Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-24

thought nothing of Leonard's unobtrusive
ones. She thought of him as pleasant,
gentlemanly fellow, but had her mind not
been SO taken up with FRANCHISE, she GER
tainly would not have encouraged him
with her sweet smiles and friendly glances.
The last day on shipboard came, but
many of the passengers were en- route for
California, Leonard and his sisters among
the lot; so there were few good-byes to
say, and they were soon on the overland
train.
Celeste enjoyed every day, her large
brown eyes never missed anything or any
part of the varied scenes she was passing
through. The deserts, with their cactus
growth, or barren mountain peaks, alike
interested her. In the evening, the
fascination seemed weird. The headlight
of the locomotive threw in relief the de-
files and passes mountains seemed to draw
near and peer curiously at the train, then
receding, withdrew into yet darker shades
and grim, swift, vanishing outline,
telegraphing from one mountain peak
to the other, in thunderous roar, the on
coming train, then dying away in utter
silence of the approaching plains.
They reached San Francisco at nightfall,
when the city lights were twinkling like
stars. FRANCHISE was to meet them at Oak
land, and Leonard watched curiously
every one that came on the boat, but no
sign of the son and lover Expecting to
meet them he had given no address of the
home he had prepared for them.
With bounce and jar the ferry-boat
came to the city wharf Celeste chung to
her aunt in terrified anxiety, all the color
having left her cheeks.
Leonard saw her anxiety for the welfare
of her lover, and he sighed and bit his
mustache savagely as he thought how if
he had been the expectant one. The in
difference or selhshness, as he called it, of
FRANCHISE would have been replaced by
waiting eagerneSs. Seeing their distress,
he came to their assistance and saw them
to nice hotel, and although it was his
homecoming after six months absence,
he left his sisters to tell his parents why he
was late, and he hurried to the bank
where FRANCHISE was cashier to obtain
some tidings of him. 1t was after hours
and the bank was shut, so he had to 90 up
town to the Presidents rooms. Here he
found out that FRANCHISE had obtained a
holiday the day before, giving as reason
| that he had some extra preparations to
make. He had not been at the bank
since.
Back to the hotel he went and told them
of his fruitless errand. Poor Mrs. De Mer-
rit flung herself, sobbing bitterly, on the
sofa, and Celeste paced the room in intense
agitation.
What a blow to all her fond anticipa-
tions. Leonard stood uncertain and I'M
| happy. He could not bear to see Celeste
looking so hopeless. His own love for
her was true and genuine, and her sorrow
made him unhappy. Celeste's own kind
heart prompted her to forget moment
arily her grief and thank him for his
| kindness, and then, after assuring them
he would do all he could on the morrow,
he babe them goodnight and left them
alone in their hopeless sorrow.
Days passed into a week and yet no
tidings. Every day Leonard came and
reported Then he beguiled them to visit
the sights of the city so as to distract
partly their bitter thoughts-the Cliff
house and euvirons, and park, and across
the bay. Leonard always said on these
trips, To-day we may find him. l alone
would not know him, but with your help
1t may be possible" Celeste's company
was all he wanted to make him happy.
All this time, where vas FRANCHISE
As the President said, he had obtained a
holiday, and with happy, beating heart he
saw that the home was ready for the ex-
pected occupants. Then he had some pri-
! vate business to Vallejo, and had taken the
Inflated ferry-boat Julia that morning.
In the explosion of the boiler he had been
| hurled into the water, his head hitting a
| floating timber; an old longshoreman had
picked him up and carried him in his
| boat to his home, three miles away. There
they had nursed him for three weeks,
while raving in fever and delirium, I'M
conscious of his whereabouts. 1t was
now that he was recovering, that his mind
gradually became clear, and the past re-
| turned. Then his anxiety overcame his
| weakness. What had become of Celeste
and his mother? What had happened
them? Returning to the city he at once
went to the bank. Here he heard of their
| arrival, but they had left the hotel, and
| the President did not know where they
had gone. In the rush of business he did
not care much. Although not heartless,
FRANCHISES disappearance had occasioned
| considerable inconvenience.
But his narrow escape from death was
in his favor, and they offered him his
old position when he was fully restored
to health. AT present the doctor thought
he was not equal to any strain. So every
day he spent on the street hoping to see
his dear ones.
One fine, bright day Celeste had per-
suaded her aunt to come over the bay to
Piedmont. On the hills she had seen
great lunches of blue fleur de lis, so like
the flowers in the dear old home of La
Rochelle. Seeing them the first time,
both she and her aunt cried bitterly. Now
every little while they would go over and
gather some to take back to their rooms,
a painful pleasure in their beauty. So
on this fair morning they came back
ladened with the blue treasures.
FRANCHISE, in his restless wanderings
down to the wharf and back, had been
prompted by some instinct to linger till
the last morning boat came over. Just
as Celeste and his mother came up the
street his quick eye noticed the bright,
blue mass of blossoms. In a second he
was at their side, and, unmindful
of the crowd, kissed them both,
too happy, too excited, to speak.
He could only cling to their hands and say,
Mother, Celeste" in quick gasp. 1t was
Celeste who first recovered her control.
She called cab quickly, and helping them
both in, they returned to their room, where
he told them the whole history of the ac-
cident. Then he told them to pack up
and come at once to their new home. Their
tears and laughter and happy talk, in their
native language, was strongly mixed.
Leonard came in and rejoiced with them
in their joy, but, poor fellow, the Juggling
at his heart-strings at his own loss was
great.
The tears came into his eyes as he babe
Celeste good-by, and wished her every
happiness She cordially pressed him to
come and see them in their new home.
But Leonard gave his departure for the
East soon as a reason for not being able to
do so. Celeste saw the reason, with a
woman's quick intuition in these cases.
We will now, too wish them good-by,
and JOY and long life to the happy reunited
ones, whose joy was brought about by the
"Fleur de lis OF Piedmont"
MISSED.
All, how we miss thee dear one ! Day by day
The void grows larger that thy loss hath