The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-08-20

courage wanes, and each word chokes
me. Her impression is 30 sweet, but
vet so grave. The man worthy OF her
Is not born Writing was useless.
When my illusions were penned and
ready to be sent, their utter foollshness
struck me so forcibly that ] was at
pains TO tear my notes into small pieces. -
Nevertheless, you must make mp
Sour mind to speak at once. Your
father has not told yon all; he sends
You TO Clermont because his friend the
coloncl's daughter, is destined to be-
come your bride. 1t would indeed be a
good match--no protestations-this Is
as nothing, If You are really in love with
Naomi. Love is folly-but it is
kind Of folly should regret never hav-
ing been guilty Of. Old people may
call it nonsense. but -perchance the nom
sense is theirs. II the glri 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, la u that makes You sbudder and
grow pale You long to have your
rival at swords point, rs We used to say
IN my young days. Well, courage; face
your beautiful Naomi. II You are richer
than she, her intended husband is richer
than you, besides having a title and
being quite ready for the ceremony;
her troisscau is even being made You
are not prepared; 60 to her, declare
your love she knows 1t, bnt one Is
Away expected 20 make the deridi.
alton. II she loves you she must, for
You are handsome, young and clever.
II she is willing to wait, write me 80 in
a letter which may keep; then ! will
prevent this other affair, get your tx.
change, aud in three years marry you 10
Naomi in spite Of your father in spite
Of the devil himself"
"Uncle, | have an idea
"Wcll2'
Il will write TO her"
Every well. -
"Aftcr leaving my dear uncle set
about writing that note. The writing
was no difficult matter, for | had done
it hundred times before; the puzzle
was how 10 give it 10 her. However
there was no time for indecision so /
soon made up my mind, and. having
purchased n bunch Of yellow roses,
slipped my declaration III among the
Covers. still recall the words Of that
note. After declaring my passion, |
lcsought Naomi TO love mo n little in
return, and 10 wait three years for me.
If she consented, ] asked her, IA n sign,
10 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 bon.
quct?" hrcathlcssly interrupted Mm"
LOrgcrcL
"icR, malamC."
"And them"
well, Naomi wore no flower that
evening. | was desperate, and in my
misery sought to take my life. My good
unclc took me TO ClcrmOnt, stayed there
two months, and did all in his power Ia
distract my thoughts from Naomi, de-
"arng she never could have really
cared for me"
"But, uncle" ] used to Cb;""'; "shc
always seemed 30 pleased to see me-
and rcproaclcd me so gently when
came later than usual. "
"Womcn seek the love Of all men, hui
care for very few"
"At length succeeded in Danishing
Naomi's image from my heart. ! mar.
! ricd the Coloncl's daughter, who, eight
! years later, left me childlcss widowcr;
my dear uncle has long been dead, and
am now alone in the world. Would
you believe 1t, my friends | often to
this day think Of Naomi, and she is still
10 me, though now quite m old lady, the
Naomi Oimy story-my first love- tall
graceful girl, with auburn hair, and, MS
my uncle used to say, black, vclyc'
cycJ."
"You know not what became Of herr"
ono, madam"
"Thcn your name is not Dcscou,
drais?'
ono; that il the name Of my unclc's
estate mine il d'Althclm.
81 knew IT r.
"Why-how2"
| VIII 'l l'll VIM 'cCHHio vi NN''
mi--shc loved you.
but the note - the roscs?"
"Shc never found your note. Your
sudden departure cost her many bitter
tcara, and then she married NJ. de Tor.
gcrcl.
an. de l,orgerel T.
"Whosc widow am.
"'Thcn you-you are Naomi Amelot p
eyes; Just M you arc, or rather, az
You are not, the Edmond d'Althcim of
my youth"
"To think We should meet ono day as
strangers T.
eyes, and then only to play ut trio,
| Irac.
"The r0scs-----"
care here. always kept them"
And Nine. dc Iorgercl, with hands
that trcmblcd slightly, drew from IN
ebony cabinet near by, the withereJ
bunch of yellow roses.
"Uniosten them, quick !" exclaimed
Al. DESCENDANTS. She did so, and
there among tho flowers, now almost
dust, found the note, where il had
lain concealed for two.and.forty years.
From the French II AlphonSc KdT.
Tho Stnrv NJ n Shark