Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-15
THE THIRD POPLAR.


The day was cold. The gray sky
promised the first December snow. Be
tween one row and another Of her EN-
broidery Adriana thought what felicity
IL was to sit IN the warmth Of this sew.
ing room. In this elegant nest. prepared
by her Enrico. she realized all the love
that he had sworn for her.
The new apartment, full of bright
ness ard charm. was her own. She was
at last Enrico's wife, the absolute queen
over this enchanting kingdom. She rose
from her seat. moved her feet over the
downy carpet, undertook pilgrimage
through this miniature world, which
had always been her dream and was
now her dearest reality. This solitary
journey had new attractions for her; (;
these possessions appeared to her like .
prize A. she went from one room to
another she came upon one where En-
rico wrote and studied. 1t was the first
time, after two months Of marriage.
that she had set foot In this elegant
room. which had an original look from
its artistic disorder. She entered here,
her heart touched. He was away from
home aud vas ignorant Of what she was
thinking about him. No one, where he
was, could speak Of her. but she felt his
presence in every minute particular,
from the delicate perfume OF the cigar
clinging to the furniture even TO the sill
YER paper cutter between the pages OF q
book lying ON the writing desk. Agninst
the wall, behind the sofa on which she
was sitting. hung . shield OF plush,
crossed by band Of rose colorcd silk.
On this band she had embroidered
spray of foIgetmenots. She had given
this to him when they were engaged.
and he had stuck their two photographs
in it. She stood q moment to look at it,
ruse on the tips Of her toes and kissed
his with her red lips. In the stove the
fire slumbered. What delicious atmos-
phere this room had She seated her.
self in the armchair in Enrico's place
and read with curiosity the titles OF the
books scattered on the mahogany writ.
ing desk They were the masterpieces
Of modern literature.
Here and there many sheets were to
be seen covered with minute and ele-
CANT writing-his own writing. How
readily she recognized the long SEN
tences in which he had written his pro-
testations of love. She glanced at sheet
which contained few lines in the form
Of u note. There were three or four
ensures. To whom could her Enrioo
writer She would find ont In minute.
She read:
"Adored Amelia:
The blessed hour Is finally reached
when can whisper In your ears the most
passionate words. Ny wife has no sus-
picion. Tomorrow. Friday. at In the AFT
ernoon. I viii meet you ut the public gar
dens. I will be waiting under the third
poplar tree TO the left for you TO come.
Farewell now For me eternity COM
mences from today II will finish tomor-
row with your first kiss to your
WHO KNowsr'
Adriana had finished reading II the
second time, but kept on reading. hold.
ing her breath, pale ~ corpse, with
her eyes fixed ON the internal note,
which she crumpled in her rigid hands.
Poor child! A spasmodic sob came from
her throat. She threw herself ON the
sofa in q terrible fit Of desperation. In
her youthful mind. maddened with
grief, she made the most dreadful reso.
lutiOns, but this was the one that came
uppermost:
To fly to Ler mother and weep. weep
forever on h,r bosom until death should
release her.
Suddenly she calmed herself. She
read the horrid note attentively and let
these words escape her:
Tomorrow, Friday, at O'Clock.
poplar TO the left = but today is
Friday 1t ia half past 3, but.
then, there is barely time to 20 out and
learn the worst Of my torture . and
fy."
The gray clouds sifted down the
snow. Adriana walked along under its
icy caress. She was fatigued. The gar.
dens were far of. The people hastening
BY turned to look at her. She saw only
the interminable street. Painting, wet
with perspiration. covered with snow,
she finally reached the gardens She
entered-the third poplar to the left
was there. In front Of the accursed tree
few bushes shivered in the wind. She
hid behind one of them and waited with
death in her heart.
Now the perspiration froze on her
skin. The piercing cold made her shiv.
or. The snow fell faster and faster, and
soon the Lare branches the trunks, the
few leaves and the street were covered
with it, but Adriana did not notice the
snow nor pay any heed to her weari.
ness. Her beautiful blue eyes were fixed
on the third Inplar to the left, and she
blessed the abundant SHOW and the furi-
ous wind " iich permitted her to be
there, quite alone, ut the downfall OF
her love.
Four o'clock sounded. but she saw no
one. 1t commenced to grow dark. The
electric lamps were already lighted, and
under their BLUSH light the whiteness
Of the snow appeared like marble. Even.
ing had come. The third poplar to the
left, all covered with snow. waited in
vain, like herself, Drawing. like her. the
fury of the tempest. Adriana, be imb-
ed, trembling. lonely. came out from
her hiding place and turned to retrace
her useless steps.
TIE maid FASTENED at the sound OF
the Lell.
as It signor Enricor' asked Adriana
anxiously.
"No, I met him on the stairs after
| the sigDora went ont, and he came in
again in few momenta" ~ so
"Adriana, Adriana, my love. where
have you Leen In such weatherf''
So saying, Enrico met her with open
arms. He freed her from her mantle,
heavy with snow, brushed her damp hat
and led her lovingly toward the open
Ere. , ..st
She let him do no and looked around
her. The dinner table was spread with
| the white dsmask tablecl0th, the glit-
tssing glasses. the olives, The bosqnst