The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-07-24
AFTER FIFTY YEARS.
The Scene Of q War Romance
Laid In a Cellar.

BY making gigantic effort had at las
succeeded in pushing up the heavy sash O
the old-fashioned guillotine window, ant
now, sitting in the broad window-seat,
was enjoying the scent of the great Springs
bush, which grew so close to the house tina
1T pushed its branches inside whenever il
had the opportunity, SO that sitting in tn.
window was almost like being in an arbor
was in Germany, of course, for guillotins
windows, as we call them, are still the
fashion in England, hear.
Yes; was in Germany, and it was the
day before Whit Sundays lovely May
day-and was just sixteen.
lam good deal more than sixteen now
but still, often, when the syringa is in
blossom, and the delicious fragrance comes
floating round me, the whole scene rises
again before my eyes, and see the old
fashioned garden, with its quaintly-cut
yews and box-hedges, and the apple trees
loaded with blossoms; the wainscotted
room, with the faded red carpet, and anti
quated furniture and ornaments; and,
looking through the folding doors into the
dining-r0o beyond, / see the long table
decked for some festal occasion, two chairs
wreathed with flowers, and before them, on
the table, two bouquets composed Of sprays
of myrtle.
see, too, sitting opposite me in capa-
cious armchair, my grandmother, little
old lady in white lace cap, with prayer
book on her knees, which she was reading
here at home because she could not get as
far as the chapel beyond the town gate. I
had been there myself that morning, all in
hurry, Just to see how 1t looked before
brought Granny to the house, and / had
seen that it was beautifully decked with
howers, and that there were wax tapers
enough to dazzle one.
After that had come back to the sswed-
ding house" and waited, for I could not
leave Granny quite alone; and while
waited puzzled myself to make out why
Uncle Dernau as we all called him, and his
wife should have chosen to celebrate their
golden wedding in the little country chapel
instead at in the large town church, which
seemed SO much more appropriate.
Ihen, too, wondered what could be the
meaning OF sundry mysterious illusions
which had heard made in the course of
the evening before. They had seemed to
amuse the rest very much, but I could
make nothing of them.
Uncle Dernau's little wife was a favorite
little woman, with bright eyes, brown hair
without a touch of grey in It, and had very
small hands and feet. How we had all ad-
mired her the night before, when, for s'the
very last time" as she said, she had danced
the charming minuet, which had been ar
ranged in her honor. can see her now in
ner oid,fashioned, marvelously short
wasted dress of silk, with three-cornered
fchu crossed over her chest little shoes
without heels, wide ribbon sandals and
embroidered stockings. Uncle Dernau
himself was her partner, and at The close
OF the dance he made her q low bow, saving
with CLEAN of fun and mischief in his
eyes,.
Madame, you dance like Frenchwoman.
and believe made mistake after all in
carrying you of from the French mon
Every one laughed at this, and Aunt
Denau FLUSHED like young girl. What
did II all mean! Could 1 ask Grannyi /
wondered. She had told me once that Aunt
Dernau was her Oldest and her dearest
friend, and that some day she would tell
me her history. Could remind her Of her
promise nowi
As looked at her she took off her specta-
ping down from my throne in the window,
seated myself on stool at her feet
Granny" l said coaxingly, couldn't
you tell me your friends story nowi You
know you promised, and it is Just the right
day for it. They won't be back for a couple
OF hours yet what with the service first,
and then the wedding. and long sermon,
and all the congratulations, SO we have
plenty of time"
Just then we caught the sound of distant
church-bells, by which we knew that the
chapel
"Ah, child,r said my grandmother. sit
was beautiful time when we two were
young, Lorchen and /; you never saw such
. little wild thing as she was They called
her the bird, because she was SO quick and
graceful, and had such bright eyes in her
pretty little head. There was not prettier
girl far or near: and there was something
about her so different from other girls, that
pne could hardly take ones eyes off her:
she was SO dainty and SO distingue.