The evening times., 1900-02-03
ALONE.

April 1s93.-Yes il is true that ! must
be classed with ''old maids" My mirror
has said to me, Resign YOURSELF and
shall do so. l. who would have loved so
WELL could have devoted my life to the
happiness of one other must close my
heart and remain in the solitude of my
little room, isolated in the midst OF this
gay Paris whose pleasure seeking throngs
are oblivious of an old maids lonely tears.
October. 1S97.-During the last week
| news has come to me which has changed
my whole life. Last year l had saved up
little money and bought some exposition
stock as an investment 1t has risen mar
veously and have realized 100000 francs.
Think of it. / am rich. i, who have had
barely enough TO live on all my life.
! After the good news came the bad, Sor-
row will always follow close upon my hap
/ piness. My sister Antoinette, a widow,
who lived in the country town where we
were born. has just died. leaving Two little
children, Pierre and Jeanne, without means
/ of supporting themselves.
January. 1S9S.--It is in Badonviller, my
native place. that write these lines.
! found my nephew and niece in pitiful sit
uation.
Jeanne is charming girl of eighteen and
! Pierre a fine lad of sixteenI love them both
| already and see that my mission in life Is
to care for them, to be as much a mother
! as an aunt can be. Aunt" that is better
! than "od maid"
/ Kasper Dollfuls is still here. When /
saw him again after all these years my
/ heart beat as ii often used to when | was
a girl and saw him often. | thought that
this foolishness had left me. but the mere
sight of him set me trembling and / felt
that ! blushed.
have bought a little house-simple, but
sweet and homelike We call il our little
nest in the trees.
February. 1881 can hardly see 10
write and my hand trembles with emo
ton. Kasper has just been here. He found
/ me alone and told me what my heart has
ached to hear all these years.
He says he has always loved me; that he
has never forgotten me during all these
| years of absence and that my return has
! made him happy. He wants me to marry
| him Is he sincere? | have searched my
| heart for an answer. and it is Yes"
! March. 1851 return to my journal.
/ where the secrets of my heart find eX-
| preston. to write OF this new sorrow that
/ has come TO me.
Jeanne confessed TO ME that she was
deeply in love with a young officer here.
and he is in love with her.
II seems that the young man is poor, TOO
/ poor to marry unless his wife brings lit
| tie money Jeanne. he knows. has none,
! and he has resolved to leave the service
he loves and try 10 make a fortune else
I where. 10 be able TO marry her. She is IN
/ despair. for she knows the full weight or
his sacrifice.
When / tried to console her she cried:
.Oh. If YOU knew how ] love him,
I made mp my mind then TO give her %
Geo francs. as ! had TO Pierre. Ii is large
| sum but | thought | would not need it 50
much now that | was to marry Kasper
That night ] told him and saw his face
.srddeply change-become hard and cruel
When l had finished he cried:
1t is absurd You have no right 10 give
your money away in this manner
told him that ! had already given TO
Pierre a like sum. and he cried out again
that it was folly After many words he
left The house in anger and saying at the
door:
when YOU come to your senses | Viii
return-until then. good by
He has never loved me- Ii was my POOR
little fortune he was after. God help me.
can know this and still love him.
April. lSqS.-I made my decision and,
| though my heart is broken, my conscience
/ is clear
Jeanne is happy. so happy that Try 10
| find my own comfort in feeling that | am
! the cause OF her joy.
Yesterday | met Kasper on The street
and he did not look at me. They say that
be is TO marry q rich widow, older even
than /.
JEANNE viii leave me soon to follow her
husband Pierre is going to college heNt
wear. and ] shall once more be alone
Alone. an old maid. with bitter memories
and long heavy hours OF anguish From
The French