Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-17
ROSE OF JERUSALEM"


Devils river, and the tarrener, bareI
plains that stretched away as far as the
eye could reach. But the sky above these
arid deserts was of dazzling hue, and the
waters of the river were as clear as cry.
stall. There is an Indian story concern
ing the limpid clearness of the water OF
this stream.
The traveller, approaching and seeing
the pebbly bottom at a depth of-as he
thinks-two or three feet, boldly plunges
in, and goes down to be seen no more
Hence its prettier, thought more sugges-
tive, Indian name, "The Waters of Decep
ton"
Upon these arid wind-swept prairies
and cliffs, one sees here and there, balls of
what seem to be dried grasses, probably
rolled up by the racing nOrtherners
These balls lodge in the cracks and crew
ices of the cliffs, and become more dead
and dry as the winter season advances.
The younger of the two men who APP
peared to be crossing the plains drew rein
and called his companions attention to
the dry and dusty balls that the wind was
driving before it.
"What do you suppose they are?" asked
the elder man.
"Bunches of grass or the withered re-
mains of birds nests"
Birds nests, with not a solitary tree
except yOn scraggy mesquite in sight?''
said the other, racing his mustang after a
ball flying by and catching it deftly as he
leaned from his saddle. He returned to
his companion and threw it at him. ''It
is the Sempervirens, 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 will hap
pen"
Il will send it to Narcissa," said the
man, putting it with several others into a
pocket. "She has quite collection of
plants already"
The Comte de Saint Cyr, the foremost
engineer of the day, the prime mover in
the gigantic scheme OF connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific by canal through
the Tehauntepec isthmus, was visiting
M. 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 emigra-
that swept over Germany and France.
when the ill-starred society of Meyence
sent over enthusiastic Germans by the
shiplOad. A friend of Salm-Salm, Chal-
usse had visited the SOphienberg near
Nassau, and shared with the prince the
vision of future empire upon the banks
of the LlanO and the Rio Grande. When
the society of Meyence failed, and Salm-
Salm returned to his Rhine castle, leav-
ing the Sophienberg to the owls and bats,
M. de Chalusse returned to San Antonio,
and late in life marsied beautiful Amer
of hp
When he heard that the great engineer
had come to America, and was seriously
undertaking the task of cutting the great
canal, Chalusse wrote to him, urging him
to come to San Antonio for old friend
ships 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 torrent of ques-
tions concerning his country, his old
home. st. Cyr recounted his triumphs,
his sorrows; his joys. 1t was the meet
ing of brothers. A neat serving woman
brought in cake and wine. They did not
see her.
After two or three hours of uninter-
rupted enjoyment, wherein both often
talked at once, Nine de Chalusse, still
beautiful, though no longer very young
appeared.
''Messieurs, [ am sorry to disturb, but
dinner has been waiting for half an
hour" Then seeing the untouched cake
and wine: "Edmonde, I wonder at your
thoughtlessness-M. de Saint-Cyr must
be faint"
Chalusse looked from the waiter to his
wife in comical dismay, but Saint-Cyr re-
piled, courteously:
Madame. 1 have thought of nothing
but the pleasure of seeing an old friend
for the first time in thirty years"
Have you found him much changed
by his illfOrtune?"
"Ill-fortune! My dear lady, I consider
him the most fortunate of men. He HASN'T
deserved such happiness"
His admiring glance pointed his re-
mark. The lady made some gay reply
and the three went to dinner.
The table was set in the court yard of
the horse, which was built in the airy
pleasant Mexican fashion. Large trees
that grew in the open space shaded the
improptu salle-a-manger, and flowers, in
pots of Mexican earthenware, bloomed
upon the surrounding verandas and bal
comics.
Where is Narcissa?" asked Nj. de Chal-
usse as they took their seats.
As he spoke young lady appeared up
on the upper piazza and presently enter
ed the courtyard little out of breath.
She was about 10 or 20 years of age, and
fifty clad in summer white.
My daughter this is the old friend of
your father, the Comte de st. Cyr, of
whom you have heard so often. This is
my only child, Rene
Narcissa put out her hand and ex-
claimed:
Monsieur, it possible? If you only
knew how delighted we are. We have
talked of nothing but you for the past
two months; in fact, ever since we knew
that you were to cut the great canal for
u.s."
Saint Cyr looked at her wonderingly
What fair flower of France was this bloom
ing in the new world?
She had her fathers straight and ra TIA
er cold features, but her mothers dark.
vivid, and eloquent eyes" She had her