Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-06-24
ROSE OF JERUSALEM. I"
BY C. NJ. GJRARDEAU.


barer plains that stretched away as far
as the eye could reach. But the sky
above these arid deserts. was of a
dazzling hue. and the waters of the
river were as clear as crystal There is
an Indian story concerning the limpid
clearness of this stream
The traveller approaching and seeing
the pebbly bottom at depth of-as he
thinks-two or three feet boldly
plunges in and goes down to be seen
no more. Hence its prettier, though
more suggestive Indian name, "The
Waters of Deception"
Upon these arid, wind-swept prairies
and cliffs one sees, here and there, balls
of what seems to be dried grasses, pro-
badly rolled up together by the racing
northers. These balls lodge in the
cracks and creviccs of the cliffs, and
become more dead and dry as the win
ter season advances.
The younger of two men, who APP
peared to be crossing the plains, drew
rein and called his companions atten-
ton to the dry and dusty balls that the
wind was driving before it.
What do you suppose they are?"
asked the elder man.
punches of grass, or the withered
remains of birds nests"
Birds nests, with not a solitary
tree except yon scraggy mesquite in
sight?" said the other, racing his
mustang after ball flying by and
catching it deity as he leaned from his
saddle. He returned to his companion
and threw it to him. " 1t is the Sem
pervirens, the Rose of jerusalem the
Resurrection Plant.
"a plant? This dry, dead bunch OF
withered grass and sticks?"
Keep it until you get home-keep
it three months if you like, then put
it into a saucer of water and see what
happens"
II will send it to Narcissa," said
the young man, putting it with sew
eral others into a pocket 'She has
quite collection of curious plants
already
The Comte de Saint-Cyr, the fore
most engineer of the day, the prime
mover in the gigantic scheme Of con-
Meeting the Atlantic and Pacific by a
canal through the Tehuantepec 18TH
mus, was visiting Monsieur de Cha
lusse, an old friend of his, in a small
town in southwestern Texas. OF a
wealthy and ancient Lorraine family,
the sclf-cXiled Comte de Chalusse had
come to Texas during the epidemic of
emigration that swept over Germany
and France, when thu ill-starred So
clety of Mayence sent over enthusas-
tic Germans by the shipload. A
visited the Sophienburg near Nassau,
and shared with the prince the vision
of future empire upon the banks of
the Llano and the Rio Grande. When
Salm-Salm returned to his Rhine castle,
leaving the Sophienburg to the owls
and bats, Monsieur de Chalusse re-
turned to San Antonio, and late in
life married a beautiful American
from one of the Southern States.
When he heard that the great engineer
had come to America, and was SER
iously undertaking the task of cutting
the great canal, Chalusse wrote to
him, urging him to come to San An
tonic for old friendships sake.
. Saint-Cyr responded as cordially to
the cordial letter of invitation, and
curious to see his old friend, followed
his letter as soon as practicable.
The meeting was affecting. The
Comte de Chalusse poured out tor
rent of questions concerning his coun-
try, his old home. aint-Cyr recount
ed his triumphs. his sorrows, his joys.
1t was the meeting of brothers. A
neat serving-woman brought in cakes
and wine. They did not see her.
After two or three hours of unin-
terrupted enjoyment, wherein both
often talked at once, Madame de
Chalusse, still beautiful, though nc
longer very young, appeared.
"Messieurs, | am sorry to disturb
but dinner has been waiting for half ar
hour" then, seeing the untouched cake
and wine, "Edmonde, l wonder at your
Observation-Disclosures de Saint
Cyr must be faint"
Chalusse looked from the waiter t.
his wife in comical dismay, but Saint
Cyr replied, courteously:
Madame, l have thought of moth
ing but the pleasure of seeing an ole
friend for the first time in thirty
years"
Have you found him much changed
by his ill-fortuneP"
"Ill-fortunc? My dear lady, l con
slider him the most fortunate of men
he hasn't deserved such happiness"
His admiring glances pointed hi
remark. The lady made some ga,
reply. and the three went in to din
ner.
The table was set in the court ware
of the house, which was built in tn,
airy, pleasant Mexican fashion. Larg,
trees that grew in the open spac,
shaded the impromptu salle-a-manger
and flowers, in pots of Mexican earth
enware, bloomed upon the surround
ing verandas and balconies.
Where is Narcissa?" asked Mon
sieur de Chalusse, as they took shei
seats.
AS he spoke young lady appeare,
upon the upper piazza, and present..
entered the court yard little out o
breath. She was about nineteen O
twenty years of age, and fifty clad il
summer white.
my daughter, this is the old frien
of your father, the Comte de Saint
Cyr, of whom you have so often heard
This is my only child, Rene"