The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-28

Gu in order to view a castle in ruins.
e uttered a sudden cry of joy as she
~ beautiful tree that appeared on
hey vision. 1t was on the slope of an
abandoned garden--a vigorous magnolia,
,wi th somber leaves and regular branches
dedked with such an abundance of white
flDurs that it seemed like a pyramid in
bldom Nine de Nerieulles had never
seen tree so beautiful. She approached
ut her eyes shining like stars, her cheeks
iSuffused with color, and surrendering to
ia queer temptation she took hold of a
FLEXIBLE branch, so flexible that it seemed
las though it was human arm extended
toward her, and said to the tree:
= You are my love among trees! must
kiss You!"
And she Imprinted kiss of admira-
tion, a kiss that was full of fervor, upon
the nearest leaf.
Then she trembled. A hunter had just
Fhen emerged from a neighboIing hollow,
and advancing with a joyous light in
IBIS audacious eyes, said softly, gently:
Thanks, on behalf of my tree mad
emoiselle. 1t cannot return your sweet
kiss, but l am here and can do so in its
stead.
And the enterprising young man ap-
preached nearer, his lips ready to return
the caress just received by the leaf of
the magnolia from the beautiful woman.
NIl6. dc Nerl6ulleS look refuge III
flight, her cheeks crimson. Descending
the hill, she gained the woods and arrived
= at the chateaux painting and exhausted.
"Ah, what a singular country" she
painted, where even the trees give back,
with interest, the caresses they receive. -
Going to her apartment she approach
ed a window overlooking the direction
IN which she had just come, and pushing
aside the curtain and looking into the
park she saw the hunter half hidden
by one Of the marble statues. His face
= was turned toward the chateaux, and ne
seemed nearly as motionless as the tree
lwhose cause he had espoused with sc
Uluch ardor.
Nine. de Nerieulles from that time dar-
ed not go out alone. Vainly the beauti-
full trees, with their gestures of discreet
invitation, beckoned to her, but she could
not again venture to manifest her en-
I.thusiasm for trees and brooks. She re
manned at the chateau with her frivolou:
friends The hunter had frightened her
Who was he? Where did he come
from? Did any one know him In the
chateau? Was he man of rank o.
caste, of family? Two or three time:
she was tempted to say to her uncle
fA'Who is that young man with the greer
Eeyes-yes. surely they are green-witl
the black mustache, with fine pointet
ends, who owns certain magnolia no
f3ar from the ruined castle?" But sh
feared to give this sign. People are s.
talkative in the country. They woult
Imagine that this unknown had piquc'
her curiosity. No, no; it would be bet
ter not to ask her uncle, nor speak t.
any one about the kiss of the magnolia
a kiss that had evoked such a promp
response. Besides, why think of the in
cident at all? Was not she going t
quit the country in eight days? Wha
good could there be in encumberine he
memory with foolish souvenirs?
However, this souvenir did not seen
Ito be so very disagreeable to Nine. Ne
Lxieulles. 1t was installed in her mind I.
"a pleasant dream, and perhaps In tn,
Efpture her thoughts would return t,
Hhis incident of her visit oftener than t.
kothers more important. Nine. Nerieulle