The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-06-22
AWAKENING.

Flittle house at the corner OF
Hes Recollets-a little house
in the shadow Of the cathed-
Madcmoiselle Sylvine was
11wrinklcd, faded, feeble old
rith scarcely strength enough
erself from one easy chair to
Who passed the solitary hours
The fire with her trembling
eed in their black mitts; los
dreary present in little maps
busht dreams Of a happy past,
hing to the perpetual and un-
inanities of her garrulous gray
sSkrot.
fck told the gentle passage Of
lafhe lonely, silent salon. Time
little account to Mademoisellc
f She was alone in the world,
of her name, and she had out
orthly hopes and earthly re-
lie awaited the summons to a
existence with the patient faith
Eeyout believer. She had ceased
ri count the years which, piled
n the other, were slowly crush
<beneath their weight, and which
lady narrowed the limits Of her
III she was reduced to the com
S&hip of a faithful servant, as
- herself. and one poor, old
Fl Of Malta. who had adored
piselle d'Outreval in the far
1tme Of her youth.
3dorcd her still, and every even
the same hour-as the faithful
ISorship-the Chevalier de Nauvri-
Ieft his lodgings at the other end
Is, and, in his perrnque and his
y shoes, with the aid of his gold
4cane. he hobbled across the city
TX tea and play cards with Ma
Delle Sylvine.
geen these two old people existed
(ction-contiding and peaceful-as
Eand touching as the faint fra
] Of winter roses. whose petals,
ng at touch, suggest the falling
"
never disputed. .evincing for each
AlWays the same delicate consid-
D and a tenderness strong yet
/ forgot their great age: they
q each other no trace of time:
ven cherished dreams and fancies
&c as they We're visionary like
Itleeting. fairy pictures the ice
to the sun.
Inc had filled the narrow lodging
de Neuvricourt with absurd tri-
Thioh Uttered his bureaus and
eS; with gay bits of old fashioned
work, symbolic embroideries. and
'ental drawings in the stilted and
sible style Of other days.
eheNailer patiently economical
'ager pension and denied himself
Is precious tobacco d 'Espagne for
eater luxury of sometimes offer
wine a bunch Of early violcts or
package of burnt almonds.
every night they sat at the card
the yellow light from the lamp.
IS great shade Of lace, streaming
hem, their bird-like silhouettes
z fantastically on the wall. their
ed fingers trembling among the
counting points in their feeble
rejecting gravely at every criti-
mt in the game, laughing shrilly
] small victory.
ened to youthful animation by
mple diversion. their spectaclcs
ed as their old heads nodded un-
Ily and the the fragrant steam
sntly from the cups on the table
them.
when the game was ended. the
Ter would draw his chair close to
es, venture an ol1.ume compli-
"a the aroma Of her poadre de
the color of her ribbons. imprint
on her WriSt-first. audaCionsly
e aside the black lace mitt. and
olding the wrinkled hand which
e abandoned to his clasp, lie
murmur with reproachful ten
S.
you remember, my heart, how
'on We're to me in the past!"
Sylvine would reply with sigh,
gether their thoughts wandered
the days when they were young
y and lived only for each other:
len he had taken her hand and
aside her glove. as now, to kiss
1st-then young and fair, she had
ossed her head and drawn her
away. And when she met his
late prOtestations with her sweet,
llous laughter and a mocking
In her velvet eyes, and at last
from him trilling a foolish air.
flung himself away in bitter an
q gone to risk his life in twenty
, as one would play a ,ouis on a
table.
You remember, Sylvine?'
Mademoiselle Oo'utreyal, smiling
would murmur at last:
my dear chevalier; and If it had
otherwise. would we have been
ne good friends we are to-day"
nj. de Nauvricourt sighed the
a man resigned, while Sylyinc
or the old servant to light the
er down the stairs. But it was
rSelf who. totterinr beside him