The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-07-04
SELECT STORY.
THE YELLOW ROSES.

One evening, ABOUT Two years aSo, i
went to spend couple of hours with
my dear old friend and neighbor, Mad.
anne de Lorgerel Aware of her ex-
treme fondness for flowers, l took
with me bunch of yellow roses, her
especial favorites. On this evening,
as on many another, found her with
an old gentleman, who had about a
year before come into that neighbor-
hood to take possession of au adjoin-
ing property, left him by a distant rel
alive on condition he would change
his name to that of Descoudrais. l
was quite jealous of the intimacy that
soon had sprung up between him and
my dear old friend.
On the evening in question they
were busy over game of "tric-trac.
l entered softly 80 as not to disturb
them, and waited until the game was
over to present my roses. Madame de
Lorgerel's face was frightened with
genuine delight, but to my astonish-
ment, Monsieur Descondraies became
most strangely distracted and thought
full
"Would you believe it, my friend,'
he said, at length, "those flowers have
evoked, as if by enchantment, a whole
epoch of my youth. For a few mo
ments l was again twenty years of
age and in love with n woman, who, if
living, must now be fully sixty years
old. / will tell you the whole story,
one that influenced my whole after
life--even now, when old age has left
me barely energy enough to play at
tric-trac, the remembrance of my
youthful love fills me with emotion"
"Over forty years ago, just after |
had left college, my father, without
consulting me, sought to obtain post
for me in certain regiment quartered
in the little town of X, for which
place | received orders to depart at
once. This was distressing news for
more than one reason; | had no
special love for the army, though that
objection was no great one. as at that
time of my life the mere sight of gay
uniform, or the sound of martial music,
sufficed to fire my ambition into be-
coming Caesar or an Achilles. But,
worst of all, ! was in love, and dared
not tell my father, whose answer, l
knew, would have been an order has
tening my departure, Fortunately, l
had an uncle-and what an uncle! At
that time he was as old as | am now,
though still retaining all the vigor and
freshness of youth. lie was the con-
fidant of our follies, loves, debts and
aspirations. / went to him:
'Uncle, am most unhappy"
81 bet twenty louis yon are not =
"Ah, uncle, do not jest-besides you
would lose your bet"
"If / lose, ] pay. Perhaps that
might help to console you
"No; money has nothing to do with
my wretchedness Father has just ac-
cepted lieutenancy for me in the
Regiment.
ga misfortune, indeed! The uni
form is most becoming, and all the of
ficers are gentlemen"
"But, uncle, do not wish to be a
soldier"
"Not be a soldier! Are you a COW
ard, by chance?'
81 do not yet know, uncle; never
theless, know you are the only man
might dare doubt my courage"
| "Well, Gid, my boy, what is your
objection to the army'"
| II wish to marry
| "Nonsense ~
| "Nonsense or no nonsense, ! am in
love"
| sand you call that a misfortunel
wish were in love myself. Who ii
she 7"
"Oh, uncle an angel!'
"Of course-I knew that before
they always are angels. What l ask
is to what name your angel answer,
when they call her 2
"Naomi."
"Humph! Naomi may be enough
for you but ! would like to know
what family this angel belongs"
"She is a Miss Amelot.'
"Indeed Then she is truly an an
gel. A tall, graceful brunette, will
dark eyes, soft as velvet, approx,
your choice"
Sand if you but knew her
81 do know her. Does she loy,
your
81 do not know"
"What not know! You are un
worthy of me. At her house ever,
evening, and yet not know If she love
you !"
"She does not even know of m
love"
"Pshaw! little you know about II
She knew you loved her at least I'll
teen minutes before you knew it youl
self,
"What / do know, at all events,
THAT l will die if she be not mine |"