Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-01-10
CoMHUNICATED.
AbeiaTd and EiOiSe.

Tie story ct Abeard and E.oise, the Frerch
lovers o. more than sWo hundred years ego, is
ono Of the most pathetic in history. The bodies
| OF these two uUfcrtunates lie buried 10 the me-
terg ct Pere-la Chaise, St Paris. Ma0y books
have been written about them, and many tsars
have baeC shed at the reading of their sad ex-
peSierc,s. They loved each other before they
became acquainted, having often seen each
other lG the streets. Gee day 90 Incident o.
curTcd-they were unexpectedly tarown to-
Scther for hall houg-that determined Abel
arc to write to his cherished E!cise. He did
80, sna Eolso. recognizing A5ola.d as the
writer ct the letter that she r7eeivcd anony.
mou5!y, wrote 70 him IN reply. So began their
acqualu,aic'. This was tie letter es i. has
been translated:
ABELARD TO ELOIsE.
Charming ELoIsE: When you read these
lines viii you recognize Aoelacd 10 the writer
VIII sou remember that Sunday not mauy days
ago when we sat near each other for heIf an
hour, but did not sneak? We did not speak
because wd did rot know each other. But our
salElts were 10 uEis9p. aud but for the presence
ot HthaEs would have spoken TO you. You
placed you giovld hands before your eyes and
locked ct ne. aat heard tho tender sigh tdst
qu!Vc5td Oh you, lips aui vibratcd ID rly heart,
La'c!, Tc were on the mair street, waking in
The same dircutlon-you on one side sad | on
the otheG. Five squares sway from iphere We
bad been seated you ;urneG lnto sido street,
gclng to the north. Ytu glanced at me and
made q sign. DID you deem me indifferent
because | d!d not follow? All, %! Bsoish
the thought! Gould Abelard be Indifferent to
the iaqcr G! Eoi5c? No it was serSs of
ptudels rlscrve-whg. could explain to you it
uld see y0u-that made me await. f., your
sake, another time and paoo for tho interview
tnat Wo both desired. losepsiDe, indeed,
encs in the odallEQua cyus of Eloiss! Uoid in
deed woud be he who could hear her tender
sigh and remain unmcVeG -! II there be such
msu he Is Uot Abcia
DO you remember bow once, Dauy months
ago, in the summer time, se saw each other Tor
moment en- the street on which you dwell;
you wcre coming from church. | stood near
corocr conyerslEg with friend. Suddenly |
heard behind me the swift rustic of woma1's
dress. turned, and it was you, Eloise. Our
cEeS met On, the cloquenca OF those eyes,
which le Il tAat lagcTs most 10 my Inomory-
the soft glow OF those orbs OF fire or the rich
rcd of your lips aud cheek? cannot tell Your
face is ao deusive, Eloso. l remember it
sometimes wiki the warm flush Of sunset man
ting il; again | see it With the palIor of tho
morn. Ii haunts me and eludes nc at ouce
Sometimes think knog who you are; some
times ! am cot ocrtain that you aie rea' y
Eloisc. Ihe memory Of that face is like the
lost keynote OF familiar melody. 1t haunts
nc, but cannot srafp it. only know it as
the face Of 3 woua0 vino has hlshed across ny
path like meteor, AID 10 whose glance road
fisttcrlog tale of love and coDfdeccc and seq
tmen.. Would that couG bo alone With ycu
for ca hour, Eioisr; upoo your marble brow, l
would press the kiss Of devotion, which should
llpgcr there memory and bcnedctcpl
You cannot forget A5elard, ECis,. Nc;
you will stii remember, for
"Oa reVieDt toujOurs
"a seq pres1ers amous
IF in these liles that have written, only
tor your eyes, you recognize the hsud of Abe
lard, write to him under his true nsme, telling
hin where and when he may zee you, and sign
only your Initials to your letter. Do not fcsr
that DO may be indiacrcct, Tor he is man Of
honor. and he huds your secret iovioaolo. Not
even 10 the colo ear Of death would be wilmer
it. Adiue, "ABELARD."