New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-25

The white lids lifted, the glance was given,
ana met gaze of such earnest devotion
That the lips at last gave utterance to their
happy burden. 5 f %ttEIf
= do, indeed, love you most truly"
For moment happiness which finds
expression in silence alone dwelt with these
two, and then portion of the gay assem-
bly, came rustiDg in, and Addie danced
across the room aud seized upon John, and
with the pronounced style of questioning
peen!iar to little folks wanted to know
where's Mr.. Douglas Vasson and sister,
and brother Ernest and my sweet, lovely
veronica, and every bodyY
John, with cares, gently reproved her.
Softly, my child; it is not strictly polite
10 80 loudly place some two score good
friends among the list of nobodies.n
Addie visibly dropping before the re-
proach, he raised her to the summit of a
childish happiness by bearing her off on
MS strong arm to join the measured pace OF
mazourka, which was commenced.
When the night had deepened toward
twelve and the guests were thinned by Fl =
Guent departures, Douglas, encountering
Ernest, begged of him to secure his fathers
presence for few moments in the library,
where he wished, in view of his departure
on the morrow, to ask him, before leaving,
something of impoi lance.
Ernest, quickened TO liveliest comprehen-
sion by his own new born hopes, with q
merry laugh passed his arm after the easy
fashion of young men around the shoulders
OF MS friend and pleaded his own cau~c by
saying:
g A fair exchange of sisters, my dear boy,
will be no robbery, will it, old felIow?H
The severest system of ethics, think,
could find no crime in it, responded DGu-
glas playtully, land the world, y he added in
earnest tones as he grasped his friends
hand firmly, ''could not produce me another
man whom l would SO gladly claim as
brother.n
The interview which followed seemed a
fitting termination for the day, replete as it
was with benign results. Mr. Ashbridge
desired nothing beyond his daughters hap
piness and he knew her steadiast nature
too well to entertain for moment
the thought that she would avow her
affection other than to one on whom they
were permanently fixed, Little Addie,
whose light feet were heard passing in the
hail. was dispatched to bring her mother to
their council; and when Mrs. Ashbridge
entered she came not alone, but walked
with one arm ciasped around Veronicafs
slender waist, and her younger son, all the
while talking eagerly, had possession of her
disengaged hand, and petted and caressed
it as had been his boyish fashion.
Father the lady said with noble sim
pllIlII DIS Si1O ulGh hCdi III. ASllUIItSts
Ernest has won his bride, and we have
another daughter"
"a dear gift that heaven has sent u.s.
the gentleman said with a sudden break in
his voice, which he filed by folding wife
and new found child in one embrace. "Er
nest, my boy, lifetime of blessings on
you,' he added after NOM ats silence.
Ernest's usual volubuity forsook him,
and in the fulness of his happiness, still
p ST0inu hia r1ptbar'a hand hn n6 lie
mans head upon the fathers shoulder, and
his breast heaved, and his eyes filled with
the moisture Of exquisite senslbilitY.
Addie, who stood by with eyes distended
with wonder and interest, now broke in
upon them with her shrill treble as she
darted at Veronica:
ooh you darling thing, you sweet, sweet
Veronica; you are going to be my sure
enough sister; it's just like--like q fairy tale,
and brother Ernest is the prince and you are
the princess. Oh it's so nice !"
Adde'S ebullition of delight created a
little laugh, and the sprite was banded
round the happy group with many kisses
and endearments.
MIR. Ashbridge then presented Douglass
claims to his wife, which it is safe to ina
gine, occasioned no surprise to the tender
and watchtul mother, who herself, with
many kind words, dispatched the lover to
seek his sweetheart and bring her to them.
Miss Ashbridge wasreCeiving the adieuX of
her last guests when Douglas approached
and his glance did not require the addition of
his whispered words as he drew her hand
within his arm 10 assure her that their be-
trothal had received the crown of parental
appreciation.
As they stood, after going to the library,
side by side, beneath the full light OF the
handelier-Virgiuia il the early maturity
OF her splendid womanly charms, with glow
ing cheeks and earnest eyes-Duuglas radi-
ant with delight aud trumph-they were a
matches pair, and it was not strange that
Mr. aud Mrs. Ashbndge rejoiced and were
glad 10 their children.
The arrangements finally agreed upon for
the iulhllment of the two engagements so
recently entered on was that Erness
should write Immediately and procure the
consent, which there was no reasonable
cause to suppose Veroniea's father would
withhold, to their union, and that the fol-
lowing summer the Ashbridge family would
again Journey northHard and witness its
cOnsummatiun. The ensuing winter Douglas
would come as usual TO the bland regions of
the South, and when he returned again to
his distant home should carry with him his
beautiful bride aud replace daughter be-
meath his fathers rooftree.
After thega details were decided on, Addie
suddenly discovered that dear old john
"a she called him with fond familiarity,
wasn't there and didn't know" and wa
Just about fitting away to hunt him up
when her sister told her she had seen him in
the act of accompanying lady home who
lacked an escort.
Noble joint He had been standing on
the hearth rug beside his father when Err.
nest had preferred the request for private
interview in the library, and with preset
ence of what might come Of 1t. his heart had
swelled and cried out with passionate ap.
peal; but he had crushed it down and
stihed its Pleading, and made no siyn. W.
ronica for him could only be his brothers
wife.
Fer the lovers 'spafting was such sweet
soIrown that Mrs. Ashbridge had 10 speak
some sensible words of reminder about the
morrow's journey.
When Ernest stood in the hall donning
hat and oyercoat TO accompany Veron.
lea and her brother to their hotel, and while
the two young girls fingered apart in some
half-wbispeTed conversation, Ernest Ash.
bridge, with bright eyes and defiant ges-
ture. exclaimed Ill an undertone:
s'Who says the course of true love never
did run smoothfi .=
''Who, indeed? We will establish a new
precedent for tale and history in our lives, 2
answered Douglas Vasson.
All. the vail which shuts out the future
is most truly vail. of mercy.
tl4r .- Chapter II.
Since that balmy Christmas night, when
all peaceful influences snemed to brood
above great and prosperous land, years