The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-02-03


stairs, and disappeared.
"She has refused himp said Mrs.
Gaskoin. ~ confess lam amazed.
But Major Elliott met them with a
smiling face. What has become Of
Frances ?n said he.
"She rushed in 10 us in a state of yio-
lent agitation, and begged we would
tell you that she is not WELL and is gone
to her room. Pm afraid the result OF
your interview has not been what we
expected"
"On the contrary" returned Major
Elliott, "you must both congratulate
me on my good-fortunen
"Silly girln said Mr.. Gaskoin, shak-
ing his friend heartily by the hand.
4" see what il is: she is nervous about
a little deception we have been prac-
tising on you"
"a deceptionw
"Why, you see, my dear fellow,
when | told Frances that you were
coming here, she objected to meeting
you"-
"Tndeed! On what account 2"
"You have never suspected any
thing 2" said Mr. Gaskoin, scarcely re-
pressing his laughter.
Suspected anything Non
at has never by chance occurred
TO you that this bewitching niece of
mine ISL
"Is what %
"Your betrothed lady, for example,
Francis Seymour
Major Elliott's cheeks and lips turned
several shades paler; but the candles
were not lighted, and his friends did
not remark the change.
"Francis Seymour p' he echoed
"That is the precise state of the
case, | assure you;;n and then Mr..
Gaskoin proceeded 10 explain how the
deception came to be practised. al
gave into it,'' he said, "though I do
not like jests of that sort, because |
thought, as my wife did, that you were
much more likely 10 take fancy to
each other. if you did not know who
she was, than if you met under all the
embarrassment of such an awkward re-
lation."
During this little discourse, Major
Elliott had time to recover from the
shock and being man of resolute
calmness and great selfpossession-
which qualities, by the way, formed
considerable element in his attractions
the remainder of the evening was
passed without any circumstance cal
cnlated to awaken the suspicious of his
host and hostess, further than that a
certain gravity of tone and manner,
when they spoke of Frances, led them
to apprehend that he was not altogether
pleased with the jest that had been
practiced -
We ought 10 have told him the
moment we saw that he was pleased
with her; but, foolish child, she would
not let u.s." said Mr.. Gaskoin to his
wife. a etE lf
She must make her peace with
him Tomorrow" returned the lady but,
alas! when they came down 10 break
fast on the following morning, Major
Elliott was gone. having left a few
lines to excuse his sudden departure.
which. he said, he had only anticipa-
ted by few hours, as, in any case, he
must have left them that afternoon.
By the same mornings post there ar
rived a letter from Vincent Dunbar,
addressed TO Miss Seymour. Its con-
tents were as follows:-
MY dearest, dearest Frances
should have written to you ten days
ago to tell you the joyful news-you
little guess what-but that | had ap-
piled for an extension of leave on
urgent private affairs, aud expected
every hour to get it. But they have
refused me, be hanged to them! So I
write 10 you. my darling, 10 tell that
it's all right--I mean between you and
me. Pm not very good hand at an
explanation on paper, my education in
the art of composition having been
somewhat neglected; but you must
know that old Elliott whom your dad
wanted you to marry, is our senior
major. Well, when l came down here
to meet Poole, as ] had promised-his
governor keeps hounds, you know a
capital pack, tool was as dull as
was, | assure YOU; and
whenever there was nothing on, used
10 take out the verses you wrote, and
the music you copied for me, to look at
and one day, who should come in but
Elliott, who was staying with his gov
srnor on the West Cliff, where the old
gentleman has taken house. Well,
you know, told you what a madcap
Iellow Poole is; and what should he
10, but tell Elliott that I was going
'tark mad for girl that couldn't have
ne because her dad had engaged her
o somebody else; and then he showed
lim the music that was lying on the
able with your name on it. So you
nay guess how Elliott stared, and all
he questions he asked me about you,
Ind about our acquaintance and our
ove-making, and all the rest of it.
And, of course, | told him the truth,
md showed him the dear lock of hair
Tou gave me; and the little notes YOU
wrote me the week / ran up 10 Lon
lon, for Elliott's an honorable fellow,
md knew it was all right. And ii is
II right, my darling; for he says he
stand IN faa way IF nnr han