The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-29

cr's side was vigorously excluded from
schools, therefore it was not easy to OBJ
tain for her a good education in the Eng
/ lish branches. These Alfred took upon
himself; and large portion of his eve
nings was devoted to hearing her lessons
in geography, arithmetic and history
Had any one told him, a year before, that
hours thus spent would have proved 9TH
erwise than tedious, he would not have
believed it. But there was romantic
charm about this secret treasure, thus sin
gularly placed at his disposal; and the
love and gratitude he inspired gradually
became necessity of his life. Sometimes
he felt sad to think that the time must
come when she would cease to be a child,
and when the quiet, imple relation now
existing between them must necessarily
change. He said to the old French lady,
by and by, when l can afford it, l will
send her to one of the best schools at the
North. There she can become a teacher
and take care of herself" Madame La
basse smiled, shrugged her shoulders,
and said, "NouS verr0nS." She did not
believe it.
The years glided on, and all went pros
porous ly with the young merchant. Thro'
various conflicts with himself, his honora-
BILE resolution remained unbroken Loo
Loo was still his sister. She had become
completely entwined with his existence
Life would have been very dull without
her afectionate greetings, her pleasant
little songs and the graceful dances she
had learned to perform so we'll Some
times, when he had peculiarly happy
evening in this fashion, Madame Labasse
would look mischievous and say, " But
when do you think you shall send her to
that school 2" True, she did not often re-
peat this experiment; for whenever she
did it, the light went out of his countc-
nance, as ifan extinguisher were placed
upon his soul. &" [ ought to do it," be
said within himself; " but how can live
without her ?" The French widow was
the only person aware how romantic and
how serious was this long episode in his
life. Some gentlemen, whom he frequent
ly met in business relations, knew that he
had purchased young slave, whom he
had placed with a French woman to be
educated; but had he told them the true
state of the case, they would have smiled
incredulously. Occasionally, they utter
ed some joke about the fascination which
made him so Indifferent to cards and hor-
ses; but the reverse with which he le-
ceived such jests checked conversation on
the subject, and all, except Mr. Grossman
discontinued such attacks, after one or
two experiments.
As Mr.. Mobiles wealth increased, the
wish grew stronger to place Louise in the
midst of as mucn elegance as had sur
rounded her in childhood When the
house at Pine Grove was unoccupied,
they often went out there, and it was his
delight to see her stand under the Gothic
arch of trees, a beautiful tableau vivant,
framed in vines. 1t was a place so full
of heart-memories to her, that she always
fingered there as long as possible and never
left it without sigh. In one place was
a tree her father had planted, in another
rose or a jessamine her mother had train
| ed. But dearest Of all was recess among
the pine trees, on the side of hill. There
was rustic garden chair, where her IA
ther had often sat with her upon his knee,
reading wonderful story books, bought for
! her on his summer excursions to New 7 Iork
or Boston. In one of her visits with Al
fred, she sat there and read aloud from Lal-
la Rookh. 1t was mild winter day. The
sunlight came mellowed through the ever
green's, a soft carpet of scarlet foliage was
thick!y strewu beneath their feet, and the
air was rcdolent of the balmy breath OF
pines. Fresh and happy IN the glow OF
/ her fifteen summers, how could she other.
wise than enjoy the poem? 1t was like
sparkling wine in a iewelled goblet. New,
er before had she read anything aloud il
tones SO musically modulated, SO full OF
feeling, And the listener? How worked
the wine in him? A voice within said
Remember your VOW Alfred this charm
ing Loo Loo is your adopted sister )" and
he tried to listen to the warning, She
did not notice his tremor, when he rose
hastily and said, the sun is nearly setting
1t is time for my sister to go home"
"Home?" she repeated, with a sigh
"This is my home. / wish | could stay
here always. l feel as if the spirits of my
father and mother were with US here.
Had she sighed for an ivory palace inlaiC
with gold, he would have wished to give
it to her,-he was SO much in love
\ few months afterward, Pine Grove
was offered for SALE He resolved to pur
chase it, and give her pleasant surprise
by restoring her to her old home, on he
sixteenth birthday. Madame Labasse
who greatly delighted in managing mys