The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-11-12
GEORGETTE'S TRYST.


j close. The autumn sunshine, low but
clear, lay in long shafts Of light across
/ the quaint and formal gardens, and gilt
tered in the spray Of Vulnerable foun-
tains, tossing, falling, splashing, spark
I ling, ON every side The air was full of
the laughing, liquid sound.
/ The crowd had gathered thicklv round
/ the Grandes Elux, that is, the giant Jets
in the Basin Of Neptune" and Apollo, r"
/ leaving the remoter parts Of the grounds
comparatively deserted. In one Of the
lonehest Of the green and shady allees a
young couple were slowly sauntering.
/ The girl was dressed with the dainty
neatness characteristic of a Partisan onU-
riere of the better class, and had taken
off her hat, in order to decorate it with
a spray Of ivy, while her companion held
her parasol, and watched her in admir-
ing silence.
The sunshine touched her wavy brown
hair with CLEANS of gold, and brought
tinge of rose to the delicate pallor of
her face, face which, III repose, had a
look of patient melancholy, as if already
| life's shadows had fallen upon it. But
when, glancing up from her task, she
met her lovers eyes, it frightened all
over with IA smile 50 sudden and sweet
that he was dazzled.
"Georgette, how lovely you are ?" The
remark seemed to escape him involunta-
rily.
at is my hat not my face you are to
admire if you please, she returned,
with demure little glance at him, as
she put it on again. Look, doesn't the
ivy make a pretty trimming?
''Charming; the frame is worthy of
the picture. Suppose we sit down on
the grass here for Il few moments that |
may admire it at my leisure?"
eyes, let us. | am 50 fond Of this
place" she responded.
1t was a narrow walk, shut in by trees
and quaint clipped hedges, with grass
underfoot and leaves overhead, green,
shady, solitary Near where they sat
was a little fountain, and the statute of
a water-numph in a messy marble basin.
The murmur of the crowd reached them
vaguely, mingled with the rushing Of
water and the music of distant band
You love this spot? so do l, said
the young man as he stretched himself
on the grass at her side. cit was in
this very avenue, my darling, when these
leaves were young, that you spoke the
three sweet words which made me the
happest man in France"
Did it really make you happy to
kdow that | loved you, Etienne? | am
so glad" the girl replied, letting her
hand rest for a moment on his dark curls.
but my love can never be to you, dear,
what yours is to me, because you have
never known what it is to be utterly
alone and uncared for, as was till Imet
you, six months ago"
MY poor little lovep he murmured,
raising her hand to his lips. ''What
happy inspiration it was of mine" he
went on, after a moments pause, ''to
take lodgings in the dear, dull old house
in the Rue DIES Ecoles-little | dreamed
that | should meet my fate under that
roof! Do you know that it was your
voice that decided me to take the rooms?"
MY voice."
when the concierge showed them to
me you were singing over your work in
the story above. | asked him whose
was that exquisite voice, like a chime of
silver bells? 1t was little fower-maker,
az sirieme, he told me, whom the neigh
bors called Miss Nightingale, and it was
worth five francs month extra, he assur-
ed me, to have her for fellow-lodger"
Georgette laughed and blushed.
"What a compliment from old Pode
VIM
Il quite agreed with him, and we came
to terms on the spot. | found that my
musical neighbor had face that match
ed her voice; and if ever there was a
case of love at first sight it was mine,
Georgette. My heart went out to you,
dear, from the moment when first your
sweet, shy, blue eyes met mine"
And mine to you. she whispered.
"You we're the kindest and most oblig-
ing of neighbors, | admit" he Interrupt
ted !; ''but you were rs shy as a bird. l
seldom caug ht glimpse of you except
we met by chance on the stairs, and then
sometimes, instead Of stopping to speak,
you would dart past me like flash of
light"
my time was more valuable than
yours, you see" she exclaimed. Il
work in earnest, while you only play at
work Youneed not look dignifed, you
know it is the truth. If you had no 9TH
er resource but your pen, no rich rela
IlOIlS III the DdtkSIOulII
"You forget that L cut myself adrift
from them two years ago, when | gave
up the profession they had chosen for
me, and turned from the sandy desert of
the law into the fowery fields of litera-
ture. From their point of view l have
committed social suicide they have for
mally washed their hands of me-"
His companions face clouded.
"What would they say if they knew
that-that you were hetrothed toa com
mon work-girl p she asked, with troq-
bled smile.
''They do know it," he answered qui-
city. l wrote to my father some days
ago"
She started, and the color rushed to
her face.
''And he-has he answered your let
ter =? what did he say"
"What did be not say, rather ?" re-
turned Etienne, laughing :'You don't
expect me to repeat it all, | hope? Why
do YOU look so scared, child? You know
that nothing he can say-nothing any
one can say or do would make me give
you up"
Il know. But-perhaps it is selfihs
VI INC 10 lcb you sttCIlHC6 your prospects
for my sake" she faltered, looking at
him in wistful doubt. " Perhaps some
day you viii regret"
"Georgetse, : he interrupted reproach-
fully, "have you SO little faith in my
love? have you SO soon forgotten all
said to you under these very trees, when
we plighted our troth?"
''How could forget ?"
''Then trust me, dearest, and do not
fear the future. It comes to us smiling,
with both hands full of blessings, y
''Ah, do not expect too much from it,
Etienne."
"Well, if it only brings me bread and
cheese, and you, | shall be eontented,
he returned.