The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11

rival 70 pretty sittingroom ~ quiet part OF
The city en- route 70 the opera house. and "handy
to the stages those sine qua mons Of young New
Workers.
''Not . bad looking den for bachelors. eh p
demanded Mr.. Harry Duer, as he passed to Geralo
Wayne his box Of Havana cigars. and poked the
Anthracite fre to make II blaze up into hospha'
"Very nice,r said Gerald, absently, as he look.
ed round on the tinted walls, hung with spicy
French engravipgs, and the leather covered table,
magazines, meerschsum pipe-cases and scented
notes OF invitation. and nestled hs feet into the
deep purple pile Of the velvet rug. VERY nice
whats the matter now ~ asked Harry Duer.
STOPPING to pick up the scattered contents OF the
box of cigars, which Wayne bad let fall IN his
smazemeDtsnd CONSERVATION. "Youhaventseen
a ghost, have you ~
SDoIly Estcourt's curl!n gasped our hero. Star
ing hard ct something feathery aud golden thatisy
on pile Of newspapers. tied Ooh, unblushing des,
ecration y with piece OF the yellow ribbon that
comes round bundles Of cigars
Exactly 10 20 answered Mr.. Duer, with bis
hands in his pocket and bis head on one side, as
he, too, gazed complacently at the sunny lock.
Gerald crimsoned to the very roots Of his hair.
his eyes flashed at the idea Of Dolly's false co.
quetry. 1
"Did she give It to you ~ he asked. sternly. :.
"Now come, old fellow responded Duer, with
the demon of mischief entering into bis heart.
"don't be crusty You shouldn't ask questions--do
you think I'm going to kiss and tell! How else do
you suppose came by itW
But Harry Duer was almost sorry he had In.
duged in his ruling proclivity for "lsrks" when he
saw Gerald Wayne rise up and stalk ont OF the
room without another word, spologetic or other.
wise. f.t-., - -,-...f ..s-s &C., -. e..
upon my word and HONOR he said to him:
self, / believe that young mans gone case!
I've great mind 70 call him back and tell hss 81.
make ass .u A0 fo SpH q SmssifS "''' '' M
NJ ri ~ Inns
chackling internally 70 think OF the misconstrnc-
ton under which poor Gerald Wayne was lsboring
the while. ..l ln.aef
So Thursday evening came, and with il no
Gerald Wayne, to the mansion In West Twenty
eighth street of Gdpus Estcourt, Esq, the father
of the blooming Dolly. And that young lady sat
turning the pages Of her book and watching the
little mantel clock, until she was In hopeless
maze OF perplexity: ElghtEnine-a quarter past,
What could 1t meanf And Gerald was generally
as punctusl as the City Hall clock. y
"He Deednt como unless be likes" thought
Dolly, with rush Of scarlet blood to her cheeks
and an ominous culver OF her lower lip, as she
glsnced down at the blue sik dress she had put
on because Gerald liked blue, and took out from
her hair the knot Of fresh blue violets that were
fading 30 fast in the warm, furnace heated atmos-
pbere of the room. Pm sure don't want to
see him." ---r 7it-.-
But that was fib. and Dolly knew II very well
indeed she cried softly by herself with the fad
ing violets in her lap
Meanwhile Mr.. Gerald Wayne resolved no longer
to be the playthiDg of an idle coquette," as he
loftily termed it in his own mind, had strolled
lstlessly around to Mrs. Charles Duer's mansion,
where, of course, as everybody was busy putting
the last touches to the contributions TO the fair
nobody wanted 70 be bothered with htfn! so ap.
propriately do young men often time their visits,
never finding out from the Alpha to the Omega
thereof that they are in the way!
"Msmma'll be down In Q few minutes" said
Master Ferdinand, standing IN the doorway.
Mamma says will you please to excuse her q lit
tie while, She'svery busy, but says am to en-
terrain you until she comes!n
Every well,n said our hero, who. forgetting his
own extraction, detested little boys in knicker'
bockers and button boots.
They're jolly busy up STAIRS said Ferdi'
nand, standing first ON one leg and then on the
other. They're sewing the hair on the doils
"Are they ~ said Mr.. Wayne, still without any
symptoms Of lively interest.
"lt's Mas Dolly Estcourt's hair, " went on Master
as itl' Mr.. Wayne looked up now and left Of
poking the fire.
Eyes, il is" said Ferdinand. with all child
relish in imparting piece Of news 1t has picked
ND sub rosa. "They couldn't sew 1t on before
because Uncle Harry had stoled it away. saw
| II hanging out OF his coattail pocket, and told
! mamma, and she said he was principed pirate
| and she made him bring 1t back next day bsfor,
1
! Miss Dolly wonld he awful mad Where Il yoI
| going Mr.. Wayne! Mamma u be down IN min
\ ute ~
| But Mr.. Wayne made one plunge past Ferdl
\ pand into the hall seized his hat from the rack
4 and was gone before that youth could comprehend
| the situation. And when Mrs. Duer came dow
stairs, few minutes later, the parlor was unoccu
pied save by the en5ant terrible who was industri
| ously endeavoring 70 adapt his mothers opera
| glass to the focus OF the cats eye.
Hes goned, mamma observed the boy, In
! differently; and pussy!scont stay still!'
you naughty, naughty boy" cried Mrs. Duer
spriDging to the rescue OF the imported glass
! "You've been playing some Of your wicked trick
on himl''
"No, mamma, haven'tr' cried Master Ferd
nand, screwing both fists into his eyes, and burst
ing into howl that was fearful to hear.
While the domestic credit OF Ferdinand wa
thus being endangered on his account, Mr.. Geral
Wayne WAS making the very best OF bis way &c
ward the house in Twenty eighth street. who's
Threshold he had so firmly resolved never agai
to cross As he consulted his watch BY the ligt
of friendly gas-lsmp, he saw that II was hall
past nine.
"Not TOO late yet.n he thought. "Oh, what
thick skulled blockhead have been, not to se
through all this wonder if she can ever fo
give me for doubling her womaniy truth an
And with the inevitable rush from one extrem
| to the other which IA natural to all mankind, N
Wayne elevated Dolly Estcourt in the scale of b
l estlmfEl0n from inc lOWest tOuuu W Nto kiuo
| heights Of perfection.
'She's an angel ~ rashly asserted Mr.. Wayne
| himsalf-and he believed IL
| Dolly was still sitting slone with the knot {
faded violets In her lap. and something bright an
sparkling on her cheek like tear, when the doc
| bell Unexpectedly pealed, and the next instal
| Gerald Wayne came rapidly into the room.
"MIss Estcourt Dolly !" he exclaimed.
Dolly was on her dignity in an instant. "Wh
did you wish to say 70 me, Mr.. Wynnes" 81
asked. icily.
Ill wanted to ask you to marry me- Doll
| love you to distraction and II you'll only pron
Use to become my wife, III be the hsppiest ms
| in New York to-night!n
Thus, clumsly, he laid his heart at her fee
! and Dolly, sensible little Dolly, who saw the ra
| pearl shining through its verbal incrustation, r
Tented. and 4 she didn't exactly promise, at lea
And then Gerald Wayne told her how near
he had lost his chances for happiness, until Ma
| ter Ferdinand Duer's hsp-hazard revelations h'
| opened his eyes to the real state of things. Al
| Dolly frowned little at Harry Duer's impudenc
and laughed o good deal at her lovers insal
| jealousy, and altogether thought the whole thir
was {" as good &c a newspaper story!"
"And / say, Dolly" said Gerald, as he stot
| at the door taking an unwilling leave, With q