The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-03
HAS that little witch then refused your"

'But wonder at it," returned his sister; "a
have no patience with people who set them
selves up for saints, and irown at all who do moi
reach their standard of goodness! And for a
Miss Alice Darlington to refuse Harvey Ed
wards is, let ME tell you, very impertinent
thing"
Il am afraid, my dear sister" said her broth
er, with a sad kind of smile, ''that you will
find great many Peter Bells in the world who
will see nothing more in me than plain vel
low primrose, in spite of your own hattering
opinions"
But what is the cause of her rcfusal?'' con-
tinued his sister, ''was there anything that she
could possibly want, which you have not?''
Her brother smiled AS he told her to read the
letter.
"'Dare not marry you?' So, then, she con-
slders you a sort of monster, who wants tanning,
and she has not courage enough for the under
taking"
"Don't fly in passion, Kate" said Harvey,
for his sisters eyes were flashing ominously.
'Alce has probably heard of my former iollies,
and she is SO pure and perfect, that l can well
imagine the horror with which she must regard
one like me-
''But you have not touched card in how
long," said his sister, ''and you frequent no
more clubs, and spend nearly every evening at
home.'
"Harvey,' said Miss Edwards, after short
pause, 'this girl really loves you, and if you are
so foolish as to care anything about her. you
shall have her yetH'
''My dear Kate" said her brother, with an
incredulous smile, "has Aladdin's old lamp been
discovered among the kitchen rubbish? or has
the benevolent fairy taken another lease of life,
sad come to offer you three wishes? Don't you
remember that when we were both children,
wanted Mrs. Awnings India shawl for an avn
ing for my boat, and you, perfectly unabash-
ed' stepped up to that lady, and requested the
loan Oft? Depend upon it, you will find this
much more difficult undertaking"
''Leave it all to me-" said Kate, and with a
knowing toss of the head, she went in search Of
Mrs. Ravensham.
Now there is so much in that peculiar way of
saying leave it all to me-" that inspires hope,
even when hope is gone. Harvey Edwards
knew his sisters disposition Of old, and he felt
that she would do ''sometbing.''
Mrs. Ravensham was soon found and being
quite Of the young lady's manner of thinking
the two soon came to an understanding. Here
was couple really attached TO eSch other, and
actually rendered unhappy by Alice's absurd
notions. 1t was concluded that an attempt to
touch her feelings might possibly succeed, and
under the auspices of Miss Edwards it was soon
nolsed about in the house that some particularly
magnificent tableaux were in preparation for the
evening.
Then began scene of preparation forthwith
Queens and princesses that were to be rush
ed through the house in state of excitement
collecting all the jewelry that they could lay
hands on for the royal crowns-ilowers were in
demand-and white dresses rose fifty per cent.
But these festivities were confined entirely to
the young people; and spinsters and dowagers
resolved to criicise most numerically.
Alice walking demurely through one of
the shaded paths from the springs, her sun-hat
hanging to her arm by its blue ribbon strings,
and her eyes bent pensive]y upon the ground
when whole bevy of eager forms intercepted
her walk.
"Oh, Alice" exclaimed one of them, 'you
really must be the angel-there is not another
in the house''
"Be an angelo" repeated Alice, considerably
perpexed.
"Yes," pursued her companion s'you are
just the very one. We are to have some ta-
bleaux this evening, and the whole community
have elected you for the character of an angel"
81 believe that you must excuse me- replied
Alice, somewhat coldly; Il have no desire to
mingle in the gayeties.''
"Of course not" said one of the younger
ones, in a disappointed tone. tFAlice is always
SO proud that she spoils all our pleasure"
"Remember Alice, that the heiress of fifty
thousand dollars cannot always do as she
please" whispered her sister in passing.
Alice reflected moment, and then consented
to do what was required of her.
at is not much," said the one who had first
spoken; stwe will dress you, and all you have to
do is stand where we place you, and to look as
we tell you.'
in other words, be good child and do as
am bid" said she, with smile; but her mind
was occupied with other things, and retiring
to her own room, she gave scarcely thought
to the evening.
Eight o'clock was the time announcedfcr the
commencement of the wonders, and at that hour
the drawing room was crowded with eager ex
pectants on tip-toe, who watched the curtain,
and declared that the time had long ago expired.
At length the thick screen, which every bo-
dy recognised as the mammoth table-covcr
from the dining room, was drawn aside, and dis
played the beautiful scene from ''Marmion,"
where Constance de Beverly is brought back
to to hear her doom. Over the curtain was
written:
t. While on her dorblet's breast
She sought to hide her badge Of blue
Lord Marmion' falcon crest
The shrinking figure of Constance, as the
monk lifts the page cap from her head and the
rich curls fall over her shoulders, was so beau
tifully represented, that peal after peal Of ap-
plause resounded through the room, and vis-
bly, discomposed the performer-one Of the
youngest and prettiest debutantes in the house.
The curtain went down, and the blaze Of light
was hid from view.
Next appeared scene from Pickwick, which
threw every one into convulsions of laughter;
and then there seemed an almost endless pause.
When the curtain was again drawn aside, ev-
cry one was at first mute, and then followed
whispers as to what it meant. "The game of
Life'' was written over the curtain, and in the
blaze of life they distinguished small table,
on one side of which sat an Individual whose
identity was at once recognised, but whose