The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-25
@ROsE OF JERUSALEM. y
" c. u. o1RARprAu.

u G. u. GlRARDEAU.
A cold. cutting wind from the mort
blew across the barren, naked cliffs Q
the DEVILS river. and the barrener
barer plains that stretched away Is ia
~ the eye could reach. But the SIX
above these arid deserts. was Of
dazzling hue. and the waters of tn
river were Is clear as crystal. There i
an Indian story concerning the limpi,
clearness Of this stream.
The traveller approaching and seeing
the pebbly bottom at u depth of-as h
thinks-two or three feet, boldl,
plunges in and goes down to be seel
no more. Hence its prctticr, though
more suggestive Indian name, 9TH,
Waters of Deception"
Upon these arid. wind-swept prairie
and cliffs one sees, here and there, ball
of what seems to be dried grasses. pro
badly rolled up together by the racin:
northers. These balls lodge in TIL
cracks and crcvices of the cliffs, an.
become more dead and dry as the win
ter season advances.
The younger of two men, who ap
pesred to be crossing the plains, drew
rein and called his companions atten
ton to the dry and dusty balls that tn
wind was driving before it.
"What do you suppose they are?'
asked the elder man.
"Bunches of grass. or the witheret
remains of birds ncsts.''
Birds nests. with not a SOLITARY
tree except yon scraggy mesquite il
dghtp" said the other. racing hi.
mustang after ball flying by ant
catching it deity as he leaned from hi
saddle. He returned to his companion
and threw it to him. +" 1t is the Sem
pervirens. the Rose of jerusalem the
Resurrection Plant ~
IA plant? This dry, dead bunch Of
withercd grass and sticks?"
keep it until you get home-keer
1t three months if you like, then put
It into a saucer of water and see whsl
happens.
II will send it to Narcissa," said
the young man, putting it with sew.
cral others into a pocket. "Shc has
quite a 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 6
canal through the Tehuantepec 18th.
mus. was visiting Monsieur de Cha.
lusse. an old friend of his. in q small
town in southwestern Texas. Of q
wealthy and ancient Lorraine family,
tho self-exiled Comte de Chalusse had
come to Texas during the epidemic Of
emigration that swept over Germany
and France, when the ill-starred so.
clety of Mayence sent over enthusias-
tic Germans by the shipload. A
friend of Salm-Salm, Chalusse had
visited the Sophienburg near Nassau,
and shared with the prince the vision
Of . future empire upon the banks Of
the Llano aud the Rio Grande. When
the society of Mayence failed, and
salln-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 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 q tor.
rent of questions concerning his coun.
try. his old home. Saint-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. l am sorry to disturb,
but dinner has been waiting for half an
hour;;" then, seeing the untouched cake
and vine, "Edmonde, / wonder ut your
thoughtlessnsss de Saint.
Cyr must be faint"
Chalusse looked from the waiter to
his wife in comical dismay. but Saint.
Cyr replied. courteously:
'Aadame. I have thought of moth.
ing but the pleasure of seeing an old
friend for the first time In thirty
years."
"Have you found him much changed
by his iN-fortune?''
'Ill-fortune? My dear lady, con.
slider him the most fortunate of men,
he hasn't deserved such happiness.
His admiripg 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 yart
of the house. which was built in III,
airy, pleasant Mexican fashion. Larg,
trees that grew in the open spac,
shaded the impfomptu salle-a-manger
and flowers. inpots OF Mexican earth
cnware, bloomcd upon tile surround
ing yerandas and balconies.
Where is NarcissaP" asked Mon
sieur dc Chalusse. o. they took thei
seats.
As he spoke young lady appeared
upon the upper plaza, and present.!
entered the court yard a 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 frient