Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-09
PAULINE'S DEVOTION.
A Tale Of Love and War.
rman OF Albert Nelander.

-'S"hofCh via bltppt, anu TOOK lodgings In the
Rue de Rome, in respectable hotel garni, wherein
mad stopped for some time before the war. It's
propretors were no longer the same, but in an
adjoining cafe / discovered familiar old faces
The woman behind the cashier desk recognized
and saluted me heartily.
I'VE have endured terrible times since our last
meeting" she said. II have often thought that
we would see you sooner; but after all. what
charms can Paris have for you without Pau
lne?"
without Pauline?" 1 interrupted her hur-
riedly; lis she no longer here?"
Il have not seen her since then" was her halt
ing rejoinder
And her brother"
HE is married and temporarily engaged as
an engneer in the marine department of the
Exposition. Their mother. if err not still re-
sides in the avenue de Clichy."
thanking her, | took my leave, and having
summoned 4 servant to collect my baggage and
made some needrul alterations in my attire,
Immediately repaired 90 the Avenue de Clichy
in fiacre On arriving there | found nothing
altered and alighted. The entire neighborhoOd
was only too familiar to NE, and soon stepped
across the threshold of that house which some
years before. had enclosed the object OF all my
longings and aspirations. With rapidly beating
heart | mounted the well-knOwn staircase On
the third floor pulled that bell for whose tone
a lovely being had often waited for hours and
never vainiy. it now penetrated my heart like
the stab OF a dagger. 4 little girl of seven years
opened the door. / desired to see Madame
Ieipvre.
Whom shall I announcer" aueried the
pleasant child
An old friend" I dared not mention myself
by me. Presently stood before the old lady
one had yisby altered. for her wonted lovely
glance of good nature had given way to a cut
at ity and bl6
who are you and what may be your pleas
ure?" she asked.
Do you no longer recognize me?" / had
advanced few PAGES and extended hand
quivering with excitement. She stepped back
ward nevertheless.
What impudence!" she muttered. as though
talking to herself. Monsieur" she Continued
with tone of icy coldness Il do not recognize
you; but If ever have known you shall curse
the day that has brought YOU to nv house unto
the last moment of my life. Go Claire, show
the German OUT"
At these words she had vanished I could
scarcely trust my senses. This woman had for
meriy called me her son.
Are you Prussian' Grandma hates the
russians. said the child, on opening the door.
turned my steps sadly elsewhere. If such
be the mother. what reception will the dauyh-
ter accord, and where shall | find the latter?
shall have to hunt up her brother. Have not
come to extend forgiveness for past wrongs. as
trlOtlsm at whose shrine plighted trOth once
fell sacrificed?
l had learned to know Pauline on fete day
at st. Cloud On that occasion she was amusing
herself in the company of her brother and his
betrOthed and of another young man. an init
mate friend of the former Law with several
acquaintance upon the green sward lust up
there where the glorious panorama Of the large
and magnificent city unfOlds itself endessly to the
wondering eyes Ofthe behOlder. My friends drew
IN nf fAnf fh.,, 81
upon the ground. Her head. with its wonder
fully expressive face, half concealed by dark
brown halr-streaks of silken texture. thus dis
heyeled by the action of games and the dance
rested upon the arm of a caressing female friend
1t was lovely sight. and my heart beat violently
within me. Had any one of nv glances been
caught up by her own? She blushed under it
Ike an opened lOtOs flower and assumed a modest
attitude. When Immediately thereafter the dance
mad been resumed. she seemed fati2ued and de-
ciined the invitations OF the young man who ac
companled her more than once. Nevertheless
Der glances stole bashfully towards me: they
seemed to say ''cOme" and | went She did not
decline my invitation. We danced together, aud
discovered in my conversation with her, to my
sudden establishment that | was not entirely a
stranger to her. In reality she was neiohbor
OF mine: nothing but yard separated our win
dows from each other. and had never before
observed her. Thus, when her brother ap-
preached, she found herself able to introduce
me:
See. Etienne. this is the gentleman who plays
the piano so finely"
Herwords aud her artless manner Of pronounc-
ING them dissipated the lowering folds of his
brow and quickly made us acquainted with each
other But the other young man--whO might he
be? Later learned to recognize him as good
friend OF the family as well as secret but as
Yet unaccepted lover of Pauline. We soon par ted
at that time l did not wish to appear forward
but no shall detail all the minor iptripues and
trafa, tIIaff rn1
the sweet sense of expectation wherewith I
peered across to another certain window from
behind the curtains Of my own? And who the
heart beats, when her lovely head came to view.
or when TWO little WaXen fingers pressed against
mat rosy little mouth the disappointment when
| waited vainly. or when she. after throwing me
hand-kiss blushin"ly hurried away? And
sOon-oh, 1t was very soon-we had found and
understood each other. 1t was then no longer
caprlcious bit of child's play; there followed
earnest, holy vows for life Where are those
vows? Were they but the offspring of an evan
eScent feminine humOr! Lon" Mas constrained
thus to believe. Often she teased me with the
young man aforementioned. as well as with
other admirers. and if grew angry sad she
would gaze penltentiaily and lovingly into my
eyes until nv very heart overiiOwed and say:
You. dear one. can only live for you"
Then again would She discover a strong desire
TO know more concerning me, and one day she
bluntly questioned me:
~ sou CAptCt u IttuTu Gyuiu u your UcT.
many? Thither never will CO."
Then you cannot love me-" Shecommenced
to sob violently.
Content yourself" I continued: ..for YOUR
sake shall remain here. But suppose it had to
beg"
IF were your wife would follow you to
the end Of the world; but alas! l believe that
would die If you were to take me away from
Paris"
Are you 80 inexorably devoted to Paris-to
your fatherand generality"
Above all other things earthly; no. first comes
my mother. my brOther-ah. no. you come first.
verify believe you'll am so confused really
do not know"
Angel mine" and kissed the tears from her
beanteOus eyes.
Our love was soon discovered She acknovl-
edged all to her mother. but she could bv no
means be brought to abandon the '.siliy child's
play" as the latter termed it. In the end she
locked herself up within her own apartment and
rarely arose from her bed. 1t NAV have been
occasioned by dash of self-wiil but when her
mother subsequently extended an invitation to
me she recovered from her indisposit.on forth
with.
1--WE hit upon the right physician" said her
mother, faintly smiling, a. the naughty, sobbinp
girl hung around her neck.
We came into happy accord. Her mother de-