Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-16

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sons in geography, arithmetic, and history
| Had any one told him, year before, that
hours spent thus would have proved otherwise
than tedious, he would have believed it. But
| there was a romantic charm about this secret
treasure thus singularly placed at his dpoSal;
and the love and gratitude he inspired gradu-
ally became q necessity of his life. Sometimes
| he felt sad to think that the time must come
when she would cease to be child, and when
| the quiet, simple relation now existing between
them must necessarily change. He said to
the old French lady, "B BY and by, when can
afford it, will send her to one of the best
schocls at the North There she can become
teacher and take care Of herself" Madame
LabaSse smiled, shrugged her shoulders. and
| said, Nous rerrOns" She did not believe
! it.
| The years glided on, and all went prosper
ously with the young merchant Through va
rious conflicts with himself his honorable res
olution remained unbroken. Loo Loo was still
his sister. She had become completely en-
twined with his existence. Life would have
been very dull without her affectionate greet
ingS, her pleasant little songs, and the grace
ful dances she had learned to perform SO well.
Sometimes, when he had passed peculiarly
| happy evening in this fashion, Madame La
basse would look mischevous, and say, " But
when do you think you shall send her to that
school ?" True she did not often repeat this
experiment for when she did it, the light
went cut of his countenance, as if an eXtin-
gusher were placed upon his soul. ought
/ to do it," he said within himself but how
can live without her 7" The French widow
was the only person aware how romantic and
how serious was this long epistle in his life
Some gentlemen, whom he frequently met in
| business relations, knew that he had purchased
a Young slave, whom he had placed with a
French woman to be educated but be had
| told them the true state of the case, they would
| have smiled incredulouSly. Occasionally, they
uttered some Joke about the fascination which
made him so Indifferent to cards and horses :;
but the reserve with which he received 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 Louisa in the midst Of
as much elegance as had surrounded her in
childhood. When the house at Pine Grove
was unoccupied, they often went out there, ard
it was his delight 10 see her stand under Go.
thic arch of trees, beautiful td6!cdu rirant
framed iL vines. 1t was q place SO full of heart
memories to her, that she always fingered there
as long as possible, aud never left it without
a sigh In one place was tree which her fa-
/ ther had planted, in another a rose or iessa-
mine her mother had trained But dearest of
all was a recess among the pine.trees, on the
side of hill. There was a rustic garden-chair,
where her father had often sat with her upon
/ IL M
for her on his summer excursions to New York
or Boston In one of her visits with Alfred
she sat there and read aloud from Lala
Rookh." 1t was a mild winter day The sun
! light came melloSed through the evergreens
q soft carpet of scarlet foliage was thicky
strewn beneath their feet, and the air was red
olent of the balmy breath OF pines. Fresh and
happy in the glow of her fifteen summers, how
could she otherwise than enjoy the poem 1t
was like sparkling wine IN jewelled goblet.
Never before had she read anything aloud in
tones so musically modulated SO full Of feeling
And the listener How worked the wine in
him A voice within him said, Remember
your VOW, Alfred this charming Loo Loo is
your adopted sister,; and he tried to listen
to the warning. She did rot notice his tre-
NOR, when he rose hastily aud said The sun
is nearly setting 1t is time for my sister 10
60 home.
Home :" she repeated with sigh, " This
is my home | wish could stay here always
l feel as il the spirits of my father and mother
were with US here" He sighed for an ivory
palace inaid with gold he would have wished
to give it to her-he was so much in love
A few months afterward, Pine Grove was
offered for sale. He resolved TO purchase it,
and give her pleasant surprise by restoring
her old home, on her sixteenth birthday Mad
ame Labasse, who greatly delighted iu manag
ing mysteries, zealouSy aided in the prepara-
I tons When the day arrived, Alfred propos
ed long ride with Loo Loo, in honor of the
anniversary: and during their absence, Mad
anne, accompanied by two household servants,
established herself at Pine Grove. When Al
/ fred returned from the drive, he proposed to
stop and look at the dear old place, TO which
his companion joyfuly assented. But nothing
could exceed her aStonishment at finding Mad
anne Labasse there, ready to preside at q table
| spread with fruit and flowers. Her feelings
overpowered her for moment when Alfred
said, Dear sister, you said you wished you
could live here always and this shall hence
/ forth be your home"
You are too good !" she exclaimed, and
was about 10 burst into tears But he arrest
ed their course by saying. playfully, q Come,
Loo Loo, kiss nv hand, and say, Thank you
Sir, for buying me- Say it just as You did
six years ago, you little witch y
Her swimming eyes seemed like sunshine
| through an April shove and she went through
; the pantomine, which she had often before per-
formed at his bidding. Madame stepped in
with her little jest " But, Sir when DO you
think you shall send her to that pensio" -
Never mind,,' he replied, abruptly Let
Us be happy !" And he moved toward the ia
ble TO distribute the fruit.