The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-04-20
miscellaneous.
ROSE MARIE.

"Oh, if you want fine embroidery done
said my friend Mrs Ross, 81 can show you
such work as iSn't to be seen out of Limoges
and the broideries there are works of high art
Never saw anything in this country to com
pete with them until | happened, by the
merest chance, to stumble upon Rose Marie. "
Rose lIarie >" repeated. what a pref
ty name! The owner oft ought to be fresh,
sweet ant lovely as the eglantine kind of
wild simplicity, you know.
Mrs. Ross laughed.
Fresh, no. she said "She is only 90, but
she has had too much trouble to retain much
FRESHNESS sweet and lovely are hardly ap.
picabe t. one Of the women of Aries, who
look more like stately Junos than peasants.
Yes, she is simple enOu gh, and beautiful, too, if
you will, ut sh, will !ver remind you of the
eglantine--poo Rose Marie! 1t isn't often
that Ler d lip curry, into II smile. will
not tell yea her story until you have seen
her; it will m"ke yUu more sympathetic.
Come and we will go 10 her house"
We drove to Revere street, narrow
thoroughiare, and stopped before small
house set back in the yard. The borders
were gay with verbenas, pinks, and pansies,
those old-fashioned virtues of patience and
hardihood giving their best color and per-
Mrs Ross knocked at the white curtained
door.
"Entrez," said u deep voice from within.
The room we enerod was sparsey furnish
ed, but everything in it was shining with
cleanliness. A tall, emacated old woman
sat in an old armchair by the window, with q
piece of work in her hands. She nodded to
Mrs. Ross, and looked inquringly at me with
her hollow black eyes
"She is paralyzed," Mrs. Ross said to me
in English. "All her lower limbs are numb
All, Madame Breaux," in French, "this is
my friend, Mrs. l., who has come to see
Rose Marie about some work"
Take seats, mesdames," with courteous
gesture Rose Marie will be in directly.
She has gone out on some business. She left
Henri to take care of me" pointing with q
smile to a beautiful little boy of four years
old, who was peeping at us from the back of
her chair
would like my friend to see that robe
Rose Marie is cmbroidering for Nine. Du-
eros" said Mrs. Ross
at is there in napkin on the bed" the
old woman replied, "if you will take the
trouble to get it, madame. All, it is so hard
to be half alive, not able to move from my
scat"
held them before me.
A pale maize colored silk, with lendrils Of
the blue and white convolvulus embroidered
exqusitey on it. The grouping of the flow
ers was a work of art and the finish was
perfect.
Nine. Breaux smiled at my admiration.
"Ah. She works well, does Rose Marie
Madame, she was famous brodeuse and lace
maker, even in Aries, where the work is SO
fine. Ever since she was 10 years old she
ranked among tie best. But her eyes are
getting weak, all, SO weak !" with heavy
sigh. And then, if the worst comes r. She
clasped her hands with Il convulsive move
ment and her great mournful eyes filled with
tears.
"The poor girl has cried her eyes out"
Mrs. Ross said to me in a low voice "at least,
| believe her tears have rs much to do with
her failing vision as the work. While we
are waiting for her l will tell you a story.
The old woman there does not understand
one word ofEuglish.
"She married, Immediately after the last
war between France and Germany, against
her mothers wish. The old woman was
rabid French partisan and Rosa Marie's
lover was a sergeant in the Prussian army.
They lad known each other from childhood
and were betrothed before the war broke out,
but the mother, who has a furious temper,
tried to separate them.
"AiteI their marriage she made it so I'M
pleasant for tie Pru. sian that he determn,
ed to cone to America, He said he would
settle somewhere West and then send for his
wife and child, on nc account was the mother
to come. She must choose between them but
if she elected to remain in France, then lit
tie Henri must come 10 him,
81 think Satan got into the old woman,
for she acknowledged that she destroyed the
husband letters to her daughter, and told
her moth ug al out it. AS she could not read
herself, ne know not ing Of the contents, nor
where X ri WIS.
"a We, ago she ha stroke of paralysis,
and thin King she was going to die, confess
cd the wrong she had done to the unhappy
wife, who believed her husband had desert.
ed her, What to do she did not know In
that great wide America where was she TO
find Kali, where write to him,
cat last she determined 10 come over,
bringing her mother with her. She was an
only child, and she would not desert the help
less creature who had wrought her SO much
woe, She came first TO New Orleans, us Karl
had sailed for that port, but could hear moth
ing OF him."
mamma mammal cried the little boy
joyously, rushing to the door. All, but you
have stayed so long, So longp
She bent and took him up In her arms, and
as she smiled lovingly at him thought had
never seen more beautiful creature, 1t was
u great calm beauty which made her look
older than she really was,
1--WE are here before you, Rose Marie" said
Mrs, Ross. eve came to see you on bust
ness"
All, pardon, madam, but did not see YOU"
she said advancing slowly towards us. do
not know what has come over my eyes, press
ing her hand on the lids, mist is before
them, and see not clearly
Her mother gazed at her as she spoke with
q startled look.
"Are they worse, then, Rosa Marie? All,
my DOOR child did you go to doctor?"
"You should do so without delay" Mrs.
Ross added "Your eye-sight is too precious
to you to be neglected"
"Ah, yes, yes, madame, they are my bread
winners; but will go, positively, tomorrow.
Have you seen Nine. Ducross robe? Do
you like ity'
1t is exquisite She ought TO nav YOU a