The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-10
THE OLD CHIFFONIER.

Ny Louis XIV chiffonier is a very hand.
some and graceful piece of furniture. II
Is lnlaid and polished, with locks of bur-
nlshed copper, and always seems to be
smiling, as if its 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 l verify believe that il 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 1t 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 single
hair on my headl Judge for yourself.
1 had been so fortunate some time
before as to be loved by the most charm
ing Of women. l shall not attempt TO
describe her, not even by the color of her
hair; 1t Is sufficient TO say that for two
years l 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 a fool?" She
sent me back my letters, and neglected
TO return hers, but put the whole lot
lnto a drawer of my old chiffonier,
without thinking to turn the key.
That chitfonier was in my room: nv
room was in my mothers chateau; my
mothers chateau was eight hundred
leagues away, in the middle of Pro
vence. In setting OF Unexpectedly on
diplomatic mission 7 had completely
forgotten TO destroy those remains OF an
attachment which had been delightful
as long as it lasted
When l accidentally called ont the
memory Of those letters from some OBJ
scure corner Of my brain, | started ND
in surprise and shame, for l knew that
my thong htlessness might seriously COM
promise woman who had done moth
ing 10 deserve such treatment at nv
hands. felt that my conduct had been
unworthy of q gentleman, and in a fine
frenzy l rushed out of the house, in
quired 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 at the maternal
abode, and l will spare you a recital of
the CALCULATIONS, the What! You'
George! Whyl So soong7 which greeted
me as soon as appeared. My mother
nearly stuffed 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 as possible:
VIII you have my valise sent to my
room, mother dear?'
Certainly, my son; you must be tired 4
out, she answered. Then summoning |
a servant, she said, Take my sons bag /
gage to the blue room, Pierre"
You mean the green room, " l added.
No, the blue ROOM" persisted my
mother.
But the green room is my room"
1T was yours once, George" she said
smiingly.
And whose is 1t now?' 1 asked in sur
prise, and my mother pointed to the
door, saying merrily;
Here comes the present occupant"
"Gabrielle." / cried. going TO meet nv
cousin, the lovehest and most charming
of girls, with abundant blonde hair, ewes
as blue as heaven, smile of childish
Innocence or.I It'll, Ill, l. /
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, artless and confding,
though tritie shy, gave me her hand,
looking delicious as she said:
How do you Go, Cousin George:
Ny face must have betrayed my con-
fusion as / took her hand, and looked |
sesrchingly for some sign Of diSsimula-
ton In 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 imprudent as to express
her sentiments in writing, running the |
Gamut OF ohs and abs with plentiful ex- |
clamation points attached thereto. And
suppose little Gabrielle had read them?
] blushed AT the thought.
But quite calmly she sa.d. How do ,
YOU DO. Cousin George That was all,
and in my great palm lay soft, cool,
Ealdenly Etrle hand
All, but what abyss is deeper than a
wonan's heart? as the pSainist SAYS;
suppose she had read the letters. The
OPS way 10 make sure WIS 70 go into
~ room and look for them. Gabrielle's
rom! What sweet melody in the words.
yet ! felt that dared not enter that
SancJuSry, although 1 naa known nv I
cousin since she was a child.
''Come, George, and see how prettilv
have arranged Your room" She said :
suddeqly.
Joy, bliss, ecstasy filed me as she !
spoke; was saved. Innocence had come .
TO the rescue Of depravityl
Lightly and gracefully she ran up the :
staircase: what pretty figure she had! 5