The National tribune., 1893-02-02

" 1t has been in the chest for so years, and
have brought it forth on this, the anniversary
of tho happiest day of her life"
He did not know what to say. 1t seemed to
him that Jula's voice had changed certainly
| there was change in her face for it was white
| and wax-like now; whereas when he saw her
last. it was full of life, almost roscate.
Julia crossed the room and then stood before
! him, showing him tho wonderful beauties of
her gown, smoothing it as the young bride Of
| 80 years ago must have smoothed it in maiden
delight and he looked on with face strangely
| puzzled.
Soon, however, her whole nature seemed to
change again, and they fell to discussing so
| ciety's latest events. Juias vivacity increased
as she talked; she seemed transformed into an
other creature, and Martels could not but look
at her and wonder whence came the change.
You see the pictures yonder?" said Julia,
with n sweep of her hand. There seem to
stand the ancestors of the old Holland years.
That one is Carlson, the founder of the house
| the old warrior who one time scaled the battle
ments of famous castle and planted the banner
of his stakeholder there. Yonder is the por-
trait of his wife as she appeared in her wedding
gown, something like the one / am wearing
now. There is Carl. my grandfather, and the
vacant spot yonder will be filled some day with
my fathers portrait. You can see the blue
| tulip in the lower left-hand corner" and Julia
seemed to smile; it was placed there by COM
mand-a rare flower found accidentally by old
Carlson and worn by his line ever since. Do
you believe blue tulip ever existed-a real
blue one?"
1t was singular question. Martels smiled.
FLORISTS have offered fabulous sums for one,"
he said. They have propagated, but all to no
purpose. They have spent great sums OF money
in the o'-the-wisp hunt for blue tulip,
but it seems as far off as ever. | fear it will
never be produced and will pass into history
| " 10 HON
Julia Van Rettig said nothing, but opened
| little drawer in the table at her elbow and took
from it book which she opened with the
| greatest care.
II have never shown you this, the most pre-
cious heirloom of the family" she said.
Martels leaned forward and looked at some
thing that darkened the page touched by Julia's
finger.
This is one petal from the famous tulip of
| Carlson Van Rettig," she went on. "This s
the famous blue tulip that bloomed in the gar
dens of Holland-the one he wore on his bosom
| to BATTLE"
The incredulous smile came again to Mar
tels's lips. Before any other person he would
| have laughed outright. But he really loved
this stately girl; he was ready to renounce the
past; to live for the last of the Van Rettigs.
The last petal of the famous blue tulip.
Martels did not believe in the tradition. He
| knew too much about flowers to consider it for
|
| belief which seemed to have fastened itself in
| Julia's heart.
The petal, which showed no signs of ever
| having worn the color of the soft skies Of old
Holland, was not exposed long to his gaze. 1t
was returned to the drawer, aud Julia turned
! to him with start.
II would like to show you the counterpart
of the famous tulip" she exclaimed. at is
now blooming in the conservatory. 1t has
come back to the family after an absence Of
many years"
julius Martels looked at the girl with a
stare. What had come over her? Was she
really sane, or had she been touched by that
strange mania which was hers by inheritance?
I'm the gardens, you say?" he said. L
will gladly look at this wonder of the floral
kingdom"
Julia led the way up the old staircase and
opened the door of the garden. The glass roof
reflected the brilliant light Of the stars, and
through a broken light came the cool air
of that Autumn night Martels saw shadows
where none seemed to exist. He glanced at
Julia and heard her stiff silk rustic over the
walks between the tulip beds. She looked to
him like a transformed creature. There was
something about her that sent nameless chill
through his heart, and when he saw her stop
at little bed covered with glass frame, he
drew back,
SIN the name of God, what makes that
woman look SO ghostly 2" he murmured. She
has lost her old identity. She is not the Julia
Van Rettig of yesterday, nor the fair woman
whom old Jacob refused to hand over to me the
night threatened to deluge the market with
blue tulips"
Julia was stopping over the glass frame all
unconscious, as it seemed, of the man whom
she had conducted to the conservatory. Mar
tells watched her with intense interest.
"Why don't you come and see it? 1t is
here!" she suddenly cried, without turning
her head. st is the wonderful blue tulip that
bloomed in the old warriors garden, and it has
come back to bloom for me-"
Some Undesirable impulse took Martels
forward. He reached the spot where Julia
was and looked down at the flowers that lifted
their parti- colored petals at her hand
Here! pluck it for you. You shall wear
the wonderful flower"
A chill passed through Martels's frame as she
rose bearing in her hand a tulip, the color of
which still further startled him. Even in the
light of the stars it ghostly blue. 1t was
large well.formed and beautiful, and its long
petals seemed as fragile as the most delicate
he had ever seen.
And Julia? She was as calm as a Mdsum-
mer's eve. Standing before him, looking old
fashioned in her mothers wedding gown with |
a bunch of flowers at the corsage, she seemed |
to have been carried back to the days of the
Stockholders and to times when if tradition can
be trusted, old Carlson plucked the blue tulip, |
and went to battle to win renoWn and to gain it |
for his coat of arms.
"Ah! there it u.s. on your bosom!" cried |
Julia, drawing of, and, for the first time, laugh
ing.
Martels shuddered. He would have pre-
ferred to have had there a serpent cOiled with
its venomous fangs turned toward his throat.
"You will go back now" continued Julia.
prasping his arm "This is the monthly date of
fathers DEATH"
Martes was eager to quit the place. He
wanted to jerk from his breast that accursed
flower, born of Satan, and to trample it under
his feet.
Julia Van Rettig conducted him toward the
door of the conservatory, but stopped in front
of the old chair in which her father had pur-
sued his passion"
est down." said she.
Martels looked at her for moment, and
obeyed mechanically.
at is his chair. You recollect it?"
81, Julia?"
"Why, not? You recollect the night you
were with him. You remember how you told
him that you would flood the market with
blue tulips"
He was bewildered. There was not doubt |
now of the womans insanity. Martels looked |
toward the door and seemed to calculate how |
he could reach it without encOun terng the |
hand which he dreaded as he had never dread |
ed anything in all his life.
'.YOu came to the house that night. Some |