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

Iufucu hdJol GtAiolls
"Then you don't deny the engage
ment w said Frances.
"Col. Seymour, who was my fathers
friend and mine, very kindly expressed
wish, before he died, that, provided
there was no objection on either side,
his daughter and should be married !;
but you see, my dearest Fanny, as there
happens 10 be an objection on both
sides, the scheme, however well meant,
is defeated"
"On both sides" reiterated Frances
with surprise.
ayes; on both Sides" answered he
smiling.
"But how do you know that, when
you've never seen Miss Seymour-at
least | thought you never had %
"Neiiher have |; but | happen to
know that she has not the slightest in
tention of taking me for her husband"
"Oh,n said Frances, laughing at the
recollection of her own violent antipa-
thy 10 this irresistible man, who, after
all, had taken her heart by Storm" |
suppose you have somehow heard that
she disliked the idea of being tram
melled by an engagement to person
she never saw, and whom she had made
up her mind she could not love: but re-
member, Henry, she has never seen
you. How do you know that she might
not have fallen in love with you at first
sight 2-as somebody else did" she
added playfully.
Because, my dear little girl, she
happens to be in love already. She
did not wait to see me. but wisely gave
away her heart when she met man
that pleased her"
But you're mistaken" answered
Frances, beginning to feel alarmed
"you are indeed / know Frances
Seymour has no attachment. | know
that till she saw you-f mean that-I
am certain she has no attachment, nor
ever had any"
Perhaps you are not altogether in
her confidence"
40 yes. am indeed"
Major Elliott shook his head, and
smiled significantly. "Rely on it," he
said, aihat what tell you is the fact;
bnt you have probably not seen Miss
Seymour. very lately, which would suf-
ficiently account for your ignorance of
her secret. | am told that she is ex-
tremely handsome and charming. and
that she sings divinely"
Five minutes earlier, Frances would
have been delighted with this testimo-
ny 10 her attractions and would have
been ready with repartee about the
loss he would sustain in relinquishing
so many projections for her sake; but
now her heart was growing faint with
terror, and her tongue Glove to the roof
of her mouth. Thoughts that would
fill pages darted through her brain like
lightning-dreadful possibilities, that
she had never foreseen nor thought of.
Vincent Dunbar's Regiment had been
in India: she knew il was one of the
seventies. but she had either never
heard the exact number or she had not
sufficiently attended to the subject to
know which it was. Major EIlott's
regiment had also been in India land il
was the 10th. Suppose it were the
same, and that the two officers were
acquainted-and suppose they had met
since Fincent's departure from Dunbar
House! The young man had OCCASION
ally spoken to her of his brother of
6cers; she remembered Poole, and
Wainright, and Carter; the name of
Elliott he had certainly not mentioned
bnt it was naturally of his own friends
and companions he spoke, not of the
field-officers. Then, when she told him
that she had been betrolhed by her fa-
ther, she had not said to whom; but
might he not, BY some unlucky chance,
have found that outa And might not
an explanation have ensued!
Could Major Elliott have distinctly
discovered the expression of her fea-
lures, he would have seen that it was
more than perplexity that
kept her silent; but the light fell OBJ
scurely on the seat they occupied, and
he suspected nothing but that she was
puzzled and surprised.
81 see you are very curious to learn
the secret" he said, and if it were my
own, you should not pine in ignorance,
! assure you: bat as it is young lady's,
| am bound TO keep it till she chooses to
disclose ii herself However, / hope
your curiosity will soon be satisfied. for
have aseertained that Mr.. and Mrs
are to be in England almost
Immediately--they have been some
lime on the continent-and then we
shall come TO a general understanding.
In the meantime, my dearest Fanny"-
But Frances, unable longer to control
her agitation, took advanta ge of a slight
noise in the ball, 10 say that Mr.. and
Mrs. Gaskoin were coming and be-
ore he had time TO finish his sentence,
The started TO her feet, and rushed out of
he room. ss as
On the other side of the hall was Mrs.
Saskoin's boudoir. where she and her
were sitting over the fire,
lwaiting the result of the teie-a-tete in
he drawing-room.
"Well?n said they, rising as the door
opened and a pale face looked in. ais
/ all settled n
Ask. me nothing now, beseech
Tou m said Frances. I'm going 10 my
oom. tell Major Elkaff am mt we'll