Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-12
THE OLD CHIFFONIER.

smiling, as II Its red ana Whte mosaics
were merry rosy lips.
1t was given to me by my grandmoth-
err. who inherited it from her grandf;;-
Their. and | verify believe chat it once
stood in 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 l CHANGED
to think of it one day during my sojourn
at the Perse,is in Greece. You will DO
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 head. Judge for yourself.
had been so fortunate some time
BEFORE as to be loved by the most charm
ing of womcm shall not attempt Ia
| describe her not even 1y 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 that period | allowed one of my
friends to say to me in speaking of her,
How could you be such IA fool" She
sent me back my letters. and | neglected
to return hers, but put the whole lot
into a drawer of my old chiilonier,
without thinking to turn the key.
That chiifonier 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 off unexpectedly on
IL diplomatic mission ! had completely
| forgotten 10 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 that
my thoughtlessness might seriously COM
| promise woman who had done moth
| ing to deserve such treatment at my
hands. l felt that my conduct had been
unworthy of gentleman, and in fine
frenzy | rushed out of the house, i'll
quired for the fist steamship bound for
Marseilles. took passage, and listening
to nothing but the voice of my con
science returned to France.
A week later l arrived at the maternal
abode, and | will spare you recital OF
the CALCULATIONS. the What. You
George, Why! SO soon:' which greeted
me as soon as appeared. My mother
nearly stiGed 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
tone us possible:
"Will you have my valisc sent to my
room. mother dear"
f"Certainly. my son; You must be tired
out" she answered. Then sumuoning
a servant. she said. Take my sons bag
gage to the blue room. Pierre
You mean the green room,H | added.
No. the blue room" persisted my
mother.
But the green room is my roolI."
1t was yours once, George" she said
smilinGIy.
And whose is it now asked in sur
prise. and my mother pointed to Che
door. saving merrily;
Here comes the present occupant"
Gabrielle" cried, going to meet my
cousin. the loveliest and most charming
of girls, with abundan. blonde hair, eyes
us blue as heaven, II smile Of childish
innocence and teeth like pearls 1t VIA
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 was,
Gabrielle. gay, altiess and confiding
though irilie shy. gave me her hand
looking delicious as she said:
How do You do. Cousin George"
My face must have betrayed my con.
fusion Us took her hand. and looked
searchingiy for some sign Of dissimula
ton III her soft eyes. Had she found the
letters: had she read them: To tell the
truth Mrs - had loved me ardently
and had been SO iInprudent as to express
her sentiments i'll writing. running the
gamut of obs and abs with plentiful ex.
claination points attached thereto And
suppose little Gabrielle had read them:
| buslIed at the thought
/ But quite calmly she said. How dc
you do, Cousin George" That was all
and in my great palm lay soft. cool
maidenly little hand
! All. bnt what abyss is deeper than a
wonans hearts as the psalmist says
suppose she had read the letters. The
only way to make sure was to 90 into
the room aud look for them. Gabrielle's
room, What sweet melody in the words
yet | felt that | dared not enter that
sanctuary. although l had known my
cousin since she was child
Come, George, and see how prettily
l have arranged your room," she said
suddenly.
joy. bliss. ecstasy filled me as she
spoke: ! was saved. Innocence had come
to the rescue of depravity!
Lightly and gracefully she ran up the
staircase; what pretty figure she had.
l followed her like a culprit. feeling al
most afraid to go, but yet must at all
hazards get my letters.
My former room was perfectly charm
ing, decked out in blue and white, and
with no odor OF cigars anywhere The
little bed was modestly draped with
snowy curtains which looked like the
wings Of guardian angels. looked
round anxiously for the old chiffonier;
there it stood as usual.
May have some water, Cousin Ga
brielle: am dying Of thirst" said.
She took up the caraffe, but /, artful
demon, had already observed that it was
| empty.
wait minute. Twill get you some
| water" she said, and left the room.
Irushed to the chiffonier and opened
the drawer. Horror! 1t was empty.
The next instant my cousin returned,
gave me a glass Of water, then showed
me her album, and then we talked mer-
rily. just as we used to when we were
playfellows.
But where were my letters. Had she
found them, and hidden them away, or
had she burned them. My head seemed
to swim as wondered.
As soon as could think Of q pretext
left Gabrielle, and in the hallway met
my aunt. her mother. She greeted me
joyfully. then shook her finger at me in
4 mysterious way. andwith very know
ing air whispered:
Come with me. you naughty. careless
boy" followed her into her own room,
where she opened drawer. saying mean
while:
when we first arrived hero It for
tunately occurred to mo that before mt
ting young lady into bachelor's room