, 1890-09-27
THE OLD %CHIFFONIER

My Louis XIV chiffonier lisa very hand
some and graceful piece of furniture. 1t
is inlaid and polished, with locks of bur
nished copper, and always seems to be
smiling. as if it's red and white mosaics
were merry rosy lips.
1t was given to me by my grandmoth-
er, who inherited it from her GRANDPA
Their, and / verify believe that it once
stood in n boudoir Of the palace of Marty.
Never was an innocent little piece of
furniture abused and rated so merciless-
ly as my chiffonier was when | CHANGED
to think of it one day during my sojourn
at the Perseus in Greece. You will no
doubt ask why ! thrust my trembling
hand through my hair and cried out,
Miserable idiot" without stating
whether the epithet was applied TO my
self or to my chiffonier. Good heavens,
the only wonder was that | left a single
hair on my headl Judge for yourself.
] had been so fortunate some time
before as to be loved by the most charm
ing of women | shall not attempt to
describe her. not ever by the color of her
hair; It Is sufficient TO say that for two
years | called her my angel" and
bright image of my Dreams" At the
end of hat period 1 allowed one Of my
friends to say to me in speaking of her,
How could you be such a fool?' She
sent me back my letters. and | neglected
to return hers, but put the whole lot
into a drawer Of my old chiffonier,
without thinking to turn the key.
That chiffonier was in my ROOM; my
room was in my mothers chateau; my
mothers chateau was eight hundred
leagues away, in the middle of Pro-
vence In setting of Unexpectedly Gu
a diplomatic mission | had completely
forgotten to destroy those remains of an
attachment which had been delightful
as long as it lasted.
When | accidentally called out the
memory of those letters from some OBJ
scure corner of my brain, | started up
in surprise and shame, for | knew hat
my thoughtlessnes might seriously com
promise n woman who had done moth
ing to deserve such treatment at my
hands | felt that my conduct had been
unworthy Of a gentleman, and in a fine
frenzy | rushed out of the house, in
1uired for the first steamship bound for
Marseilles, took passage, and listening
to nothing but the voice of my con-
science returned to France.
A week later | arrived Mt the maternal
abode, and l will spare you a recital of
the CALCULATIONS, the What YOU
Georgel Whyi So soonY' which greeted
me as soon as | appeared. My mother
nearly stifled me with her embrace, and
was sure that something dreadful had
happened to me, and | had great diff
Guilty to reassure her. When she had
grown calm | said in as Indifferent a
one as possible;
viii you have my valise sent to my
room, mother DEAR
Certainly, my son; You must be tired
out" she answered. Then summoning
a servant. she said. Take my sons bag
gage TO the blue room. Pierre"
"You ear the green ROOM" l added.
No. the blue ROOM" persisted my
mother.
But the green room is my room"
ut was yours once, George" she said
smilingly.
And whose is it nowg" | asked in sur
prise. and my mother pointed TO the
door, saying merrily;
Here ONE the present occupant"
'Gabriellel" l cried. going to meet my
cousin, the loyeliest and most charming
of girls, with abundant blonde hair, eyes
as blue as heaven. a smile Of childish
innocence and teeth like pearls. 1t was
she, of all persons, who was occupying
the green room, and who no doubt had
ransacked the drawers and cupboards.
Unfortunate, thrice unfortunate man
that ! wasr%
Gabrielle, gay, artless and confiding,
though a trife shy. gave me her hand,
looking delicious rs she said;
How do you do. Cousin George"
My ace must have betrayed my con-
fusion as | took her hand. and looked
~searcEiEgly for some sign of dissimula-
ton in her soft eyes IIld she found the
letters: had she read them? To tell the
truth Mrs. - had loved me ardently,
and had been sl3imprudsnt as to express
her sentiments in writing. running the
gg.Iut of n;ss and ais with plentiful ex-
cl. H!iHl Isiints attached thereto. And
SUPP ',.ti- Gabrielle had read them?
biDs..-i IA t:ie Thought.
But gi.ii- calmly she said. Flow do
yOu do ..H:a GEORGE That was all,
aud IN Ily palm lay n soft, cool,
Glaidr4ly L.; tan.L
ALI. but what abyss is deeper than a
WOMAN hearI as the psalmist says:
suppose Il had read TIE ~lettersl The
only way to make sure was to go into
the room AID look for them. Gabrielle's
rooml What sweet melody in the words,
vet ! felt Il ct I dared not enter that
For many years Mr.. b. +. Thompson.
r. n. - r