The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-06
A HERO OF LOVE.

In new and unfrequented quarter
near the Park Monceau the summer morn
ing had opened splendidly.
A young girl was at her window, be-
hind half-closed blinds, smiling at some
chimera, at some dream of the future
for heaven permits youth to have hope in
life and to dream of possible happiness.
The apparition of letter at the end of a
thread, seeming to descend from heaven,
startled her from her reverie.
The envelope bore her name. In tax
ing hold of it she broke the slender
thread and the letter remained in her
fingers.
Emma could not see that just above
her window a good-looking young man,
concealed also by the blinds, had been
watching her for long time, trembling
and still resolute.
She opened the message arriving by
this strange, aerial road. 1t was short,
but contained an infnitude:
MADEMoIsELLE: love you with my whole
heart take the liberty to write, for can
not delay to express my affection. For a
year, without attempting to intrude, / have
noticed your steps and voice. l am "a years
old and live with my mother, who IS a
widow. Ny life is monotonous, but you are
my Joy, my sun. my hope. I am poor
painter, pupil of the Ecole des Beau1 Arts, I
but with courage inspired by love for you
hope to take the Prize of Rome this year.
That means glory and future. 1t is Of you
alone that dream. I trust you will look
with favor on ME, and let me believe that
you are willing to accept my heart, my life
and my name, which will be celebrated, I
promise, if you make me happy.
shall leave the institution in few
months, and then I will ask your father to
grant me your adored little hand, so deli
cate, and which must be so gentle.
cover it with kisses, that dear white
hand, and kneel before you.
FERNAND GIRAHD.
Emma read and reread the delightful
page, with lips half open by radiant
smile, eager eyes and palpitating heart,
agitated and entranced by this first love
letter.
The broken thread was near her. No
breeze, no breath moved it. 1t seemed
to be waiting for an answer. She took d
white rose which was pinned to her cor
sage, and attached it quickly to the sus
pended thread.
The rose mounted toward heaven as
by magic, even as the letter had de-
scended, and following it with her eyes,
Emma felt that her heart flew away with
the flower. For long time she had no.
ticed this pale, intellectual young man,
who changed color whenever he met her.
Thus an enchanting romance COM
menced, the romance forever new and
heavenly, full of the delicious intoxica-
tion of first love, in which the keenest
sensations are excited by the exchange of
look, smile, a sudden meeting, the
thousand nothings, to others invisible,
but to lovers fraught with terrible
anguish or supreme joy.
The ingenious correspondence contin-
ued.
Emma ventured to write in her turn,
experiencing exquisite happiness in i'm
parting the facts of her lonely life, which
had been very sad since the death of her
mother. Her father was a merchant.
He often returned sombre and absent
minded, she said, allowing herself to be
drawn artlessly into the joy of unbosom-
ing herself to her friend.
Fernand was now her only thought
Three months after she had received the
first letter, her father, NJ. Ferald, on re-
turning one evening from his counting
room, said to her:
''Don't sing so all the time, Emma
come this way; wish to speak to you
on an important subject. You are a
large, sensible girl. You will be seven,
teen years old in a month. Listen to
me, my darling"
81 am listening, papa. What would
you ike2 You look as though you were
going to scold me-" replied the young
girl, lowering her large black eyes.
Emma was no longer a mere child
Though she still wore cunning red
apron tied with big knot behind in lit
tie girl style, her well-poised figure wa:
already rounding to womanhood. She
was at that charming age of change wher
the young girl, without thought or care,
become creature who observes anC
loves.
''Don't remain standing on one foo
like bird on perch; sit down."
"Yes, papa"
II was saying that you're a a young
person-well! well of an age to think
of marriage"
At these works Emma's cheeks turned
redder than the cherry ribbon around hel
neck. She remained motionless, oppo
site her father, poised unsteadily on the
edge of an armchair, with eyes wide oper
and breating suspended, anxiously
awaiting what would come next.
81 wish," continued NJ. Ferald, etc
provide you with husband who love!
you very much"
Emma smiled while thinking of Fer
nand. Certainly her father was right
Fernand loved her, and always woul(
love her.