Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-07-05

that / will die If she be not mine!"
"Oh, mol Softly, my boy. There are
many reasons why she should not be
yours. Your father is far richer than
hers, and would never consent to the
match"
"In that case, uncle, | know what /
will do'-
Nonsense! Do nothing silly. Listen
to me. You can not marry at twenty"
"Why not?"
Because l do not wish it, and with
out me this marriage can never take
place."
"Oh, dear uncle, l beg
''If the girl loves you, and is willing to
wait three years.
Three years.
peace, or shall say fourl II she is
willing, then, to wait three years, you
will join your regiment
"0h, uncle!"
"But not this one. / will have you ex-
changed into one quartered within few
miles, and you may come home for three
months every year until the term of pro-
baton is over.h
"Well, if it must be But how shall
l know if she loves me2"
"Why, ask her, of course"
ooh, ] shall never dare"
well, then, obey your father, and
pack off at once"
"Oh, uncle, you do not know Naomi.
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 couI-
age wanes. and each word chokes me-
Her expression is SO sweet, but yet so
grave. The man worthy of her is not
born! Writing was useless. When my
illusions we're penned and ready to be
sent, their utter foolishness struck me
SO forcibly that | was at pains to tear
my note into small pieces"
Nevertheless, you must make up
your mind to speak at once. Your IA
ther has not told you all; he sends you
to Clermont because his friend, the colo
nel's daughter, is destined to become
your bride. 1t would indeed be good
match, but-no protsstations-all this is
us 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, perchahce. the nonsense
is theirs. If the girl loves you, vow must
sacrifice all for her-'tis stupid, maybe,
but right. We must first ascertain il
she loves you, and now is the time, for
they seek to marry her. All, ha! that
makes ysu shudder and grow palei 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 intended
husband is richer than you, besides hav-
ing title, and being quite ready for the
ceremony; her trousseau Ii even being
made. You are not prepared, 60 to her,
declare your love-she knows it, but one
is always expected to make the declara-
| ton. If she loves you-she must, for you
are handsome, young, and clever. If she
| is willing to wait, write me so in letter
which | may keep; then l will
prevent this other affair, get your ex-
change, and in three years marry you to
Naomi in spite ofyour father-in spite of
the devil himself"
Uncle, have an idea"
"WellP"
81 will write to her."
every we'll"
After leaving my dear uncle, | sat
about writing that note. The writing
was no difficult matter, for had done it
hundred times before; the puzzle was
how to give it to her. However, there
was no time for indecision, so l soon
made up my mind, and, having purchas-
ed bunch of yellow roses, slipped my
declaration in among the flowers. | still
recall the words of that note. After de-
clarlng 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 evening" Then, would dare
speak of my-of our future plans.
"Ahl YOU hid that note in the bouquet?'
breathlessly interrupted Madame Lor-
gerel.
eyes, madame"
"And then?"
well, Naomi wore no flowers that
evening. / was desperate, and in my
misery sought to take my life. Ny good
uncle took me to Cermont, stayed there
two months, and did all in his power to
distract my thoughts from Naomi, de-
claring she never could have really cared
for me-"
'But, UNCLE" used to object. "she al
ways 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 l succeeded in banishing
Naomi's image from my heart. mar
ried the oolonel's daughter, who, eight
years later, left me childless widower.
My dear uncle has been long dead, and
l am now alone in the world. Would
you believe it, my friends.-I often to
this day think Of Naomi, and she is sill
to me, though now quite an old lad the
Naomi Of my story-my first love iall
graceful girl, with auburn hair, and, so
my uncle used tn say, black velvet eyes.
"You know not what become of herr"
"No, madame"
Then your name is not Descoud-
raies%
mo; that is the name of my uncle's
estate; mine is d'Altheim."
81 knew i'll"
"Why?-how?"
81 will tell you what become of Naomi
she loved YOU"
But the note-the roses?"
"She never found your note. Your
sudden departure cost her many bitter
tears, and then she married Monsieur
de Lorgerel.
an. de Lorgerel"