Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-03-15
The Black Rose.
translated from the German, by w.
n. Harden.

- OAh viz ocTIuany by w
n. Harden.
IL any one had said year ~eo tina
L would ever have run throarh fin
Or wing snow and storm, aftor blacl
rose, certainly would have declare,
that person to be bereft OF ordinar,
intelligence; but now l could very ap
propriately ask myself. il / were il
the full possession of my mental DOW
ers; for only few days bince, went
all over the city anxiously endeavor.
Ing to purchase one. regardless O.
cost-because Eveline had expressed a
desire to have one. She deprived me
OF my Judgment, with her bewitchino
smile, her meaning chances, her great,
deep eyes, tho graceful poise of hen
head. and her beautiful, majestic
shoulders. She entrapped me in a
net woven from thousand Ease ma
ting, insnaring, threads, in which she
drew me whittier she would; and on
that occasion she drew me after the
black rose.
do not know exactly how it came
about | have always been such n
quiet thoughtful man. and falling in
love was the last thing | would have
thought of doing; but at the fateful
ball, exactly one year ago. when |
saw her in that yellow satin bod ce.
with her golden hair, the dark, pretti-
ly archcd eyebrows, and her fa,ry-hko
movement; from that hour | was not
like my former self She was pretty.
but not positively beautiful; one could
also not read any great depth OF feel
ing or character in her deep gray
eyes; she was bright and versatile. but
had no especial talent, and her con-
verSational powers were only ordinary
1 knew that her family were in very
moderate circumstances, and there
fore believed that she would not object
10 marry some young man of fortune.
knew that she knew | was IN good
circumstances, and felt that if | won
her. that my fortune would have much
TO DO with it; and vet / followed her
like, yes, like Il faithful little doc.
and could not tear myself from the
magic chains she threw around me.
She seemed TO enjoy every possible
luxury; how she managed TO DO so. |
could never understand, for her ex-
travagance would almost bankrupt a
man. She did not trouble herself
about household affairs; and strongly
suspected that her mother had to ex-
ert every energy to keep up the ap-
pearance OF ease and comfort before
the outside world. and that she worked
secretly to contrve that her daughter
might dress elegant and becomngly.
did not know whether she really |
loved me or not; sometimes | hoped |
so, from her actions, but was never
sure of it; i was, therefore. contin- |
lally troubled with the uncertainty so |
that II single day passed without my |
seeing her and exchanging few |
words with her, was absolutely MIS-
cradle. This state of affairs lasted for |
n whole year. / could not make up
my mind to give her up. and was, also,
not willing, exactly, to take any decided
step which would bind me for life to
the enchantress. She attended ball
after ball, went to all fashionable places
OF amusement and each time she sue
ceeded in making her toilet more yecker-
che than any one else. For the coming
ball she fancied that she wanted black
rose to wear in her golden hair; that
would be novel, would attract atten-
ION, admiration and wonder and
would excite the envy of some.
But were there any black roses i'm ex-
stence? asked myself, when / thought
)i gratifying her wish; | had read of
such rare flower be ny on exhibition
1t flower expos tons, but had never
zen one; and all of my acquaintance
whom l asked about it sad they did
rot think they could be gotten One
If them said that he had seen rose so
iarkly red that it was almost black:
)ut that was several years ago. ALali
vents 1t seemed that they were very
are; and how was l to obtain one i'm
winter timer | went to at least ten
lower stores. six gardeners, and every
where that | thought had a ghost of
chance TO get it, but in vain.
Marie. the daughter of the flower
caler at Kings place-my pretty little
riend whom / had known from her
hildhood--said she had had, once, two
oses almost black, VIII ch she had sold
o Graf. Egousfeld, and which had
auSed sensation at the court ball and
'as afterwards mentioned i'm the report
4 the ball on account of their great
arity and beauty.
Marie was a charming girl-young,
looming. pretty, modest aud loved by !
verybOdy, and was said TO be rich, for ,
or father-whose only child she was.
ad the most extensive and prosperous {
usiness of the KIND supported by the I
lost distinguished and wealthy class. I
larie regarded me with an interest. |
hitch she tried in vain to conceal. Her ,
ice would turn pale and then would 9
over with bushes when / would enter
ne store suddenly, and sometimes
hen she spoke TO me her voice would r
'emble. And l could see her pretty 4
elicate little hand culver when she r
elivered the flowers to me, which / 4
itentimes purchased more to get n v
nance to feast my eyes on her pretty :
zee and to engage her in few words c