The Press., 1888-03-01

married man I did not know it at the time. Several years later I married your father." .
 i"And was not much in love with him 2" ~ Not much"
 Lenchen retired from the room and went to bed. She bad not obtained much infor. nation from her mothers conversation. The only thing she had learned was that one does not often marry one's first love. Ah, no, indeed, she had never thought of marrying the handsome, aristocratic gen. tleman, who certainly was her first love. Since that time he often came to the store to buy a rose for the button-hole He was always pleasant and smiling, but did not court or compliment her, as did other men. And yet she was so happy after seeing him and having heard few words from him and looked into his mild blue eyes.
 
 n was the twenty second day of March, Emperor Williams 'gebartstay." The weather was chilly; but the sun shone quite brightly in the morning, and Lenchen stood in the store door and looked at the people that hurried through the street towards the arcade from whence the stu dents procession was to start. Then came an elegant landau drawn by four prancing horses. In the vehicle sat four students in their pretty suits with wide sashes. He was one of them and held the silk flag, the embroidery of which glistened in the sun light. The conveyance stopped, he hand ed the flag to one of his comrades and hurried into the store Lenchen did not dare to raise her eyes. So handsome she had never seen him before. He resembled knight of the middle ages who had sud denly dropped down into our prosaic pres. ent The tight-fitting black velvet jacket. white trousers, with high shining boots, set off his powerful figure, over the shoul- der he carried wide sash of rose-red, white and yellow, and the small, round cap was of similar colors, and he wore long, white gloves.
 "Now, my pretty miss, said he, you must give me your prettiest rose. To-day we must be in gala dress, as we are to ap. pear at court and shake the hand of our old emperor on his fiftieth birth day" Lenchen handed him a beautiful rose. "YOu must also be kind enough to pin it on," said he, "I cannot move my finger in these stiff gloves" Lenchen had to stand tip-toe to reach up Her fine figure almost rested on his bosom and he bad allowed one arm to rest on her shoulders. Her heart beat violently, and her trembling hands could scarcely fasten the flower | Perhaps he guessed what was taking place in her heart. He drew his arm tighter around her, and as he stopped over her placed kiss upon her fair forehead. The rose was fastened, he touched his cap gal lantly and jumpedi the landau. Lenchen stood there trembling aud blushiug with dropping head. As if in a dream she saw the vehicle hurry away, and the gold em- broidery sparkled in the sunlight. She involuntarily passed her hand over her fore head, yet burning from the touch of his warm lips. She felt abashed and yet SO happy. What could she do when he re- turned But he did not return very soon. |
 Weeks passed by, as did also months, and he had not yet come a single time to buy roses from the south. But there was no longer any necessity for this. Now he could pick them anywhere, as the cold spring weather had long since disappeared and the warm touch of summer brought into being flowers everywhere In vain did Lenchen peep through the store win dows by day, in vain she sought him even- , ings among the thousands assembled in exhibition park. Her rose knight had dis appeared. But one day he again entered the store {; smiling as usual he stood there Lenchen felt the blood rush to her head , and to conceal her emotion she stopped to select one of his favorite howers "No, to-day I am not satisfied with a single : rose" he said, smiling, "I must have an entire boquet of genuine imperial roses " "Then we will first have to find one, " said Lenchen.
 "Yes, will you be kind enough to do so and send it away this forenoon" } She took down the address. It was to a lady with a noble name. Then he touched his cap, smiled and was gone. Lenchen held his card in her hand lt was
 KURT voN RABENAN, with crown over the name. This was his name then, and the noble miss to whom he was going to send the prettiest roses was his happy betrothed, no doubt. This was why he was so buoyant and happy, and thus was why he seemed to have forgotten that he in a moment of festive feeling had pressed the little hower-girl to his heart She had not forgotten it. she never would forget it she constantly felt his kiss burn- ing upon her forehead.
 In the evening as usual she tripped about among the tables with her basket. It was [ Saturday in the latter part of July The trees stood fresh and green in the glimmer of electric lights. the military band played, and everywhere was a mixed multitude of people, while the lighted railway trains passed by over theIr heads and reflected themselves like wagons of fire against the dark blue heaven. May l select - l She could see no more the words stuck ill her throat. There he sat at the table with two ladies, one old and one young,
 the latter tall, blonde and handsome us } himself
 , That's right, miss, he called to her, "Come with lots of roses. Mama must have bouquet and my betrothed one, ,and I must have rose for the button hole, one of the usual"
 "Yon appear to be old acquaintances, !" said his betrothed.
 "Yes, she always gives me her prettiest flowers. The bouquet l sent you vas from her, and also the fine rose I wore on the emperor's 'geburtstay' and which I gave you-you remember"
 She blushed with happy smile. "I will always keep it."
 He counted the money to pay Lenchen "And these roses will have to console you during my absence, when tomorrow go into the country"
 "The parting will not be long" she said, tomorrow evening will meet you at the
 depot" .ss=.
 "And will bring you a magnificent } bouquet of wild flowers of my own pick