Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-18
THE YELLOW ROSES.

This beautiful and touching story was
written many years ago by Alphonse Karr
and afterwards translated from the French
with other Of his stories
Here is yellow rose-tree which reminds
me of story. | went one evening, two
/ years ago, to pass few hours at the
house of an old, amiable, intellectual and
indulgent lady, who lives near me; she is
passionatey fond of flowers, and you can
scarcely guess how much coquetry | exer-
else IN making bouquets for her; how de-
| lighted | am with ner astonishment when
| carry her flower she is not acquainted
with, or one that is not common in our
country.
On my arrival there yesterday, found
with her an old gentleman, who, about a
year since took possession of a large pro-
perty left to him by distant relation,
upon the condition of his bearing the
name OF 1t, and who is consequently called
M. Descondraies.
He got introduced to my old friend; and
| soon had reason to be Jealous of his
assiduties; they quickly conceived friend
ship for each other and passed almost all
their evenings together playing at back
| CANNON.
bowed in silence that might not in
terrupt the conversation, and when it was
finished presented to Madame LorgereI
bouquet of yellow roses which | had
brought with me.
My roses were very fine ones, in addition
to which the rains of that year caused
roses to bloom badly, mine, sheltered by a
projecting roof, perhaps, the only yellow
roses IN the neighbOrhood that had bloss
Omed well. Madam Lorg rel was delighted
with her beautiful bouquet.
M. DescOndraies said nothing, but he
appeared absent, and litttle',agitated.
looked at him in establishment, being
quite unable to comprehend the mysterious
influence Of my yellow rose; but Madame
| LOrgerel spoke of something else. and |
believed | must have teen mistaken.
AS for NJ. Descondraies, he smiled, and
would have laughed. but it did not amount
to laugh and said:
Would you believe, that this bouquet
has just called up as if by magic opera
ton, an entire epoch of my youth? Dur
ing five minutes have been twenty yeas
old, during five minutes have again be-
come in love with lady, who, if she be
still alive, must be sixty. must tell you
this story. 1t is circumstance which has
exercised great influence over my life,
and the remembrance of which, even now,
when my blood has no more warmth left
than just to enable me to live and play at
backgammon, does not fail to agitate me
In an extraordinary manner.
| | was twenty; that is rather more than
| forty years ago | had but just left col
| lege, at which young men stayed rather
later than they do at present. After hav
ing deliberated seriously for me, but with
| 4l,n III q
profession, my father one morning an
nouuced to me that he had procured me
a lieutenancy in Il regiment then in city
| OF Auvergne, and desired me to be ready
to join 1t IN three days.
Il was greatly discontented on many &C.
counts. In the first place mad no liking
for military life, but that was an objec-
ton that might have been quickly over
come; the sight of handsome uniform, q
few ambitious sentences, and a little
music might easily have made an Ashilles
or Caesar of me.
But | was in love!
ION no consideration would | have
ventured to say word of this to
my father; his only reply to my confidence
would have been to order me to set out
that very evening.
But had an uncle, what an uncle he
was!
He was man of nearly the same age
that | am now; but he was still young, not
for himself but FOR others; for never did
an old man resign to satan his pomps,
works and vanities. with better grace. He
loved young people; he understood them
| without being jealous Of them. He did
not believe that inArmities were pro-
Cr hat al iIy71
dom. By the force of goodness and reason
he lived upon the happiness of others. He
was mixed up with all the generous fol-
lies, all the noble extravagances of youth
he was the confdant and protector of all
lovers, the assistant in cases of debt, the
encourager of hopes.
II went to his house and saluted him
With:
Dear uncle, | am very, very unfortu-
II will bet twenty louis you are not,
said he
q" Dear uncle, don't joke. Besides, you
would lose
eff l lose l will pay; and that perhaps
will bel p to console you.
No, uncle, money mas nothing to dc
with my grief.
MY father has just announced to me
that am lieutenant in the regiment
Of
Pretty misfor une, that, to be sure.
One of the handsomest uniforms in the
army; the officers all gentlemen
But, uncle, | don't wish to be a
soldier!'
What! You don't wish to be SOL
der? Perhaps you are deficient in cour.
age.
81 scarcely know yet, uncle; neverthe,
less you are the only person would allow
to put such a questiin to me-.
"'Well, brave Cid! and my very great
friend, why are you so unwilling to be a
sodier?'
Because l wish to be married.
BAH
1t is very we'll for you to say Bah!
am in love-
. Do you call that misfortune, you
lungrateful young scoundrel? Why,
should like to be in love myself over head
and ears. And pray who is the subject of
such brilliant hame?'
" Dear uncle, she is an angelr
. OH knew that before; she Is always
an angel. In little time you will love a
woman better than an angel. But what
earthly name does this angel reply top
Her name. uncle, is Noemi.'
That's not what | asked you. Noemi
That's all your own-it's a pretty name
though. But for me, who wants to know
who this angel is, and to what family she
belongs, family name is necessary.
| -, o1o4t