The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-04-14
ssThank you, mademoiselle, = said 1,


/ have filed myself with gum drops all
this month, and have accomplish moth
ing. To write | have not dared; nor have
| ventured to speak.
The uncle, it is true, bids me goodeday
now-Marietta salutes me also But |
am afraid of everyone, of myself, of the
porter, of the neighbors, of the principal,
of my two colleagues especially, two old
mocking bachelors who at times look at me
with provoking air. And it was thus |
found myself at Easter Sunday. | had
before me five long days of vacation, five
days Of liberty.
''Are you man p | asked myself.
"Yes.'
"Well, then, go ahead ~
l awoke in the morning very full of
laughter. opened wide my window.
All but it is good to live This was a
great feast everywhere. The birds were
warbling above my head, under the caves.
On all sides the bells were ringing, and
their joyous chime seemed to answer one
another. Then they began to chant all
together, the big ones with deep, loud
buses accompanying the clear voices of the
smallest. And these sounds all seemed to
ascend and then disperse high up in the
rosy sky, and already all was bathed in
sunshine.
A sharp knock at my door made me
turn quickly I opened it and saw stand
ing there the porter, small, round, fat
old man, who smilhngly handed me
package folded in white paper. "For
you, Monsieur Jacques" said he. And
he was gone.
Astonished, trembling without knowing
why, united the pink ribbon which fast
ened the parcel; unfolded the paper and
a little box appeared. | opened the box
at once and on bed Of cotton white as
snow, saw What ? An Easter egg.
A little Easter egg of sugar, on which, in
red letters, was traced this magic word,
''Hope p
remained moment confused, gazing
now by turns at the ribbon shining on the
floor, the box and the egg. Nothing in
dicated, nothing could indicate to me from
whence came this gracious gift. l knew
no one at Chautevigne. All at once |
uttered cry. I had OWNED the mystery.
sIt is from her, l said, and taking the
egg in both my hands, covered it with
kisses, delicious kisses, fond kisses, kisses
which left on my lips delicious perfume
of yiolets. For [ had now recognized the
egg All the week | had seen it in the
show window of the little shop.
1t was she She had guessed my Sc
cret; she had OWNED my timidity and my
silence, and she had sent me this little
Easter present that it might speak for her:
Hope and confidence My Imagination
travelled so much and SO far that only an
hour after went down dressed in my best
clothes. What | would do | had not de-
cided, but surely, I would do something
1t must be said my coat shone little
in the sun, the nap of my hat was little
thin in places, but l did not give much
thought to these details 1t was Easter.
1t made the sun clear The bells were ring
ing like the joyous chimes of betrothal.
And in the pocket of my coat, delieately
resting in its bed of cotton, l could feel the
egg of sugar which | had been too willing
to carry with me,
In passing before the porter lodge,
saw my two colleagues. | waved my hand
to them; they bowed and smiled, and i
went on. | was on the point of telling
everyone of my good luck, even to the
principal, if | met him.
The pastry cook, the uncle, was at his
door, He saw me and signed me to ap-
proach. | pretended not to have seen,
but he called me- [ commenced to be
nervous. | was too lucky and my happi-
ness frightened me. had always had a
timid nature. went towards him.
aAnd where were you going so fast :?
said the large man, extending his hand,
''and so fine 2" added he, beginning tc
laugh
Ireddened and did not know what to
reply, but with look l searched the in
terror of the shop. If 1 could only lei
Marietta know that am here, thought L.
All at once an idea come to me. My
old trick l coughed.
"Still that villianous cold there?
eyes, replied l. 'By the way,
added, sssince am here | may as vel
take some gum drops =
every good, said he, "come in !
And [ entered. Marietta was not there
The uncle took down the jar, and one
by one rolled the gum drops in the scales.
separating any that were fastened together.
| looked about me-my eyes everywhere,
hoping that the curtain at the end woulc
be lifted, and in her pretty white apron,
Marietta would appear smiling, finger OIL
her lips And | quietly prepared to take
the egg from my pocket, that she might se'
that | had received it and that | under
Stood
"Apropos to this" said the pastry
cook, rolling the paper bag between his fa
| fingers, "has the farce succeeded p
looked at him in astonishment, no
understanding.
"Ah ! but you are not, perhaps, in th'
game said he. "Your colleagues tolt
us the story last evening. They came Il
buy an Easter egg, which they wished t,
send to silly friend of theirs, to mak'
him think that the present came from {
beautiful unknown, for whom he had beer
sighing for two months =
1t seemed that everything was turning
around me.
ssThey wanted one," he continued
with suitable motto Marietta founC
an old one of last year for them. How
ever, they will tell you the story better
than /, but this much I can say, they
laughed very heartily as they tied theil
little package with beautiful pink ribbon.
Apropos had forgotten to tell you, the
principal thing, and customer like you,
that would be impolite My niece viii
no longer serve you with gum drops. She
| L L r.