A very touching little romance as he told it , with eloquent eyes and voice and frequent pauses for breath . I can not give his words , but the simple facts were these : -- He had grown up with a pretty cousin , and at eighteen was desperately in love with her . She returned his affection , but they could not be happy , for her father wished her to marry a richer man . In Poland , to marry without the consent of parents is to incur lasting disgrace ; so Leonore obeyed , and the young pair parted . This had been a heavy sorrow to Laddie , and he rushed into the war , hoping to end his trouble . ` Do you ever hear from your cousin ? ' I asked , as he walked beside me , looking sadly down the green aisles where kings and queens had loved and parted years ago . ' I only know that she suffers still , for she remembers . Her husband submits to the Russians , and I despise him as I have no English to tell ; ' and he clenched his hands with the flash of the eye and sudden kindling of the whole face that made him handsome . He showed me a faded little picture , and when I tried to comfort him , he laid his head down on the pedestal of one of the marble queens who guard the walk , as if he never cared to lift it up again . But he was all right in a minute , and bravely put away his sorrow with the little picture . He never spoke of it again , and I saw no more shadows on his face till we came to say good-bye . ` You have been so kind to me , I wish I had something beautiful to give you , Laddie , ' I said , feeling that it would be hard to get on without my boy . ` This time it is for always ; so , as a parting souvenir , give to me the sweet English good-bye . ' As he said this , with a despairing sort of look , as if he could not spare even so humble a friend as myself , my heart was quite rent within me , and , regardless of several prim English ladies , I drew down his tall head and kissed him tenderly , feeling that in this world there were no more meetings for us . Then I ran away and buried myself in an empty railway carriage , hugging the little cologne bottle he had given me . He promised to write , and for five years he has kept his word , sending me from Paris and Poland cheery , bright letters in English , at my desire , so that he might not forget . Here is one as a specimen . ` MY DEAR AND GOOD FRIEND , -- What do you think of me that I do not write so long time ? Excuse me , my good mamma , for I was so busy in these days I could not do this pleasant thing .
I write XXXXX without the fear that you laugh at it , because I know it is more agreeable to read the own language , and I think you are not excepted of this rule .
English Laddie Leonore Paris Russians aisles days kindling war years