Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-21
THE BLUE HOUSE.

Here is the story that my Uncle Jean,
who died recently, used often to tell me:
You know, he would say to me, that my
business called me often to the four quar-
tiers of France. 1 noticed on one of my
journeys, near the outskirts Of Dion.
which is called Blaisy Bas, a little cottage
of strange aspect aud of still more strange
color.
The first time I noticed tit is fully 40
years since then--it was at stopping of
the express train. In the garden in front
Of 1T a little girl was playing with doll,
a child of about 10, very fair and rosy,
dressed in dainty spring dress and with
blue ribbon in her hair. She was very
pretty. l was not happy that morning
Business had not gone well, and | was re-
turning to Paris sad and preoccupied.
This sudden vision in the tiny garden
Gained me. Was it the beautiful day, the
charm of this little girl and the beautiful
country that was looking at? | said to
myself, cone must be happy to live here !;
no sorrow, no WEAKNESS. And / envied
the little girl her childish carelessness and
gayety.
But the train started to move. At the
same time one Of the windows of the house
was opened
"Laurinel" voice called.
And the little girl went in. Laurine-
the name was pretty, and an hour after
ward in the idleness of the journey
thought of it again, and saw once more
the child, the doll, the garden and the lit
tie blue house. Then all was jumbled to-
"a; ,,@ wi ha
more because for long time l had no
business in that part of France.
went often to the north of France or
to the cast, now to Lille, now to Nancy,
and you understand had other things to
think of. About ten years passed thus,
when one fine day I set out for Marseilles,
and on my return the old memories re-
turned to me. 1 took the night express in
order to pass through Blaisy-Bas in the
morning. 1t was still there, the blue house,
of we'll faded blue now, and, moreover,
it seemed to me that it had less well
cared for, less well kept look than former
ly, but in the garden tall girl was seated.
She was very fair and with pink ribbon
In her hair. 1t was Laurine. l recognized
her at once. Near her was young man,
without doubt, and around them was the
same smiling calm, the same peace of
mind.
was positively quite happy, quite
moved myself, and whom again the train
started I leaned from my window and,
waving my hand, nodded my head and
cried:
Farewell, Mile. Laurinep'
The young girl looked at equite aston
ished. Then the young man. They burst
out laughing, and still from my window
watched them waving their handkerchief
at me. I was delighted.
Year after year passed. / was nearly
always on the Marseilles road, but busy,
very busy. Each time was forced to gain
an hour or two by taking the fast express
that passed Blaisy -Bas in the night with
out stopping. At last one day, less busy
than before, took the evening train which
stops at Blaisy Bias in the morning. How
many years had passed since that little
scene in the garden when had seen Lau-
rine with her fianoe? Twelve, or perhaps
Is years, don't remember.
This time, when the train stopped In
front Of the little station, there was in the
garden only small boy, with unkempt
hair playing with great dog stretched
on the grass. Was not to see Laurinep
was already quite sad, when the little
boy began to call:
Mamma, mamma, the train!"
Then lady stepped out of the house. 1t
was certainly she, little less fair, but
nevertheless recognized her at once, and
looking at her quite tenderly discreetly
raised my hand to my hat. She answered
my salutation little surprised. She was
indeed always the same, as simple and
amiable as her own life. On departing,
to mark my passage with little souvenir,
tossed an orange to the child in the gar
den, and saw it roll down the terrace fol-
lowed by the big dog
Then came the most eventful period of
my life. 1t was short time after this
that made my great journey to Turkey
so eventful, SO full Of sudden changes,
that today, after SO many years, seem to
speak of dream. How many ups and
downs I had before made my little for
tunel 1t was down there you know, that
/ was shipwrecked on the Black sea. You
can imagine If in that life thought often
Of Blaisy -Bns and tho blue house. All,
well, on the sinking ship, in that ominous
hour when was separated from death
only by plank, 1t was still that memory
that crossed my mir d as clear and precise
az in the first hour. said to myself:
"My poor Jean, this will teach you to
travel around the world. If you had been
willing to live quietly, like your friend
Laurine, In some blue house under the sun
Of Burgundy, such things as this would
not have happened to you either"
escaped nevertheless, and have often
told you how. You know Of the Holland
ship that passed, as though by miracle,
at the end of two days, when my strength
was spent. At the end Of Is or 20 years
you see, at my age one forgets the exact
dates-I returned to France, and after
passing several days in Marscilles took
for the last time the train for Paris. I
had never been ambitious and the little
money was carrying home would suffice
for my old age This was then my last
journey, the end Of all my adventures.
At l O'Clock we arrived at Blaisy- Bias.
Can you believe meP Ny heart beat as II
II would burst, and confess that was
not 10 moved when few hours later !