The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-04-19

soy w ing, DIS ue pres6eO my u4uu SEQ
that, see. But you do not understand
me; l know you don't If You did, We
would be happy. One must love TO .un-
derstand." would laugh aud kiss ske
child that was so much attached to me.
Often, also, after dinner, he would cit
on my mothers knees. @Now, auuty,s
would he say, tell me some love storiss. !"
And mother, fol fun, would Felats to him
all the legends of his family, oil the pas.
sionate adventures of his forefaahers, au,l
of these there were not few-thousands
and thousands of them were spoken of.
true as we'll as false. 1t was the reputa-
tiOn of these men that destroyed them.
Their minds would get worked up, aud
then they gloried in keeping mp the fam
lily fame.
The little fellow would become ami
mated over these tender or terrible uarra-
tives, and at times he woald clap his
hands as he would repeat over and over !:
II, too, know how to love, and better
than any of them.''
And then he began courting me in a
timid aud tender manner that made every
body laugh, 80 odd did it seem. Every
morning received bunch of flowers
that he had gathered for me, and every
night, before going up to his room, he
would kiss my hand and murmer: 81 love
your
was wrong, very wrong, and l still
weep over my folly. All my life have
done penance on account Off, and have
remained an old maid, or rather l have
lived as a widowed betrothed, his widow.
l would amuse myself with this childish
affection; | even encouraged him; was
coquettish and bewitching, just as
might have been with man. I made
the child dote upon me. 1t was fun for
me and an amusing pastime for his
mother and for mine. He was IL years
old. Just think who would ever have
imagined that this atoms love was Sc
rious ? would kiss him whenever he
asked me to; would even write him
tender notes which our mothers would
read, and he would answer me with let
ters full of passion, which still pre-
serve. Believing himself a man he sup
posed that our love was kept secret. We
had all lost sight of the fact that he was
de Santeze?
Things went on in this way for year
or so. One evening in the park he fell at
my feet, and kissing the hem of my dress
he cried out passionately: 81 love you. /
love you, love you to death. If you ever
deceive me you understand what l am
saying; if you ever forsake me for anoth.
er, l shall do as did my father" And
he added in a deep voice that sent chill
through me: "You know what he did"
Then, as l stood motionless, dunn
founded, he arose, and standing on tiptoe
80 as to reach my ear, he whispered my
name, "Genevleve in so sweet, 80
pretty, 80 tender a tone that could not
help trembling all over.
/ stammered: Let us return home"
He said nothing more, but followed me
in silence; Just as we were about to as
cend the front door steps, however, he
stopped me, and said. Remember, that
if you forsake me l shall kill myself
Then, but only then, l realized that
had gone too far, and thenceforth l be-
came more reserved with him. One day,
as he reproached me for having changed
toward him, l replied. "You are too
big to jest with now, and not yet old
enough for serious love. | shall wait
till you are.
thought that this would end it all.
In autumn he was sent to boarding
school. When he returned the following
summer was engaged. He understood
Immediately how matters stood, and tor
eight DAYS went abont with so thought
full mien that became alarmed.
The ninth day, as ! left my bed in the
morning, noticed small folded paper
that had been slipped under my door.
Picking it up and opening it | read
"You have forsaken me you know what
told you. You have condemned me to
death. AS do not wish to be found by
any one but you, 60 into the park, to
the spot where told you last year that
/ loved you, and look up"
felt that was going crazy. dressed
myself in all haste and ran 80 fast to the
designated spot that was out of breath
when | reached it. His little school cap
lay on the ground in the mud. It had
perceived something swinging about
among the leaves for it was windy, very
windy, that morning.
don't know what happened after that.
must have screamed and tainted dead
away afterward, for when came to my
senses found myself in bed, with my
mother at my side.
I thought that had dreamed all this
that had had horrible nightmare.
l stammered "Where, where is Con-
TRAMP" No one answered. Twas true,
then.
l did not dare to 60 to look at him !;
but begged for lock of his hair. This
-this-is it.
And with q look of poignant despair
the old lady held out her trembling hand.
She blew her nose several times, dried
her eyes and continued 81 broke off
my marriage-wi without saying why. And
I.Ihave ever emained-the-the widow
of that child Is years Old" Then, drop
ping her head, she sobbed aloud and
wept bitterly for long while.
AS we went up to our rooms to rest,
burly hunter, whose peace of mind her
narrative seemed to have unsettled, whis-
pered to bis neighbor:
"Isn't it unfortunate that . person
should be 90 confoundedly sentimental rs
that pr 7tansLated for the 7smes-D Demo
crat from the French Of Gug de Mdu-
pass0nt.
Miss Clara" be said, "can / speak
with your father moment or two before
l go"
"Certainiy, Mr.. Sampson" replied the
girl, ,blushing, and with wildly throbbing