The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-10-08


only drsve round once; and took
my seat at the opera, so prepared fOI
a third disappointment shat when she
never appeared | settled down in calm
despair. There was one more night
hoWever-one more chance for me
and my white canellia; and | still
dared to hope that / should see her
On this fourth evening [ was
obliged to go out to dinner. My host
was an old friend of our family, who
had been for many years in Canada
aud had now come home to settle in
his native country. He had no fami.
I ly; had taken a handsome house in
town. and was very DESTROYS of show
ing every possible kindness to me.
was obliged. therefore, to accept his
invitation, but hoped that the Lau-
rences would let me get away early so
as to go to the opera.
[ was pleasantly surprised, there
fore, when on reaching their home
and going up into the drawing room:
Mrs. Laurence said, My husband
will have 10 make his apologies to
YOU. Mr.. Harcourt, for be is obliged
to 90 off on most important business
Immediately after dinner. Now, as L
| cannot expect to be able to entertain
Won all the evening, | have got box
at the opera, Cogent Garden; will you
take me?" oa
YOU don't think l shall not be equally
pleased to be here.
"Well, the fact Is" she said, II am
not wholly unselfish. / very seldom
get TO the opera, as my husband does
not care for music, and am glad when
| / can catch any one who will go with
me. We shall not be alone, bye and
bye, as have a young lady coming to
the box, who will only need an escort
to her carriage, as she is very indie
pendent person, and goes about a
good deal by herse FL
Indeed" | said. raZ
"Yes; she is charming girl, how
ever, and hope you will like her"
Then Mr.. Laurence came in, and
shortly afterward dinner was an
nounced fa
Such an arrangement was an ex-
tremely fortunate one for me, L
thought, and l only hoped Mrs. Lau-
renee and her charming young lady
might devote themselves entirely to
the music, and leave me at liberty to
scrutinize the house. ta 1854 4.
One thing [ had TO remember, and
/ that was my camellia. l had left the
one [ intended to wear at my cham
bers. However. L persuaded good
natured Mrs. Laurence to drive round
by my rooms under pretense Of get
ting my own opera glass, which | said
was especially adapted to my 'ght.
Then | got my flower. put it carefully
into my button hole, and covered it
over with my light overcoat.
When we drew up under the por-
tico at Covent Garden, and were en-
tering the lobby, Mrs. Laurence said
to me: t...t. oI.
why. l declare, there are the Co
lionel and Edith going up yonder be-
fore me. suppose he's just brought
her, for [ know he had to 60 to the
same meeting as Mr.. Lawrence.
The Colonel aud Edith ll' THE
sColonell'' gave me a thrill thinking
Of her father, and l wondered with a
vague curiosity who they were.
We were getting near our box, led
by an obsequious attendant, when /
said TO Mrs. Lawrence:
"You talked of the Colonel, just
now. May | ask who he is?"
Is" Colonel Vane; an old friend of
my husbands. He was quartered at
| Quebec a long time Edith is his
only child, and they live in Worces-
ter Square" e s
| / sometimes wonder now that [
] didn't faint at this intelligence. / am
sure unsuspectiug Mrs Laurence
must have felt the arm on which she
was leaning .tremble, and l faUcied
even the box keeper must have been
able to hear my heart beating Edith
Vanel This, then. was the name Of
my idol; apd | thought never did
name sound so musical In a few
seconds l should be in her company.
l remembered my letter and the ca
melia. Had she come, | wondered,
on this last git? But just as we
reached the box. door l tore the flower
from my button-hole and put it into
the ticket pocket of my coat. / was
about to be properly introduced to
her, and | thought l would disasso-
ciate myself from my foolish letter.
i CONCLUDED TOMORROW.
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