Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-06

Quent
"You are!''
"Never until this hour have my
words sprung straight from my heart.
A blindness falls upon me when your
eyes look into mine. Tonigbt-tonight
for the first time, 10 seems TO me that ]
am speaking straight TO you"
"a new tones In your voice"
"a new tone, true, for in the night
that hides me dare at last TO be my
self daro--I know not what For
give me that I'm moved. This-this is
30 sweet-so strange
So stranger"
"Yes-strange to be sincere. The fear
Of being Knocked has always locked my
heart"
"Mocked9 But whyF"
"Ah-for my hearts wild beating
I sought to clotbe my love with witty
words, to hide 1t from the curious gaze.
l longed 10 reach up starward, and am
afraid of ridicule. stopped and picked
wild flower. This wit of ours! To
catch your fancy ut the first--'twas
good. but now 'twould be profnr alton
of the caIm night to speak the words
that garnish fine love letters. Come, let
us look upon the stars. Let the wide
sky take flom us all our make believes.
dread that, in the alchemy we're skill
ed in, tie vtry essence Of or love MAY
dissolye-cscape US. All. it is sin in
love tn play at fencing' The moment
comes--and LEST that moment--when
every polished phrase and rounded word
is sad and vain.
"And IL that moment come for u.s.
Aoated the whisper down from the bal.
cony.
"All. ali that came to me I'd toss to
You in one wild cluster. not set in n
bouquet. love yon! l stiiie-I love!
I'm mad Do you not begin TO under
stand, my sweet? Do you not feel my
soul mount mp to you: All, this Is too
beautiful, too dear, that l should tell
you all and you should listen! II Is too
much. never hoped for this. Could l
but die now. Have words Of mine the
power To make you trembie there among
the branches? For you do tremble like
Q leaf among the leaves! feel II
Whether you will il or not, the blessed
embling Of your hand thrills through
the tendrils Of your jasmine.
He caught the vine aud kissed it pas
sionately.
"Oh," cried Roxane in = voice faint
with excess Of happiness, IL trembIe
I weep! I love theel am thine! Alb.
thou hast conquered me-"
And then, though Cyrano's were the
words that won her, Christians were
the feet to mount TO her balcony. Chris
tian's the arms to infold her, his the
face for her kisses.
"Ah. WELL" unused Cyrano in the
gloom, all sweet with white stars OF
flowers: "ah, we'll. some crumbs Of JOY
still fall to me, for though you kiss his
lips the words you kiss arc minep'
Now, il was no part cf my Lord DE
Clutches plan to betake himself to Arras
without pursuing the advantage he
thought he had won with Roxane. She
bad pretended an interest in his move
ments She had suggested to him sub
tie scheme II revenge upon her insolent
cousin. She had called him Antoine. !"
Surely when she had yielded 80 far to
his lovemaking surely he bad but to
make iove a little longer to win more
favor. What IL she had besought him
by his love for her TO 80 where glory
waited, Glory should wait on love.
Therefore it happened that on the
night when Cyrano's lovemaking.
mounting TO Roxane's balcony through
the jasmined darkness. had broken
down her colduess and bad won her
for Christian-there came friar
through the still street where the ugly
eloquent waited. The pages guarding
the corner had played twice-gay and
sad
"Gay'' said Cyrano. "A woman
passes. No. Sad? All. gay and sad! Ii
Is monk.
And through the street there glided a
cowled and vestured figure.
II SEX Nine. Robin-Mme. Made
line Rooin," announced the friar.
Lives she not here:"
Some subtle sense of danger to his
lady caused Cyrano to give the friar
false direction Discovering his mistake.
the friar returned. While they talked
Roxape and Christian came to the door
with her duenna to learn the cause OF
the chatter.
al have message for your fairness, +"
exclaimed the friar, from great no
ble."
Aide Guiche" breathed Roxane
softly.
/" lis here" And the friar drew
forth the note and gave il to Roxane.
Behind Roxane stood Ragueneau,
whom hungry poets bad eaten out OF
stock aud shop and whom a gay news
| dealer had bere.t Of his wife also. AT
Cyrano's prayer Roxane had made the
ex. pastry cook enc Of her reiainers, and
his was the hand that held the lantern
by which she read De Guiche's note. II
| ran:
MApENoisiiIE The drums beat. Ny regi
rent gird- its nrmor On. IL starts And /
| they believe me gone already, but wait.
| disobey you. ! En hcre-hidden In the con-
vent. Tonight come TO you. send you This
10 let you know Ly poor monk - simple NJ
a child, who has no understanding OF the thing
| he bears. Your lips have smiled ON me too
.sl.-. Sx...l
every one away. Receive me all alone-the
| bold one you forgive slTesdy-l hope II. For
| he is yours
Roxane had read the letter swiftly
and softly. She turned her eyes upon
its bearer and said:
Father, this ia what the letter bids
me. Listen:
"MADEuoisgLLE-Al must bow to the car
dinal's will, no matter how hard u seems.
| Therefore send these lines to your fair hands
by this devout, this wiss and cautious friar.
| II is our will that he pronounce upon you In
your own dwelling, within the hour, the nup-
| tial bene,liction. Christian becomes your hus-
| band secretly. We send him to you. He does
| not please you, but resign yourself. Think
well how heaven will reward your zeal aud b
| always assured. made m0isells. VI the respect
of him who Il and who will always bs your
very humble servant"
The simple friar looked mp with de-
light.
1.-The noble gentleman" he said. 81
knew there was no wrong planned" Il"
Roxane's smile for . second was in.
scrutable. Then she threw herself into
her part.
"This-this IL unbeafsble" she
cried. Marry himP y
The friar looked at Cyrano.
"Is this the choice made for mademoi-