, 1890-09-27

sanctuary. although L nad Known my
cousin since she vas a child.
Come, George, and see how prettily
/ have arranged your room" she said
s~nldenly.
Joy, bliss. ecstasy filed me rs she
spoke; l was saved. Innocence had come
TO the rescue of ~depravity!
Lightly and gracefully she ran up the
staircase; what n pretty figure she hadl
/ followed her like p culprit, feeling al
most afraid to go, but yet l 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. l looked
round ~anxiously for the old chiffonier;
there it stood as usual.
May | have some water, Cousin Ga
brieIle? am dying of thirst" l said.
She took up the c~araffe, but l, artful
demon. had already observed that it was
empty.
wait a minute. 1 will get you some
water she said, and left the room.
a AaAAI ~ III RAAAAAtAAA1A AN bHLAA1A
the drawer. Horrori 1t was empty.
The next instant my cousin returned,
gave me a glass of water, Their 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? ay head seemed
to swim as | wondered.
As soon as / could think of a pretext /
left Gabrielle, and in the hallway l met
my aunt. her mother. She greeted me
joyfully, then shook her finger at me in
a mysterious way. and with a very know
ing air whispered;
Come with me. you naughty, careless
boy" | followed her into her own room,
where she opened a drawer, saying mean
while;
when we first arrived here it for
%tunately occurred to me that before put-
ting a young lady into a bachelors room
it would be well for me to look about it
n little. | have had some experience of
young men and their ways"
Here she put a package into my handle.
Heavens and earth, my lettersl
l threw my arms around my aunt's
neck, kissed her rapturously and con-
fessed everything. Oh, how happy !
wasi My dear little cousin Gabrielle
how happy l wasl
A week passed. One morning when |
got up l found a tiny piece of paper ly-
ing on the floor, as if it had been slipped
under my door. | picked it up. 1t was
n letter.
uub,t doos +b;, ,,oo,y, I .kanuL4
and then | unfolded it and read:
DEAR CoUsIN-Why do you not tell
mammn all about ity'
IAN about itr' What does she meant
Dear cousin" 1t is from Gabrielle.
| did not understand it at all, and
waited anxiously for the breakfast hour.
When | heard my cousin go down stairs
| darted out and was going to speak TO
her, but she blushed, turned her face
away, and putting a piece of paper into
my hand said hurriedly;
Take back your letter and speak to
mamma"
My letter! | rushed ont into the gar
den and read the missive. Thunder and
lightningl it was my writing, my style.
my name,
"You are adorable, therefore | adore
you. VIII You listen to me? VIII you
let me devote my life to your a word
from You and | throw myself at your
feet GEORGE"
1t was indeed my letter-it was mum
Der one of my effusions to the ex-queen
of my heart. 1t had slipped out of the
package of letters, and Gabrielle, find
ing it in the %chiffonier, thought that l
hud Dlared II there for har and ber nm
swer was, Speak to mamma" The
result of the accident was | spoke to
mamma" and married Gabrielle. l
adore her and am the happiest husband
in the world.
The christening will take place next
month. Thanks, thanks. old chiffonierl
Translated for Epoch by Isabel Smith
son from the French of Jules Lermina.