The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-09-12
!" ROSE OF JERUSALEM

plains that stretched away as lar as the
eve could reach. But the sky ABOVE those
arid deserts was of dazzling hue, and
the waters of the river were as clear as
crystal There is an Indian story con-
corning the limpid clearness of this stream.
The traveller. approaching and seeing
the pebbly bottom at depth of-as be
ihinks-two or thee feet, boldly pluDges
in, and goes down 10 be seen no mure.
Herce lis piettier though more deceptive
lndian bi me. The waters of Deception.
Uyon these arid, wiud-swept piairies
al cl:ifs,ohe sees, here and there, balls of
what seem 10 be dried grasses, probably
rolled up together by the racing northers.
These balls lodge in the cracks and crew
ices of the cliffs. and become more dry
and, dusty as the winter season advances.
The younger of two men who appeared
TO be crossing the plains drew rein and
called his companions attention to the dry
and dusty balls that the wind had driven
before il.
What do you suppose they are ?" ask
ed tie elder man.
"Bupches of grass or the withered re-
mains Of birds nests"
..B rds' nests, With not solitary tree
except yon scragey mesquite in sight?"
said The other, racing his mustsng after a
ball flying by aid catching it deity as he
leaned from his saddle. He returned to
his c. companion and threw it to him. ut
is the Sempervirens, the Rose of Jerusa-
lem, The Resurrection Plant
"A plant2 This dry, dead bunch of
withered grass and sticks?' see
keep It until you get home-keep it
three months if you like--then put it into
u saucer OF water and see what happens.
Il will send it to Narcissa," said the
young man, putting it with several Others
into a pocket. She has quite collection
of curious plants already
The Comte de Sainl-Cyr, the foremost
engineer of the day. the prime mover in
the gigantic scheme of connecting the At
lantic aud Pacific by canal through the
Tehuantepee isthmus, was visiting NJ. de
Chalusse, an old friend of his, in a small
town In southwestern Texas. OF a wealthy
and ancient Lorraine family the self-exiled
Comte de Chalusse had come to Texas
during the epidemic of emigration tbat
swept over Germany and France, when
the ill-starred society of Meyence sent,
over enthusiastic Germans by the ship
load A friend of Salm-Salm, Chalusse
had visited the Sophienberg near Nassau,
and shared with the prince the vision of
uture empire upon the banks of the Lano
and the Rio Grande. When the society
of Meyence failed, and the Salm-Salm re-
turned 10 his Rhine castle, leaving the
Sophienberg 10 the owls and bats, M. de
Cnalusse returned to San Antonio, and
late in life married beautiful American
from one of the southern states. When
he heard that the great engineer had come
10 America and was seriously undertak
ing the task of cutting The great canal,
Chalusse wrote. 10 him, urging him to
come to San Antonio for old friendships
rake.
t-Cyr responded as cordially to the
cordial letter of invitation, and, curious TO
see bis old friend, followed his letter as
soon as practicable.
The meeting was affecting. The. Comte
de Chalusse poured out torrent of ques-
lions concerning his country his old home.
Salnt-Cyr recounted his triumphs, his sor-
sows, his joys. 1t was the meeting of
brothers. A neat serving woman brought
in cake and wine. They did not see her.
After two or three hours of uninterupt.
ed enjoyment, wherein both often talked
at once, Mime. de Chalusse, still Leautiful,
lDOuSu III JOuSC1 tcAJ yOuhSt dppCoASu.
''Messieurs, am sorry 10 disturb, but
dinner has been waiting for half an hour"
Then. seeing The untouched cake and
wine: Edmonde, I wonder at your
.tbouehtlessness. M. de Salnt-Cyr must
be faint"
Chalusse looked from the waiter to his
wife in comical dismay. But Saint.Cyr
replied, courteously:
Madame, have thought of nothing
but the pleasure Of seeing an old friend
for the first time in thirty years"
.sHave you found HIM much changed
by his ill-forlune?"
.Ill-forsune? My dear lady, consider
him the most fortunate of men. He hasn't
deserved such happiness"
His atlmiring glance pointed his remark.
The lady made some gay reply, and the
three went to dinner.
TIE table was set in the courtyard of
the house, which was built in the airy,
pleasant Mexican fashion. Large trees !
that grew in the open space shaded The
impromptu salle-a-manger, and flowers.
in pots of Mexican earthenware, bloomed
upon the. surrounding verandas and bal
onies
esWhere is Narcissa?" asked M. de Cha
lusse, as they look their seats.
As he spoke Il young lady appeared up
On the upper piazza and presently entered
the courtyard little out of breaIh. She
was about 10 or twenty years OF age, and
fitly clad ia summer white.
.sMv daughter, this is the old friend Of
your father, the Connie de Saint-Cyr, of
whom you have heard so often. This is
my only COLD Rene" -
Narcisse put out her hand and exclaim
ed
Monsieur, is it possiblef If you only
knew how delighted We are. We have
talked of nothing but you for the past
three months; in fact. ever since we knew
that you were to cut the great canal for
us" "a.
Saint Cyr looked at her wonderingly.
What far flower of France was this bloom
49, Il ~, NOW ,xorld7 She Ind her faith