The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-16

PSoAbS
| II unite in my wifes request," said Randolph; :"
so good, Mrs Ellnott, to favor US with music
For an instant the lady seemed TO hesitate, but th
quietly took her place at the instrument She play
! well several popular, pleasing airs, and would tn
have risen but her husband detained her for the pc
formance of one Of BeethoTen's masterpieces. 1t "
4 gone through in a style which elected warm enco
from the host notwithstanding he could see that "
called for entirely with view to show off the piaye
taleut.
Il happy to have afforded you any pleasure, 81
4 responded, smiling; your praises, however, must
iberally shared with the instrument. Tits due to m
self to say that am quite out of practice; piaI
was deranged in bringing home from my fathers thr
months ago. and have not found it convenient to G
i it repaired. And then" she added glancing at Il
| superb Instrument from which she had Just retire
! ours is but very ordinary article"
4 Pauls countenance fell; he bit vexed lip If!
could otlisen simple praises of bis rivals propert
how much less to comparisons deprecatve to his ow
i Randelph's invitation that he would play, was decline
or, to speak liberally, refused and abruptly turnil
/ from where he had stood leaning proudly over his vi
while she occupied the music stool Ellnott strobe to
seat in another part Of the The other who re-
his emotions like printed page while inwardly enjy
ing his disturbance, yet under the circumstances, e.
sired to allay it. lie therefore laughingly protesd
In reply to Mrs. Ellnotts solicitation, that he wasoo
wise TO hazard the contrast there must appear betEen
2 performance of his and the one which had just e-
ceded and sought to give agreeable turn ideaoy
producing set of amusing allegorical paintings, a
French artist.
Il beg pardon" exclaimed Ellnott, at this mom,t
wickedy tenacious Of an opportunity, Il not er-
I tain whether Mrs Campo has been invited to PLY
/ mirror does not play" returned Randolph, whhe
best grace he found possible; but the unmistfeable
sarcasm of tone in which the remark was uteT, cut
hin too deeply for concealment; his counhance
/ changed and scathing humiliation and wrath'wept
Iowa hic hapr ornar ,,ra ISS
the Accomplishment Of his aim.
/ The dark -browed young wife caught the im'rt OF
the nllusion although she apparently did not 9erve
or comprehend the nature Of her husbands emrrass-
ment, and pointing Elizabeth to kitten troickg on
the piazza before the window, answered himspG-
lively:
81 much play that way-hidsa and squirrels theylnoV
The beautiful little pet thus noticed at that mcnat
skipped to her mistress lap darting again to the lor,
and into the moonlight without though entcin5 Rr
to follow And Mirror did follow, disappearing thrOgh
the open French window like an arrow, and tracedAr
away down the lawn by her unsu1dued though sw't-
toned laughter Again Paul Ellnott's eyes turned wh
that bitterly significant expression upon his own we,
and from her TO the husband of the wild Indian gl.
Randolph saw and was frenzed. With some halfo-
herent remark the effect that he had left of ne
pictures in the library that morning, and beggnglis
guests to excuse his absence while he should go foit
he hastily left the ROOM AS he did so, the lady, Ho
far from sympathzing in her husbands designs, as
with true deicacy affecting to be entirely engrosseby
the paintings, avished upon one some merited enem.
| iunl. a
"If you please, Norie, my dear, do not lend allhe
enthusiasm of your to the poor purpose of fed
ing one mans conceit" was caution conveyed Ith
tender reproof, which reached the of the host no
had thrown himself into chair, the moment he ad
placed a wall between him and his guests Pony
part presently added the voice. in altered ev
'Im thinking see the end of the buffalo chase nd
careless step crossed the parlor, aGd echoed ligy
| along the piazza.
Course bim!" escaped from between the set tcctlof
Campo.
A pair of loaded pistols lay on a small table aluot
within reach; mad, scorchng thought entered ais
braiE to seize one of the weapons, rush roundand
shoot dead where he stood the who had ored
offer him such insolence in bis own house. 1t wa but
one of those suggestions which from without btel
impulses from the heart quickly grappled with and
came il thrusng aside the hands in which his facewaS
buried he rose to his noble height bearing no Logger
any trace of anger or weakness and in this worlie
mien soon returned to the parlor.
Meantime Mirror having compelled the puueG
animal to take to tree with her left hand graspd
limb high above her head, and flew lightly upo i
from the ground; another BREATH and by the sidf
lasso formed from her SASH she had secured her prs
the creature was scrambng higher among the branoes
and came gay bounding back toward the cottage itt
teman who from the piazza witnessed every moven.nt
to restrain burst Of genuine excitement and adura
ton; at the moment when Mirror gracefully dropet
herself to the shaven sward with prolonged che
that marked the sudden revusion Of feeling he sprn&
down the path to meet and compliment her on le
singular achievement. The expression of his fc
alone as he reentered with Ter though could notn
record from her husbands mind the misery he hadoc
casoned him. had sufced to disarm him of any liner
ing resentment. Kindersentiments were reciprocaed
and they parted for the night.
Randolph made endeayor next morning to ara
away the alleged necessity for his visitors early depgt
ure. Their coming had proved of such tina
as he had never before dreamed of enduring; in Ri
soul he cnged the portals of Lochgrore close
them once and forever and he was by no means deep
Versed in dissimulation.
But if he hoped that Enott would carry away wit
him the root of the wretchedness he had planted,
found himself disappointed. Notwithstanding all hi
love for Mirror which he felt could never decline,
could not escape the presence of painful contrast bt
tween the untutoredchld Of the forest and the accom-
pl;shed weof his former associate spectre tha
haunted his thoughts both by day aud by night con
fusing reason, and consuming his powers. He ha
observed, with husbands prds, the look OF please
fascination with which Mrs Elnott had first greete
his beautiful wife, but in the retrospect that cour
terbaanced by the very efforts she subsequently wa
forced to essay to spare him modification, almoS
equally with the lInasked contempt Of her less scru
puou5 companion. 1Dat hlgAt Wnen mlTTOr cam
speeding fawn-ke along the path to meet him, he fe
tempted to check the Wild glsefplpssS EfGb.haduhf ii
could gladly have turned from his beautiful home bac
to the busy city and spent the night in toll as he ha
spent the day. But he folded his young wife to hi
heart and was comforted By the assurance that sh
would not detect its heavy throbbngs On the sue
ceedng two evenings it was the same still be fore6o
speaking any word or doing any deed which wou!
shadow with blame an innocent, sensitive heart.
The object which Droaght Ellnott for consultation
bis brother IN the profession, demanded second con
ference between them and then foreseeing that othe
business would shortly oblge him to visit the neigh
borhood of the former, it was arranged previously
arriving at Lochgrove on that most unfortunate occa
sion that three days later be should call upon him
the university.
When the morning came, Campo inquired of hi
wife whether she would avail herself of the nVitati0
which had been extended her to return the visit
Ellnott and lady in his company He was inexpress