Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-18

within a few miles, and you may
come home for three months every
year until the term of probation is
over" s.as
swell, if it must be. But how
shall I know if she loves me?"
"Why, ask her, of course
sob, should never dare
"Well, then, obey your father, and
pack off at once. . ~
"Ah, uncle, you do not know Ma
omi. A hundred times have tried
to declare my passion ! have even
composed speeches, and learned them
by heart; but at the moment OF
speaking my courage wanes, and
each word chokes me. Her express
sion is so sweet, but yet SO grave.
The man worthy of her is not born
Writing was useless. When my effu-
sions were penned and ready to be
sent, their utter foolishness struck me
SO forcibly that / was at pains to teal
my notes into small pieces"
Nevertheless you must make up
your mind to speak at once. Your
father has not yet told you all he
sends you to Clermont because his
friend, the colonePs daughter, is
destined to become your bride. 1t
would indeed be a good match, but
no protestatlons- all this is as
nothing, if you are really in love with
Naomi. Love is folly-but it is a
kind of folly | should regret never
having been guilty of. Old people
may call it nonsense, but, perchance
the nonsense is theirs. If the girl
loves you, you must sacrifice all for
her-'tis stupid, maybe, but right.
We must first ascertain if she loves
you, and now is the time, for they
seek to marry her. All, ha that
makes you shudder and grow pale :!
You long to have your rival at your
swords point, as we used to say in
my young days. Well, courage !;
face your beautiful Naomi. If YOU
are richer than she, her intended hus-
band is richer than you, beside hav-
ing title, and being quite ready for
the ceremony; her trousseau is even
being made. You are not prepared !;
go to her, declare your love-she
knows it, but one is always expected
to make the declaration. If she
loves you-she must, for you are
handsome, young and clever. If
she is willing to wait, write me so in
a letter which / may keep; then will
/ prevent this other affair, get your
exchange, and in three years marry
you to Naomi in spite of your fa-
ther."
"Uncle, l have an idea"
"Well."
81 will write her,"
''Very WELL"
After leaving my dear uncle, 1 set
about writing that note. The writ
ing was no difficult matter, for / had
done it a hundred times before; the
puzzle was how to give it to her.
However, there was no time for in
decision, so | soon made up my mind,
and having purchased a bunch of
yellow roses, l slipped my declara-
tion in among the flowers. | still
recall the words of that note. After
declaring my passion, besought
Naomi to love me little in return,
and to wait three years for me. If
she consented, / asked her as sign,
to wear one of my roses that eve
ming. Then would dare speak of
my-of oar future plans
"Ahl you hid that note in the
bouquet" breath)essly interrupted
Madame Logerel.
"Yes, madame"
"And then?"
"Well, Naomi wore no flower that
evening. was desperate, and in
my misery sought to take my life.
My good uncle took me to Clermont,
stayed there two months, and did all
in his power to distract my thoughts
from Naomi, declaring she never
could really have cared for me.
"But uncle fused to object; "she
always seemed so pleased TO see me,
and reproached me so gently when 1
came later than usual"
"Women seek the love of all men,
but care for very few"
At length l succeeded in banish-
ing Naomi's image from my heart.
I married the coloneps daughter, who,
eight years later, left me a childless
widower; my dear uncle has been
long dead. and am now alone in
the world. Would you believe it,
my friends s?-I often to this day
think of Naomi, and she is still to
me, though now quite an old lady,
the Naomi of my story-my first love
"A tall, graceful girl, with auburn
hair, and. as my uncle used to say,
black velvet eyes. 5
"You know not what became of
her?''
ssNo madame"
"Then your name is not 'Descou-
draies e. ,
.tssNo; that is the name of my un-
cle's estate; mine is d'Altheim.
ST knew it!
s'Why?-how?''
II will tell you what became of
l.