The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-07-05
A DIVINE FEAST.

In those days was very poor and very
sentimental.
| My black coat was so threadbare, the
cloth was so worn that | dared not put it
on or take it Off without the greatest pre-
cautions; tho knees of my pantaoons
shone like satin; my hat was at the age
when little girls know how to lib and as
to my boots, modesty prevents my telling
| by what ingenious efforts | managed to
keep the inconstant sOles.
All my fortune was composed of some
manuscripts in prose and verse, which had
already made me the terror of number
of editors.
Oh, was truly very poor and very senti-
mental.
When have said that | wore my hair
long, falling on my coat collar; that was
slender and delicate; that had pale face,
n large nose and ccstatic eyes, one can see
what sorry figure made.
1t was the first night of new play Mt
the Comedie Franchise. knew the Prin.
cess l.oubanoif would be there, and would
sooner lose one Of my eyes than this oppor
tunty of seeing-though it might be but
for IN instant-the radiant creature who
had captivated my soul. Luckily pos
sessed the sum necessary to pay for the
modest place longcd for and a small sur
Plus Dinner time approached. | was
hungry, and, in haste to get rid of that
prosalc need, spent my surplus money
tor some fried potatoes, intending to drink
ut the first fountain | came to. What
could desire more?
But had reckoned without the most
cruel of my faults-that which has always
poisoned my eXistence-pride. | could
never say which was the most painful tc
me, to be poor or to appear so.
| had no sooner got my paper horn of
plenty full of potatoes in my hand than
became much embarrassed, imagining tina,
everybody looked at me with compassion,
However, lived too far away to think of
returning home.
"Bahr | said to myself "They may
think what they like. | am going to eat
my potatoes in the face of the passers byp'
And as walked began my repast. But
| had not swallowed the first mouthful
when beautiful young girl coquettishly
iressed, passed close to me and looked ut
me. There was so much kindness in her
gaze, her pretty eyes expressed SO well hcI
regret at seeing me dine so poorly that
nothing more was needed to overcome me
completely. Ashamed, | lowered my head,
| and feeling myself redden to my ears, /
passed very quickly had scarcely taken
three steps when, yielding to know not
what sympathetic influence, turned. The
| young girl had turned at the same instant,
and for one second met her sweet glance.
Evidently had inspired her with interest.
perhaps with pity. Much mortified,
FASTENED on, avoiding crowded streets.
II had listened only to my vexation |
should have flung my potatoes in corner,
but my appetite having mastered my self
love sought some quarter where | might
| shelter myself from the stares of the curl.
Gus, and chose gateway which was com
petely deserted. | sank down there, and
leaning against the wall near a flight of
steps again attacked my fried potatoes,
which seemed to me delicious. There, at
least might hope calmly to finish my re-
past, and again seized by the sweet, by the
intoxicating obsession which pursued me
everywhere plunged into contemplation
OF my love. I'm few hours" | said to
myself, with joyous little thrills, gin few
hours shall see her! Perhaps as she goes
through the lobby she may give me a love
ly smile"
And then in imagination | saw her fine
lips move, while her large eyes half yelled
themselves Oh, knew exactly how she
smiled, how she walked, with what
dainty airs she turned her head to lis
ten. | could initiate her slightest ges-
lures, repeat her futeike intonations,
modulated like the warbling of night
ingale; ! even owed to her the habit
had of passing the tip Of my tongue over
my upper lip. But what | could never
find words to express was her turbulence
of a spoiled child, the cajoling, almost ia
miliar ways with which she glided into the
heart of every one and coolly installed her
self there forever. She was a true, an eX-
quisite Partisan, the widow of Prince
Loubanotl-a widow of nineteen with her
intact freshness of young girl, and with
| eyes possessed, as by an evil spirit, with in
satiable coquetry.
lwould have given my life to kiss her
hands. At home l had arrived at kneeling
down to think of her. Certainly l was
insane.
1t was limited that the princess was not
dragon of virtue, and i'll disposed tongues
pretended that she was singularly capri
cious and perverse. But what could hope
from so grand "A LADY,, most pitiabe poet,
when her beauty, her riches, her independ-
ence drew around her throng of the
most powerful, the most illustrious
adorers' 1t is true, that since had been
presented to her, that is, for six months,
she had shown interest in me and never
seemed annoyed to see me pale and tremble
every time she spoke to me- She would
allow, discreetly allow, me to die of love
for her, as she permitted the flowers that
adorned her breast to .i,s in exhaling their
soul of perfume. That was all.
had not yet eate> a qparter OF my fried
potatoes when ! WAS obliged to pause in
my repast. There was the rustic Of dress
on the steps, | hid my cornucopia, and
assuming the indifferent air of oGe who
waits, did not move. But the nearer that
rustling of silken draperies approached the
more violently did my heart beat, without
any reason. A sort of instinct told me some
thing my spirit could not know. Sudden.
~ radiant vision agitated my whole be-
ing;a form, n brilliance, a perfume familiar
beloved! closed my eyes.
Then golden voice said in my ear, "Ah,
my dear poet, how delighted am to meet
you'll"
had barely time to slip my horn of fried
potatoes into my coat pocket.
Madam, bless the chancep'
Il was thinking about you"
"Reallyp
Il was going to write to you"