, 1884-02-26
A LOVE TOKEN.


her beauty WINS IN intoLication to the eyo-
She was "a. She answered TO the sweet mama
If Amelia. m #
For myself, 1 was simple and credulous and
romantic. Happy times, that never return.
Iloved her as one loves but once-or twice
Or thrice at most. Ny Ameliai
When / pronounced that name thsre was a
grand concert in my heart and q symphony
On my lips. Ny Ameliai
l met her first in a car. Yes, she was alone
with me, and her pantomime of delicious
tmidity made me risk some phrases OF insin-
uating politeness- Shelistensd BY the time
other passengers arrived / had arrived at
permission to call.
But why arouse those poignant memoriesi
My friends, pour me a little of thai absinthe.
1 will spare you trining details We adored
neither of her charms nor of her goodness
The enumeration would fill pages Only
among all those attractions was one fatal gift
which fascinated, intoxicated, transported
me-her hairl Such hair. All blonde divin-
tiles could give you but an insufficient idea.
But Why arouse these poignant memoriesl
Ny friends, pour mo a little Of that absinthe.
Whom one passed. his hand over tho silken
tresses there was the sensation OF satin com-
bined with that of velvet, with the addition
Of an electric thrill. As to the color, Della
croix, in his best days, would have broken
his palette In spite. The hairs Of that dear
bead did not cease to run in mine.
Ono day, after long hesitating 70 risk such
a bold request, I stammered:
Dearest, IL am afraid you may be Of
Tended at what l desire"
offended II ! can please you, you know
very well l nm ready TO do as you wish"
my dearest, you have the hair of the Sui
tan's favortte."
~You know I dotest compliments"
Ii does not keep you from vAluing that
bend OF hair"
"For your sake-to please you"
"For me-thon you will not refuse me -
9WhatfH
-To let me cut on q lock of it'll"
But why arouse these poignant momoriesi
My friends, pour mo a little OF the Chamber
tin.
1 waited breathlessiy for her answer. 1
trembled lest she might refuse.
But she smiled lovingly upon me and said:
@Behold then, that sacrifice so formidablel
What a boy, to believe l love him too little
to accord him such a slight proof OF love.
Yes, Mr.. Doubter, you shall have the lock,
and what is more, ! will take It myself and
have it made into a Homogeneous initials
interlaced."
HOhl thanks.p
Are you satisfied I~nRratei-
NAm l sntisfedl-but when-r
Tomorrow morning-not to take down
my hair at this moment-I viii cut the lock
off with my own hand
%Yes, darling-yes, my .adored ons-only
toll the jeweler to hurry"
B easy"
1 was radiant Ny heart leaped for 10y.
That night-it was the best l could dol
sent Amelia a pair of diamond earrings.
But why arouse these poignant msmoriesi
My friends, pou me n little nbsinthe.
Three days passed A centuryi Each
morning ! hoped TO find at AmeliAs house the
promised treasure At last, the fourth day,
as entered:
Sit down there, sir"
Behold me obey, my beautyr
"Stoop over"
at is done"
Il make you Chevalior OF Low and I pass
around your neck the badge OF my Order"
MY locket with the hairi 1t Is admirablei
How the hair Ii interviewer; It Is only your
silky ringlets that would DO flexible enough
for such curves. And that shade, that I
should recognize among a hundred thousand
what do sayi There do not exist two
like that on the surface of the civilized
globeT
-rhen you are contentedf'
II am in P~aradisei"
That night had 10 make her some return
i sent Amelia an Indian shawL
But why arouse these poignant memofiesi
My friends, pour me a little OF that nbsinthe.
There are moments In life when one does
not understand why the heart does not burst
experiences such a moment 1 had gone
what had increased Its value a hundred
told-She had sworn to me that 1