Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-10-16
HOW SHE WAS CURED

Working throughout the year among
the vines, he had acquired the wine
color of an onion. He went to Reyigny
now and then to put by some money
that he might have good dowry for
his daughter Rosetta, pretty lass,
blond as the harvest field and as fresh
as May morn.
Rosetta had entered her eighteenth
year and was much sought after. She
drew some lovers by the hope of finding
in her "good match. Others she at
tracted by her beauty and fascination.
Time lostl Rosetta only laughed at her
suitors and found much to ridioule in
this one and that one.
She laughed besides for that best Of
reasons with a young girl-that her
heart was no longer her own. At a
country festival she had danced several
waltzes with Paolo Laurient, the son Of
rich dealer in Ligny. The brown hair,
ressing voice of Pao1o had produced
upon Rosetta an inefaceable impression.
His gentle and affable manners oon-
trasted especially with the roughness of
the youths of Reyigny. Having received
good education, he talked with mar
velous facility, and Rosetta was not
slow in listening to him.
On the evening of the festival this
true daughter of Eve, having lost her
family voluntarily in the crowd, re-
turned to Revigny on Paolo's arm. They
were at least two hours on the way,
walking slowly and compelled from
time to time to pause when the wind
blew too strongly beneath the great
pop1ars which lined the avenue. They
arrived at the village, which was desert
ed, and under the field of azure studded
with stars exchanged their first hiss.
Very frequently after this Rosetta had
met Paolo. Then his father had sent
him to Paris to study medicine, and the
lovers, exchanging VOWS of mutual
fealty, sadly separated, and this was
why Rosetta laughed at the suitors who
came in handsome Paolo's absence.
For the first months after his depar-
ture he wrote regularly to Rosetta. Then
the letters became moro rare, with in
tervals of month. Gradually they be-
came laconic billets, scribbled, no doubt,
in haste at the corner OF table In cafe
and giving evidence of growing indif-
Paolo had forgotten her.
1t was an old story. At first Paolo
had refused to take part in the diver
sions of his fellow students, the balls
and brewery meetings. Then they teased
him and accused him of having left a
love In the country. This made him
angry; but, being fond Of pleasure, he
soon decided to take his part in the play
CATER all, " he said to himself, ''they
have reason to sneer. Why quarrel with
pleasure? Leave sadness to the gray
boards and profit by the present.
''But Rosetta?" his Conscience muir
INJURED.
"Bahp' he thought. ''she will con-
sole herself Let her go. Perhaps she
has already forgotten me. Lovers oaths
are quickly broken, says the old prov
erb, and why should ours prove an ex-
cepion to the rule?''
But Rosetta was not to be consoled.
On the contrary, she suffered terribly at
this abandonment and many times
turned her mournful eyes toward Paris.
Several years went by. Paolo had
known how to. divert himself and YET
study. After having passed his examina.
| tion with honor he wrote to his father
for permission to establish himself il
Paris. To this, however, Father Lau
rient could not consent. He desired hi!
son to return Immediately to Ligny ant
1 establish himself there
'tAs for the repugnance you seem Il
manifest for your native country, y hi
| wrote, ''that is not the point in ques
tion. The workshops of Ligny havt
made you gentleman, and you belong
to the people here. You owe sacred
debt to your country, and as sure as yol
are gentleman this debt, my son, yoI
will certainly pay.
1.-THE deuceP' thought Paolo. ''Fa
ther Laurent will be hard to convince
Bat L must make him yield. Besides, i
I return there, I shall see Rosetta
whom, must confess, I have treated
basely. I hope she has not started ;
scandal to meet me ae Ligny. But Fa
| ther Laurent would have spoken of i
If she had I shall stay here.
PaoIo's fears were groundless. Rosetts
had resigned herself to the inevitable
She dared not aspire now to be Paolo'i
] wife. Would it not be very astontsh
ing thing If the little Rosetta Dounet
should become the bride of Dr.. Laurent
There would be laughter for 10 leagues
about at such a avoiding. So sheresign-
/ ed herself without anger, without bitter;
tness. contented, when alone, to lament
silently her vanished dream, her castle
of cards fallen to the earth:
She became pale and langutd Hel
relations sought in vain to discover the
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