The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-07-04

father has not told you all; he sends
you to Clermont because his friend,
the colonel's daughter, is destined to
become your bride. 1t would indeed
be good matoh-no protestations-
all this is as nothing, it you are really
10 love with Naomi. Love is folly
but is a kind of folly should regret
never having been guilty of. Old peo-
pie may call it nonsense, but perchance
the nonsense is theirs If the girl
loves you, you must sacrifice all for
her tbs 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 swords point, as we
used to say in my young days. Well,
courage; face your beautiful Naomi.
II you are richer than she, her intend
ed husband is richer than you, besides
having title and being quite ready
for the ceremony; her trousseau is
even being made. You are not pre-
pared; 60 to her, declare your love-
she knows it. but one is always ex-
pected to make the declaration. If
she loves you-she must, for You are
handsome, young and clever. If she is
wiling to wait, write me so in letter
which may keep; then will pre-
vent this other affair, get your ex-
change, and in three years marry you
to Naomi in spite of your father-in
spite of the devil himself !"
"Uncle, have an idea"
"Well ?"
81 will write to her."
every we'll"
After leaving my dear uncle l set
about writing that note. The writing
was no difficult matter, for had done
it hundred times before; the puzzle
was how to give it her. However,
there was no time for indecision, so |
soon made up my mind, and having
purchased a bunch of roses, slipped
my declaration in among the flowers.
l still recall the words of that note
After declaring my passion, besougbt
Naomi to love me little in return,
and to wait three years for me. If
she consented, | asked her, as a 81 gu,
to wear one of my roses that evening.
Then would dare to speak of my-of
our future plans
"Ah! you hid that note in the bo-
quet?" breathlessly interrupted Mad
anne Lorgerel.
eyes, madame
"And then ?"
swell, Naomi wore no flower that
evening | was desperate, and in my
misery sought to take my life. My
good uncle took me to Clermont, stay
ed there two months, and did all in
his power to distract my thoughts
from Naomi, declaring she never could
have really cared for me-"
"But uncle" used to object, "she
always seemed so pleased to see me,
and reproached me so gently when
came later than usual"
"Women seek the love of all men,
but care for very few"
AT length / succeeded in banishing
Naomi's image from my heart, ]
married the colonels daughter, who,
eight years later, left me childless
widower; my dear uncle has been
long dead, and | am now alone in the
world. Would you believe it my
friends FL 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, grace
full girl, with auburn hair, and, so my
uncle used to say, black velvet eyes.
"You know not what became OF
herr"
"No, madame"
"Then your name is not "Descou
draies 7"
"No; that is the name of my uu
cles estate; mine is d'Altheim.
81 knew it!
"Why l-how! I"
81 will tell you what became of Mao
mi-she loved you"
'But the note-the roses 7"
"She never found your note. You
sudden departure cost her many bittel
tears, and then she married Monsieur
de Lorgerel.'
| IN. de LorgerelT
"Whose widow l am"
| Then you-you are Naomi Ame
lot p
| "Yes; just as you are, or rather, a
you are not, the Edmond dAltheim o
my youth"
$50 think we should meet one da,
as strangers !"
"Yes, and then only to play at trio
trac.'
"The roses"
"Are here, always kept them"
And Madame de Lorgerel, wit
hands that trembled slightly, DIRE,
from an ebony cabinet, near by, tn
withered bunch of yellow roses.
"Unfasten them, quickl" exclain
Led Monsieur Descoudraies. She did 81