The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31
Written for the Sunday Crescent
BARTRELLE.
CHAPTER xxu-coSTINUED.

- NN-f~~-fN~@Ee
He cast one more look at her, full of in
tense hate, and turning, left the house.
Launs followed him with her eyes until the
closing door shut him from her sight. Then,
giving way TO the consuming grief that was
burning in her heart, she threw herself on a
lounge and cried passionately. ALI the terri
BILE consequences of this mans inexorable an
tipathy rose before her, and filed her mind
with the most torturing apprehensions. What
ought she to do? nay, what could she do
There was nothing that could appease the
wrath of that obdurate and INSCRIPTIONS
man And if he had even been before their
interview amenable to reason, which she
doubted, he was now provoked to such de-
gree as would render him wholly i'm
placable.
How long she remained thus indulging her
bitter reflections she did not know-hours
must have passed; but she was at last aroused
by the entrance of Mildred Hayes into the
apartment. She came close up to the reclin-
ing girl, and STOPPING, kissed her tenderly
"My dear Laura, how do you feel by this
time-better, trust9" and the soft, white
fingers of the young girl strayed soothingly
through the dark, luxuriant masses of hair
that fioated around the cushioned pillow on
which Laura had laid her head.
Better, dear? OH no. am miserable
beyond the power of words to express
Poor dearl poor dear! how sincerely do
/ sympathize in your distresses; but dear
Laura, why do you cry so? Have you for
gotten that God tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb; and that He does not put upon
us a load of misery we are unable to bear
He fits the burden to the back Trust in
His mercy, Laura, and it will all come out
right, despite the darkness that now gathers
around us"
"Ohi AIilly dear, darling girl, if you only
knew all"
Don't / know all, my dear p" and the
great, wandering blue eyes sought her
friends face with such look of tenderness
and love that Laura wondered how any one
allied to SO much purity and truth could be
so wicked as her brother; but she simply
said:
"NIilly, your brother has been here to-
day."
"Oh am so glad. And did he promise
10 procure our dear old colonels release?"
mo, Milly. 1t was he who had him ar
rested"
Laura Taylor, are you mad?" exclaimed
the terrified girl, springing from her side aud
gazing upolfber with dilating eyes and white,
quiyering lips.
"No, no, Milly, wish was; but It is too
true. He told me so hinRelf. He showed
me the paper upon which TIE charge was
based-a letter written by my father to Gen.
Price-and demanded, as the only way to
secure his forbearance in the prosecution,
that L should become his wife"
ooh, Laura, you are mad, mad, mad i
walled the poor stricken girl; "he could not
be so base"
"My poor child, wish it were not true;
but you will find it as / have said" and
Laura kissed the pale lips which but
a moment before was endeavorinp to
console her in the depths of her affection,
but now, alas, feeling the hand of sorrow
pressing as heavily upon herself
And he said it was himself, Laura-he &C.
knowledged it, did he? Oh! may there not
be some mistaken"
None, my child, it is as 1 tell you"
"But his motive, Laura-he must have had
some motive?"
Hostility to my cousin, believe, was the
moving cause he said he would make him
mourn an uncle slain, or snatch from bis