The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
Story Of the Cyclamen Blossoms.
A Moonlight Adventure With Russian Princess
on an Alpine Lake

Do you know Talloires1 II your kind
fates have ever taken you there and you
have once made the tour of the kes you
will certainly remember the green. silent
corner back against the mountain where
the village sleeps, continually lulled by
the pine trees.
Directly below the lake spreads its blue
waters, smiling in golden ripples, and
fecked here and there with white, triangu-
lar sails The intense light, filtered by
the heecy clouds. Eliminates brightly the
circle OF mountains which surrounds the
water.
The many shades OF green. the somber
blue, the vivid violet and the silvery grays
OF the mountains mingle In wondrous
harmonies with the turquoise OF the lake
and the brilliant green Of the vines. IL Is
there that one should go to taste the Joy
Of requited low, and still more truly II Is
the place where n bitter sorrow may find
surcease in peace.
Not long ago, on the mountain road,
! met three tourists descending. with their
alpenstocks and knapsa cks and their hats
decorated with punches Of cyramen bios
SONS watched them pass with wistful
glance while memories of the distant days
when too was 20 filled my brain.
saw myself gaily descending the same
road, my hat decked with flowers. accom-
panied by two merry companions. and
even az the crests OF the mountains we're
reflected in the water, 80 the emembrances
OF former times rose before me, clear and
sharp as mirage, with all the colors, the
perfumes nd the enthusiasms Of youth.
1t happened twenty-five years ago in this
very village, where we had planned o spend
the night after long days climb Scarce
" had we turned down the beautiful avenue
of chestnut trees when we saw, walking
slowly toward us, in the soft shade OF the
trees, beautiful young girl radiant in all
the glory and splendor of her eighteen
years.
Tall, admirably formed. her thick golden
c,lrls fell in clouds about her wonderful
shoulders, and as she turned. at the sound
of our voices, we caught sight of finely
cut patrician profile. with proud red lips
and haughtily inquiring dark eyes.
We fell in love with her at once, all three
of us, and forgetful of the fatigues Of the
day, we followed her tliscreetly along a
winding path until she disappeared be-
meath a gateway of dropping honeysuckle.
Upon our return to the inn We learned
that the stranger who had so excited our
admiration was the Princess V. Rus
SIAN who lived with her parents in one Of
the villas that bordered on the lake.
Russian. princess and pretty-that was
enough surely to set our imaginations
working. and all through dinner we made
impossible plans to waylay our new divinity
and accost her. My two companions,
however, were too sleepy to do anything
but go to bed that night
had no desire to follow their example,
Instead, ! strolled saunteringly down the
road. looking inquiringly behind every
tree as went
1t was an exquisite evening. The full
moon had risen behind the mountains and
pierced their somber depths with arrows
OF silver light Everywhere, through the
sleeping country, the crickets were chirp-
ing. with here and there the note OF a low
flying swallow.
At my feet the lake. with it's pathway
Of molten rippes. murmured caressingly
to the tiny beach. ! threw myself down
on the soft grass and began to invent ro
mantle incidents which should bring about
my meeting with the Russian princess
As built my elaborate castles in Spain
] heard the metallic click of a boat chain