The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-21

chapel there. And. as she knelt before the
altar, her proud young head bent In
oblivion to all around her my mind could
picture no lovelier sight. / thought How
beautiful. and how holy,' The rays of the
early morning sun glistening through the
emerald and opalescent panes of an art
glass near, danced like autumn leaves.
over the exquisite green and bronze gown
she wore. And / felt the wish take form
within me. would that she were my
sweetheart. and was praying for me- So
l stood almost in the entrance as she
passed She came so near my hand
touched hers. She looked up quickly into
my face. and when her eyes met mine l
knew my life was hers from that brief
moment. Although it was but an instant,
and she had passed out and on | cared
not. ] knew we would meet again All.
Coz. How l would have suffered had we
never met!
/ remembered that, as she passed,
smelled the perfume of clover and re-
called that / had noted a bunch of those
selfsame blossoms with their green leaves,
stuck carelessly at her belt. l soon OBJ
tanned the information that she was
travelling with party of American tour
lists and her home was New Orleans.
Her name was Adele Van Courtlandt.
Through the American minister and my
own good family name In New York,
was presented and travelled with them the
remainder of the time they were abroad.
Nor was that all. Together we two
sketched and painted the glowing sunsets
of beautiful Italy. Side by side we re-
cined in golden moonlight as our gon-
dola sped over the smooth waters of
Venice While the songs of the Condo
Tiers, mingling with the laughter and
from ms oil hn, &c
accompaniment to the song in our happy
hearts.
But 1t was in Egypt that | told her of
my love. The entire party had been rum
maging very musty and forbidding
cave, which was supposed to be the ruins
of some ancient temple. No one wished
to remain certainly not we two. But
one young professor insisted upon peering
among the tablets and dust long after
we were ready to depart. Adele kept
shivering from the cold and dampness
and throwing my cape around her l but
toned 1t under her throat. Somehow the
contact of my fingers with her tilted chin
caused me to forget my resolution to
hold back my confession until the day of
her departure. and, looking straight into
her eyes | whispered. Adele. Je vous
adore And then poured forth rapidly
the story of my love. Blushing she APP
peared startled. and only whispered back
Robert, How could you tell me in
place like this? Some evil will surely be-
fall usi' But | waved her fears away
saying: See. Sweetheart. it is the luck
leaf of your favorite flower Surely this
talisman will ward off any evil the place
could infict.' So | insisted upon an an
swer then and there, and to prove the
nature of the answer | received | sailed
with them from Liverpool as the fiance
of the beautiful Miss VanCourtlandt of
New Orleans. When we reached I.ouisi-
ana she bade me enter that sweet Creole
home and be presented to her family.
which consisted of an aristocratic dignified
father. who was both an extensive cot
ton planter and politician; and gentle
old grandmother who spoke no English for
fear she might forget her mother tongue.
and who had never been on the American
side of Canal street. But she gave me
warm welcome. indeed in French
New Orleans went wild and fairly
bowed down its head to the charms On
my betrothed.
The days that followed We're full or