat by the
kitchen fire. She did not use much circumlo.
cution In coming at her request.
Monsieur, j have friend at Liege: will You
charge yourself with a little basket for him.
She drew 1t from beneath her shawl as she
spoke-a pretty little covered basket Of colored
straw.
at is only few galettes and an Easter egg:
Dut Felix always expects them from me at
Easter, and / should be so sorry to disappoint
him."
"And Is this alp" said 1, taking the basket
from her hand. lis there no message no let
teri"
'.Alasl Monsieur, cannot write, neither can
Felix; but we do not forget each other"
Again the unge OF crimson deepened her
brown cheek, yet she gazed at me with stead
fast, unshrinkfng eyes, as she continued in
ave are betrothed, Felix and 1. And we
have not seen each other for two years. He
was home on furlOng, then, for little Whilev
$50 Felix is a soldier" rejoined, doubtfully.
"Is 1t a wise thing for an Industrious girl ike
you to marry soldier"
S.fHr
che could not help being soldier. His family
was too poor to buy substitute for him, so he
is obliged to serve. He has served i've years
low, so In two more he will be free.
"And will 1T be PRUDENT reiterated, ito
expect man who has been seven years q SOL
der to return home and take up Industrious
wen for that; at the expiration OF his seven
years service he will enlist and get his bounty"
F1f1ne opened her clear hazel eyes wide, and
looked at me WOnder1ngly.
Monsieur has not seen Felix; when he has
seen him he Will not say that. He will not ask,
either. whether it will be wise to marry him. /
long, !" she added innocently, as she arose aud
made me little courtesy by way OF leave TAX
stay, Mademoisene Finne; you have not told
AT the barracks, II Monsieur will not mind
"And whom must ask for at the barracksen
" put the basket In his hand and say: From
Rhine Rodiere, with thousand kind thoughts
there viii be no need OF more"
But If Felix asks questions, what shall
say7" g..
rheumatism Is better, and my father has bought
and we have ten lambs this Easter. Oh, and
tell him, too, that his father can walk quite
well now with stick, and On Sundays, coming
home from mass, he leans on my arm"
She made me another little courtesy, and ran
away, as If she thought she had already de-
tanned me too long.
"What an absurd commission ~ said within
myself, as eyed the basket with some discon-
tent. 1.-The idea Of making me messenger to
carry love tokens! But these Ardennais peas
ants trouble themselves little about the fitness
Of things"
At Liege ! hired fly, and drove up to the
barracks with my galetteS and the variegated
Easter egg reposing on tie cushion beside me.
headed and grim i Smoking aH pSe
with an air Of fierce satisfaction.
'Can see ayoung soldier named Felix Rous-
my head nom the window. p-'e
. the old Sergeant Withdrew his pipe from his
lips slowly, and shook his head.
"You cannot see him without an order from the
Colonel. And as this Is not visiting day, you
from his lips he restored it, and smoked on sto-
Idly, with a Flemish phlegm Sorely aggrava-
ting to quick temperament. Now. while 1t
appeared to me perfectly easy to see Felix Rous-
sci, had not cared much about my mission; 10
fact, the affair had presented itself to me In a
ridiculous light, and had once or twice felt
tempted TO give the fair Finnes galettes to some
hungry street dog, and peit him afterward with
the Easter egg. But 10! a difficulty springs 10:
piece Of military routine and stolid Flemish
Sergeant stand In my way, and i'm nediateiy my
spirit Is reused, aud feel bound In honor TO
overcome all obstacles, and deposit Madem)i-
selle Josephine's Offering In the hands of her
expectant lover.
.'Where does the Colonel live, my frtena?"
The Sergeant did not trouble himself to an
swer. Lifting one heavy hand, he pointed to a
house near, and then, With extreme SloWnsss
be permitted his hand TO sink again into the
pocket CT his 0aggy trousers.
"1Ou are Flemish, think?''
An almost impecceptlDle nod was the only
reply received Hts first speech being long
one, had evidently exhausted him. Neyertha.
less, / was resolved 20 make him talk.
"What part OF Flanders do you come from
friend ?''
He looked aggravated, yet with the pipe be-
tween his teeth, he condescended to say ia
bakkuk.'
"Ah, delightful village | cried. cheer
fully. :" know It well. Smooth and lat as a
table. NO nonsensical trees and rocks there TO
hinder tlllage. No hills 10 tire men and horses
Not tiee TO be seen, except q stray pollard
willow, or here and there q STRAIGHT limo of pnn