The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-04
HIS GLASS EYE.

He was tall, dark and to my taste al
together charming.
Last evening for the first time we walk
ed in the winding alley of the park. The
straight avenue which stretched itself I'M
der the windows of the house had been I'M
til now the only witness to our condolences
loved dearly this avenue, with its grent
oak trees placed Mt regular distances apart
the benches. for talking quite Mt ones ease,
the green grass all around and beyond
When one wandered off bit, the huge
window panes seemed by the light of tho
setting sun great wide open eyes all smil-
ing at our happiness.
"Walk along the avenue with NJ. de Va
lente, Angelo" my mother had said to me
at the beginning of our engagement. "The
alleys of the park are altogether too damp"
And walked along the avenue, gently
resisting Raoul-he was named Raoul-
who appeared to have, do not know why
marked preference for the covered alleys
Mamma says the alleys are damp
Had we not better remain heres"
That evening, however, my head WAS
turned, and something tuggcd ut my heart
strngs-he was to leave the next day to
hunt up some paper necessary for our mar
riagc
Eight days without seeing him! How
NSoib NV. -NHst t'thIIH OF
my trouble, made me turn into the damp
alley, which, hy the way, in spite of its
bad reputation. seemed TO me as dry us
possible
MY Angelo, you are not going 60 for
get me during these eight days?"
"Forget you! All"
would have lifted my hands to take
heaven rs witness that such thing could
never happen if he had not held them
tightly clasped in his own. 1t is not my
habit to lose myself in sentimental protcs-
tations-my vivacity forbids it--nnd this
time not more than ut others did play
my nature false.
"Raoul, you love me, do you not? Well,
then | wish to tell you all my faults.
shall he more tranquil if you know them
beforehand. You would see them sooner
or.iater, so listen. i am very wilful.
will not yield To you--you may as well
make up your mind to it. Then am quick
az gunpowtlcr. l stamp my foot, scream,
even cry at times. Happily all this passes
quickly. Besides that, am coquette
like all women. You will not be jealous,
Ihopc. And then, what else: Ican't quite
tell-a little gorniand at times, not wicked,
not dcccitful-I find nothing else So
much, then, for the moral side. As for the
physical, what can | have wrong there?
You must know that also. All, one of my
finger nails is not quite the same as the
Othcrs-look, but it seems to me that ism L
too ugly"
And releasing my hand l showed him n
little pink nail, II little sq,arer than the
others, n very innocent cccentricity of ma
ture. Raoul laughed and wanted to kiss
it, but drew away my hand.
I" have also lost Il wisdom tooth, which
is lost forever, alas, so l can never be alto
gether wise. They took it out because it
came too soon. Now, sir, it is your turn
Confess YOURSELF
Raoul, visibly embarrassed, remained ST
lent.
"Go on. Have q bit of courage You
may he quite easy. I shall not scold. l
do not know your faults, but it is quite
certain you have some In the first place
you are ncarsighted, for you wear mon
ocle instead of an eyeglass, with which, it
seems to me, you would see much better.
Mamma says that glass causes you to
make such fearful faces, but | don't think
so. You please me as you are. However
take out the glass so that can see how
you look when your face isn't crooked"
l nd seized with II little, gentle gesture
the string of the monocle, when Raoul
stopped my hand.
ono, my little Angelo, leave it there.
Wit 't it should no longer see YOU
am rsightcd-very nearsighted, it is
true, and want to see you, Angelo for
you are the JOY of my eyes"
Then, before even had time to think,
he had taken me, drawn me to him and
covered my eyes and my hair with kisses.
"Raoul, how naughty of you. Enough
of that. if you please"
"Why naughty? Are you not my fiancee,
my darling little wife"