The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-07-08

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&ssz. y 5s@. FROM The e Win: il:
.afe they overlooked the boulevard.
which at This hour was crowded with
people. The soft breezes that sweep
through the streets of Paris on warm
summer nights famed their cheeks, in
viting them to go down among the
trees, somewhere, anywhere, to dream
of moonlit streams, inspired poems and
chanting nightingales.
One of them, Henri Simon, said to his
companion, with profound sigh:
81 feel that 1 am growing old, my
friend. On such night as this in days
gone by l was lheenly alive TO the pleas
ures of existence. To-day have moth
ing but regrets. Life is short at the
best"
He was man about forty-fve years
old, little stout and quite bald.
The other, Pierre Carnier, not his
senior in appearance by any means. but
more slender and vivacious, replied:
81, my friend, have grown old with
out noticing it. was always gay and
jolly, vigorous and all that. For, when
one looks at himself in the glass every
day in the year the ravages of age are
not apparent; they are slow and regu-
lar and work such gradual changes that
the transition is not noticeable. We
can hardly perceive it. To see it plain
", one should not look into the mirror
for six months at least; and then-ah,
what shock!
And the women, old fellow-how
pity them. All their happiness, their
power. their life is in their beauty, and
that lasts but ten years at best
s. As for myself, l grew old without
susp specting it. thought myself still q
youth when was near fifty years of
age. Free from infrmities of any
kind, I was going my way, happy and
content. But the revelation of my de-
cline came upon me in such simple
yet startling manner that felt the eff
fects of the shock six months after
ward. Then accepted my fate grace
fully.
Il have often been in love, like all
men; but once in my life was quite
hard hit
Il met her at the sea shore-at Etre-
tat-about twelve years ago, not long
after the war. There is nothing more
delightful than that beach at early
morning in the bathing hour. 1t is
not very extensive, is curved like
horseshoe, and encircled by tall, white
cliffs, pierced with singular holes.
called the Gates One of these cliffs is
enormous, and stretches its gigantic
length to the waters edge. The other
is round and fat. The women swarm
over this narrow strip. with its pebbled
walls, and transform it into brilliant
garden of summer toilets within walls
of rock. The sun shines full upon the
coast, over parasols of every imagina-
BILE color, and over the sea of topaz
blue 1t is jolly picture, enchanting
to the eye. Close by the waters edge
the people lounge in the sand, watch
ing the bathers as they come tripping
down in their flannel bath robes,
which they discard with pretty move
ment as soon as the white-fringed
waves play around their feet. Then
they run in with swift little steps,
while the water sends thrills of deli
cious chill through their veins.
''Few women are made to endure the
crucial test of the bath. Their figure
stands revealed from ankle to throat.
As they emerge from the embrace of
the briny waters. either their shortcon-
ings ere made plain to the eye, or the
rounded contours of form and limb are
enhanced by the clinging, dripping
garments.
THE first time I saw the young
woman of whom l have spoken l was
carried away by her charms. Few wom-
en- possess the beauty of form that
is startling and overpowering at the
first glance-th2t seems to a man as if
he had suddenly met the creature he
was born to love. l experienced that
sensation and that shock
II was introduced to her. and was
more deeply smitten than ever in my
life. She made me her slave, and itwas
both terrible and delicious to submit
thus 10 the reign of i woman. II is tor
ture and indescriba bic felicity at once.
Her look, her smile. the little tendrils
of hair around her neck. rufhed by the
breeze. every line in her face. her slight
est movement, captivated my senses and
ensnared and drove me TO distraction.
She took complete possession of me. 1t
grieved me TO see her veil lying on
chair. or her gloves thrown carelessly
on the sofa. Her toilets seemed match
less in my eyes, and no other woman
had ever worn hats more becoming
than hers.
she was married. Her husband
came every Saturday and departed
again on Gonuar. was not in the
lea: eoncerned about him. nor Jealous
of his relation to her No living
creature ever seemed OF less conse-
Quence 10 me than this man
"Ah. how loved her-She who was
so gay, so pretty and 50 graceful She
was youth. elegance and freshness per-
sonified. | never felt moro keenly than
! did then that a woman Is sweet,
lovely and delicate being. made OF
charms and graces. Never before had
] discovered the beauty that lay in the
rounded contour of cheek TIC move
ment OF lip. the curves and creases
OF little ear. the shape even OF thai