The morning call., 1890-09-27
THE OLD CHIFFONIER.

E&Sal niture. 1t is nlaid and polished,
with locks of FURNISHED copper, and always
seems to be smiling, as if its red ana whlte
mcsaics were merry, rosy lips.
It was given to ne by my grandmother,
who inherit d it from her grandfather, and
| verify believe that it once stood IN a bou-
doir Of the palace of Marty.
Never was an innocent little piece of fur
niture abused and rated so mercilesSly as
nv chiffonier was when | CHANGED to think
of it one day during my soiourn at the
PuRus in Greece. You will, 70 doubt, ask
why thrust my trembling hand through Ely
hair and cried out, Miserable IDIOT with
out stating whether the epithet was applied
TO myself or TO my chiffOnier, Good heav-
ems, the only wonder was that had left a
single hair on my head Judge for yourself
| had been so f0Ctunate-SOne time before
as TO be loved by the most charming OF
women. l shall not attempt to describe her,
not even by the co'Or of her hair; il is sufii-
Gent 20 say that for two years | called her
"uiy angel" and bright image of my
dreams" At the end of that period l al
lowed one of MY frirnds to say to me, in
speaking of her, How could you be such a
foI?'' She sent NE back my letters, and l
0tRltCtcQ 10 lttui IL ItlS, uut lut tiio hholN
lot into a drawer Of my old chifonier with
out thinking TO turn the key.
That chiffoaier was in my room; my room
was in my mothers chateau; my mother 5
chateau was 500 leagues away, IN the middle
of Provence. In setting off Unexpectedly on
a diplomatic mission, | had unconsclously
FORGOTTEN 10 destroy those remains OF an at
taehment which had been delighttul-aS long
as is lasted.
When l accidentally called ont the men,
DRY of those letters from some obscure cor
ner of my brain, | started up IN surprise
and shame. for l know that Gy thought
lessness might seriously compromise a
woman who had done nothing TO deserve
such treatment at my hands. felt that my
conduct had been unworthy Of gentleman,
and in a fine frenzy | rushed out OF the
house, inquired for the first steamship
bound for MarSelles took passage. and
listening TO nothing but the voice OF my con-
science, returned 10 France.
A week later | arrived at the maternal
abode, and ! will slare You recital OF the
calculations, the What! You? George.
Why! So soOn." which greeted me as soon
as | appeared My mother nearly stilied
NE with Eer embrace, and was sure that
something dreadful lad happened to me,
and had great difficulty to reassure. When
she had grown calm, l said in as Indifferent
a tone as possible:
"Win YOU have my yalise sent to my
room, mother dear?
Certainly, my son; you must be tired
OUT she answered. Then, summoHing
servant, she said: Take my sons baggage
10 the blue room, Pierre. p"
You mean the green ROOM" | added.
40 the blue room," persisted my mother.
But the green room IS my ROOM
ut was yours once, George" she said,
And whose is it now?" l asked in sur
prise, and my mother pointed to the door,
saving merrlly:
Here comes the present occupant"
"GabrirleW | cried, guing 10 meet my
cousin, tie loveliest and most charming Of
girls, with abundant blonde hair, eyes as
blue as heaven, a smile of childish innO-
cence and teeth like pearls. 1t was She of
Ill persons, who was occupying the green
-oOlD, and who, no doubt, had ransacked the
drawers and cupboards.
Unfortunate, thrice unfortunate man that
was!
Gabrielle, gay, artless and confding,
though trife shy, gave NE her hand, look
ing delicious as she said:
"How do ynii do, Cousin Ge0TgeY
My face must have betrayed my confusion
as took her hand, and looked searchingly
Tor some sign of assimilation in her soft
eyes. Had she found the letters, had she
read them? To tell the truth, Mrs. - mad
loved me ardently, and had been so i'm
prudent as to express her sentiments in
writing, running the gamut of obs and abs,
with plentiful exclamation p5ints attached
thereto. And suppose little Gabrielle had
read them-I blushed at the thought.
But quite calmly she said, How do you
do, Cousin George'-that was all, and in MY
great palm lay soft, cool, maidenly little
hand,
All, but what abyss is deeper than a
womans heart, as the Psalmist says. Sup
pose she had read the lettersi The only
way to make sure was to 90 into the room
and look for them. Gabrielle's room! What
sweet melody in the words, yet | felt that |
dare not enter that sanctuary, although l
had known my cousin since she was a child.
Come, George, and see how prettily 1
have arranged your room," she SAID sud
denly.
JOY. bliss, ecstacy filed me as she spoke:
/ was saved. Innocence had come TO the
rescue of deprayity!
Lightly and gracefully she ran up the
staircase. What pretty figure she had. |
followed her like culprit, feeling almost
afraid to co. but yet, l must at all hazards
get my letters.
My former room was perfectly charming,
deeked out in blue and white, and with no
odor of care anywhere. The little bed was
modestly draped with snowy curtains, which
looked like the wings OF guardian angels. |
looked round for the old chiffonier. There it
stood as usual
MAY have some water. Cousin Gabri-
ellie? | am dying of thirst" said.
She took up the caraffe, but [, aTtful de-
mon, had already observed that 1t was
empty.
Wait a minute. | will get YOU some
water" she said, and left the room.
rushed to the chiffonier and opened the
drawer Horror! 1t was empty!
The next instant my cousin returned
gave me glass OF water, then showed ME
her album. and then we talked merrily, Just
as we used TO do 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 l could think of a pretext left
Gabrielle, and in the hallway met my aunt,
her mother She greeted me joyfully. then
shook her finger at me in a mysterious way,
and with very knowing air whispered:
Come with me, you naughty, careless
boy" l followed her into her own room,
Where she opened drawer, saying mean
while:
when we first arrived here, it fortunately
occurred to me that before putting young
fauS lnto bachelors room it would be well
Ior me 10 look about it little. | have had
SUne ,,eAPerience OF young men and their
. may9, nere she put package into my
hands. Heavens and earth-my lettersl
threw my arms around my aunt's neck
kissed her rupturously and confessed every
thing. On, how happy L wasi NY dear III
VIC CVuoiH DiloIlc-ilOW NdDpy L was
week passed. One morning when 7 pot
up found tiny piece of paper lying on the
floor as if it had been slipped under my door,
picked it up-it was letter.
What does this mean ?" l thought, and
then l unfolded it and read:
Dear Cousin: Why do you moi tell mamma all
about II?
"All about it?" What does she mean?
Dear cousin; it is from Gabrielle!
did not understand it at all and waited
anxiously for the breakfast hour. When |
heard my cousin go downstairs darted out
and was going to speak to her, but she
blushed. turned her face away, and putting
piece of paper into my hand said hurriedly:
Take back your letter and speak to
mamma"
My letter! rushed out into the garden
and read the missive. Thunder and light
nIngl 1t was my writing, my style. my
-" You are adorable, therefore / adore YOU.
WIZ you listen TO me? Will you let me de-
vote my life to youP A word from you and
throw myself at your feet GEORGE"
1t was indeed my let,er-it was No. of
my illusions to the ex-queen Of NV heart.
1t had slipped out of the package of letters.
and Gabrielle, finding il in the chiffonier'
thought | had placed it there for he's and