Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-24
A BRIDE OF A DAY.

and without doubt the best action ot my life. I have pardoned myself for many faults on account of the happiness that gave to her who was my bride for 0 day.
 At the time of which speak used sometimes to dictate notes on 0 philo- sophical work to an old copyist who lived in the Ruo de lEstrapade. He was ono of the best men in the world, but had been brought to poverty by an unusual series of misfortunes which he had Q weakness for recounting to all corners. I used to listen to him willing ly, for his voice was charming and his words well chosen. While he spoke his daughter, timid blond, would sit near us copying papers, I found her alone two or three times and could not help remarking that she seemed greatly agitated in my presence As she was quite pretty and saw look of fn- finite tenderness in her beautiful eyes when they met mine, felt some vague inclination toward her, but I quickly stif1ed it. Yet I often spoke kindly to her that she might see did not think her displeasing. My gentle words inn pressed soul so profound that would have shrunk back affrighted could have guessed its depths. We had known each other for some time when I was suddenly called away from the city, and during my absence fell in love and became betrothed. The very morning of my return to Paris some one knocked at my door, and my poor old copyist entered His thin figure was yet more meager, his face pale. his temples hollow and his eyes red with weeping. ''Sir," said he, ''I trust you will excuse my coming thus, but you have always been so good-my | daughter-she-I fear she is about to die"
 ''Indeedr" I responded, with more | politeneSs than emotion.
 ''She is at the hospital, sir. I have come to ask you-to say to you''- He interrupted himself, stammering, incohcrent, his eyes full of entreaty, and said abruptly, without further pre- Jude:
 My daughter loves you! Before her approaching death believed you might be ablc''--
 And without giving me time to re- cover from this strange declaration he commenced q story of love which, though prolix, was so strange and pa thetic that, when he ended, my eyes were wet with tears.
 twill you see herr It would make her so happy! She has but a few weeks ] to live"
 Three-quarters of an hour later wa, at the young girls bedside Her face shono with that inefable beauty with which coming death sometimes trans figures the features of the young. At seeing me her great dark eyes lighted up with Joy that touched mo to the heart.
 Almost at once she guessed that hel father had revealed her girlish secret, and she commenced to tell me the sad, sweet story of her love; the pathetic TO- nance of poor little maiden resigned to death-a tale of infinite tenderness how first she had known she loved me, , then her fear that her love was not re turned, then her illness and her wish tC die.
 For an hour she talked thus, hel blond head lying upon the snow white pillow, her beautiful eyes gazing into mine Finally she asked in a trembling voice:
 And you Did you ever-ever:''
 What should I say? Should play th' I cruel executioner by telling the trutI or mercifully console her with lie Pity moved me:
 = II: I have loved you lOngv'
 ''Is it true:''
 ''It Is true indeed =
 4 look of joy such as I will neve , see again in this world-thc joy of tn, h0r- fnr. :, that moment, if loved her not, ther - was something very sweet in my soul m atom of that boundless compassion which is the closest kin to lo<e.
 I know not what led her during th! '; following days to doubt me. but on e afternoon she askeCl
 d But will you ever marry mef' " Iswore te her that I would. Sh n smiled up at me with adoration. Sh prayed aloud, thanking God for hi !, great goodness. One day was so move' , by the depth of Der love for me that wished to give her yet more happiness it would cost me SO little. Alasl wa ,, she not irremediably condemned? if II am going to publish the banns. "i cried.
 Her joy was almost terrible in its ip tensity. Her face shone with marvel ous splendor, and while she drew dow my face to hers, while she laughed an cried in reciting to me in broken word
 the prayer of her love, while she spok
 to me as fervent devotees to God,
 felt that I had given to one human b.
 ing the equivalent of lifetime of hal
 pinesS
 n will not tell yon bow arranged
 obtain the consent of my guardian. , did not ask that of my fiancee-I kne' ), Ihe would pardon me afterward, IT
 banns were published, and made a , preparations for regular marriage to During the weeks which followed sf
 lived in ecstasy. Her malady seeme
 relenting A miraculous beauty seemt
 to shine about her like an aureole. Sl e. dazzled me; she filled my heart with - sad love, like that of mothers for frai | beautiful children who cannot live. J. had her placed in a special room at tl
 hospital. where she received the care
 the best physicians and had a sister
 charity to watch over her night aI
 day. I passed the greater part of n e time with hey. I could not satiate m . self with that adoring gaze, with tn
 beatitude which each word, each ge
 ture of mine bestowed. How we'll I
 member the twilight hours when
 would sit beside her, watching her pa
 face blend harmoniously with the sha
 ows, while she murmured to me h <-1n &l-- --A