The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-04-09
It Was Only a Rose.


THE countess was in her garden
Outside its walls was big city
with great, noisy streets, boulevard'
and narrow, winding alleys; and dir
and confusion and people. Here in thu
garden there were also winding alleys
but they were bordered with sweet
smelling hedges. There were fruit
trees and rose trees; and fountains tina
FLASHED merrily day and night.
1t was beautiful garden, and tn.
countess should have been very happy
here. And SO she would have been but
for the dragon. This dragon did not
breath forth fire and smoke, nor did she
have terrible claws and teeth; but, on
the contrary, was very polite and stiff
and formal. In color she was generally
black, though on occasions she would
become green or yellow, or variou.
colors. She watched over the countess
from early morning until bedtime, and
sometimes followed her into dreamland
This the countess thought hardly fair
for dreamland was her own exclusive
territory. She discovered, however
that the dragon generally followed her
there on the nights she had eaten two
pieces Of cake for supper.
There was another bar to the count
ess' happiness. 1t was being kept pris-
oner in the garden. True, she did go
out into the city occasionally, but al
ways in big carriage, in company with
the dragon; and on very rare instances
with the marquis, her father, very Sc
date and splendid gentleman, whom she
admired greatly, but of whom she stood
somewhat in awe.
Then the sides of the carriage were so
high that she could see very little, save
the upper stories of houses, as she
drove by.
So, after all, she preferred to stay in
the garden with Tou-Tou, her dog, and
Fanchette, her doll, where they could all
three be together, with no one else to
disturb them-when the dragon was
asleep in the house.
BY standing on big stone, which she
had rolled under the wall on the terrace,
the countess could look over into the
street below. Across the way was the
high wall of another garden, and down
at the end of the street was a large
boulevard, where one could see horses
and carriages and many passers-by.
The countess had climbed on to
the stone, and was leaning over the wall,
with her neck craned to get a glimpse of
the boulevard, when she noticed boy
standing on the other side of her street
looking at her intently. He had on
neither shoes nor hat, and his clothing
was very much the worse for wear. In
fact, in several places it was rent
through and showed his bare brown
legs and arms.
where did you come from ?" inquired
the countess.
The boy did not reply in words, but
merely gave quick motion Of the head
sidevrise, in the direction of the boule-
yard.
"From the great city,"
The boy nodded.
do you like 1t there?'
Now the boy knew that this was not
the way to answer the gentry, for he
had been taught to be respectful to his
superiors. but he was not, by nature,
very polite boy, so instead of replying
with Difference he merely said: IL have
to like it," and started to walk away.
"Please do not CO." called out the
countess.
"Why not?'
because want to talk to You. It is
SO lonely here with no one but Tou-Tou
and Fanchette."
"What do you do there?" asked the
boy, becoming interested, and crossing
over the street.
"Oh, we walk in the garden and have
tea partisan and play hide-and-sesk. Only |
Fanchette doesn't play much, for she |
can't run; but Tou-Tou can"
whats Tou-Tou and Fanchette?"
I'm introduce you. They're asking |
to come up" And she placed doll on |
he top of the wall and helped little
log to scramble up beside it.
only dog and q doll?" laughed the
BOY.
The dog did not like the boys appear
Ance, and began to bark furiously. Run
hing to and fro in his excitement he
shocked Fanchette OF the wall. The
countess gave cry of terror, which
hanged to joy as she saw the boy catch
he doll before it could touch the pave
nent.
"Oh, thank you! thank you. for saving
Fanchetts's life. Tou-Tou. you wicked
'reature, be q tietl Boy. can you reach
up to mel"
The boy stood on tiptoe and handed
'p the doll feet first By leaning for
vard the countess was able to get hold
4 one foot and resto-e the unfortunate
to sitting position on the
vail.
Thank you again, both for her and
or me. BE quiet, Tou-Tou, tell YOU"
he said. turning to the docr ord rI...-I