The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-21
LOVE AND ROSES.

woman passes along the street, all turn to
look at her, just as in the morning when
their paths lead in an opposite direction
they turn to behold that spot in the east
where the sun rose clear and radiant.
Naturally Countess Marie Antoinetss
had endless admirers and suitors- The
most earnest of them were the two neigh
bors of her parents, Camiu Won Leeringen
and Ernst Won Prinzthal Camiu was the
most dashing officer that could be imag-
ined- He was not only famous dancer
and horseman, but he talked well and
played the piano brilliantly. His castle
was magnificent and superbly arranged
His stables were well supplied. He had
indeed debts, but debts are for the most
part an evidence of riches. Ernst Won
Prinzthal was, On the contrary, quiet, bus
earnest.
Both sued for Marie Antoinette's hand,
and each in his own way filed with
distrust and jealousy toward the other
This uncertainty could not continue lon
ger. One of them must yield his place il
murder er q deathblow did not remove
him. but which onel The parents permit
ted to the daughter her free choice And
Countess Antoinettes Really she had nos
considered whom she would choose.
The day before the garrison ball before
a ball Antoinette was more rndiant, more
joyous and more eonquering than eveF)
the two suitors came TO Castle HeIverzen
at the same moment. and almost attacked
each other in the salon. The result WAS
that they urgently and earnestly begged
Countess Antoinette to render her final
decision.
which Of US is the favored one-which Of
US you viii make happy with your hand, =
cried CaIniH Won Leeringen. Yes, let us
know our fate today, for only under this
condition can we give up the duel which
the scene of today has rendered almost uIs-
leave the scene Of combat Will You do
SOP
'sOh, you must, indeed cried Ernst
Won Prinzthal, ''for, Antoinette, cannot
endure longer the torInents OF this uncer-
tainty. love you. Do you understand
what that means? 1t means that I shall
suffer always il you do not say, You shall
find new life with me- -
''WeIl, for my part, :" said Countess An
toinette, laughing will give my decision
this evening. At this moment I really
have not the time. My head is so full
The modiste has promised me my ball
dress at noon and it is now IL O'Clock. If
comes direct from Paris, and I have no
idea of the style, scarcely of the color
Then, until this evening"
'sAnd let us know at the first glance
which of US has to hope, and which Of us
has to despair said Ernst Won Prinzthnl
in hoarse voice, while his breath came
fast. IF I am the one to whom you will
give life and happiness, then wear a red
rose in your hair. Will you? But if it is
Cavalier Leeringen, them
''Then, of course, wear a white one, 7"
smiled the officer, showing his whitest Of
teeth. Roses vary commonly in these
two shades. as does wine
$50 let it be, so let it be" merrily said
the Countess Autoinette. ''But now adieu-
1 hear carriage in the court. wager
it is the modiste and my ball dress"
The evening came. Antoinette stood
before her mirror in all the magni6ceuce
of the dress from Mime. Leontine OF Paris
She was beside herself with delight. In
its style, material and shading of coIors
the ball dress was a master work of ele-
gance. 1t was of the palest rose tint, not
the rose red that recalls the color of the
suggests either the winter rose, when fully
blown, or the tip of the diamond petal that
has almost yellowish simmer
In this toilet, which harmonized won
derfully with her complexion, her eyes and
her chestnut brown hair, Antoinetes was
sweet enough to kiss There remained
Only the question of the flower for her
hair. Before her lay cluster Of dewy
roses that the gardener had just brought
She must choose. She thought of the i'm
portant role the color of her flower must
play this evening
selves? Did she love one more than the
other? She was extremely fond Of both,
but of which one particularly? That she
scarcely knew. Did she think that the
handsome officer was little tickle and
little frivolous; that he was somewhat
skeptical as well as somewhat reckless
and somewhat eItravagant2 Did she re-
member that true heart tone had sound
ed in the voice of Ernst Won Prinzthai;
that he was benevolent to the poor, and
that this very morning she had seen
tear sparkle in his eye?
No. Who thinks of such doings before
ball? Who thinks of such things in the
bIissfuIness of a new toilet?
1t was really impossible to wear the red
rose with the blossom tint Of the dress that
shaded softly, but the tea rose, the
heart of which softly gIowed into creamy
shade, completed her toilet in the most
enchanting manner.
"Oh," murmured Antoinette as she
fastened the rose in her hair, "triumph
for the cavalierl The prize is his ]"
Many years after a woman sat grieving
in a cold back room of a great house in
large city. She was sick and suffering and
aged before her time. She was a widow,
although her husband lived somewhere in
the world outside in disgrace and degrada-
ton. After he had spent her fortune, de-
ceived and scorned her, he had left her.
! The deserted woman, now sick and poor,
turned the leaves of a prayer book by the
feeble light that a street lamp threw IN
the miserable room- Her glance was at
trscted by dead blossom that lay dry as
dust between the leaves. 1t was black and
dry from age, but it had once been beau
tifuI-
1t was the wreck and ruin of once
white rose--Exch3nge.