The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-11
Grandmoihsr'S Romance.

We all came TO the old chateau for
grandmofher's funeral-children, grand
children and great-grandchildren. she
WAS buried In the corner OF the cemetery
which she had chosen long ago, anu aiIeI YET
the sad ceremony we returned 10 the oil
house. Here were memories Tor All oi
us. For three generations she had held
children In her arms, soothed thelr sor-
they were all met 10 mourn her absence
from the old place so dear from It's as
sociations with her.
tered the room from which they had
just taken her. l recalled how, as a
little girl, ] would come IN IN the. ,ne moTh,ns rnns
morning, grandmother i always FOUND
her dressed. for she was an early riser.
She would leave her chair by the win,
wardrobe. which looked 80 immense 10
me. and take from IL the expected dainty.
With what awe and respect mad TINS
wardrobe filled my childish heart. IL
seemed 10 me a perfect treasure house
for all that a child holds dear. On my
birthdays my presents came from Ihls
storehouse, and ina gined II always fuli
of delightful things. and regarded grand
mother as almost fairy.
With these remembrances In my mind
l opened IL now. IL was fun OF fragrant
linen scented with lavender. except for a
little shelf at one side where lay several
papers | picked up roll or yellow
and carried it To the light Had | any
right TO read the pages? They were dis
colored by age. but ] knew the writing.
Could grandmother have any secrets
which she would wish to Keep after
death? Even as I debated | had united
the ribbon. and discovered that l held a
diary I'm my hands md the first words
In IL were OF love, sweet, pure and tender:
the first love OF young girl. i could not
resist, and l read the pages as | stood
there in the fading light. which laid be-
fore me the romance of my grandmother.
II WIS the month. of June, lM2, on u
beautiful evening, when even the flowers
exhale more strongly their subtle per-
fumes sand the human heart has n de-
sire To open. Here i'm the twilight OF the
old garden grandpother heard the first
words OF love.
wrapped i'm the sweet odor of the flowers.
two figures a young girl and young
man. walked side by side with slow steps.
young man. And what difference does
II make? Suppose ] never return from
the war. Who would care? 1 am alone
I'm the world"
You have friends, Horace"
None"
And l." said she, very low
You. cried he; ''you wousi care least
There was a long silence. The gravel
sounded beneath their slow tread The
night. feIl little by little. Horace heard
You are crying, ClarisseT
You hurt me so''
do you love meI'
She faltered and his arms caught her
and held her against his beating heart.
Unrcsisting she raised her face 10 his and
their lips met I'm n long kiss-the FIRST.
Horace left ,,ie next morning.
She waited long, for him. Tho remains
of the grand army returned without him.
Sull she hoped on. Yeas passed and the
war ended. Many whul had been impris-
oned returned. bat still ne DELAYED. She
pictured him buried beneath the snow
with numbcress others, who had dropped
exhausted along the lre OF the terrible
march.
Her parents urged upon her the duty
OF selecting "A husband from the sultors
who surrounded her. She resisted "a long
possible, then yielded. vanquished by
their inSisteDce and by the certainty of
his death. She gave her hand TO Count
a d'Estrarville.
It was ten years since the kiss give
beneath the trees. She was sitting on a
bench I'm the garden, when a stranger
approached her a.ong the path. As he
neared her she recognized him. II was
Horace.
He came toward her with outstretched
arms. then stopped. as though surprised
1T the coldness of her greeting.
1t Is too late, she said, II am already
married"
He explained tho reason Of his long
absence. Captivity. siberia. the mines.
al The frightfui sunerings he had Rona