The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-07-27
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
IA very sensible young fellow" said
Lord Creditor, dropping his eye glass;
"and upon my word, a tolerably bril-
liant affair, too. These mixed balls
are capital. Tenants pleased, you
know, and all that; and after all there's
charming novelty in getting familiar
ly amongst the-a-classes little
lower in the social scale. In fact, it
was my idea"
1t was not his idea; but Sir Felix
sounding his lordsl,ip, had made it
appear so, which did just as well; and
so Lord Creditor, speaking to Mrs.
Lyle; and seeing that the thing was
likely to be success, took credit to
himself They were standing at the
top of the ball room, and as Lord Gre
diton spoke, his eyes happening to fol-
low those of his companion, rested up
OH the tall form of Sir Felix bending
down with very lover-likc devotion to
speak to his cousin Esther.
i "Ha!" said my lord smiling. 81 had
heard some rumor of this. I suppose
that is, may venture to congratu-
late you hope ~
Poor Mrs. Lyle was sorely troubled
She would have liked nothing better
than to receive his lordship's congrat-
ulations indeed she was strongly
tempted; but then she remembered
that Esther had will of her own; that
the match she wished for might never
, como to pass; and she couldn't help a
little of her annoyance breaking out.
, 81 don't know. my lord" said Mrs
. LYLE. sit was n sort Of engagement
+ before Felix went abroad. I'm sure
can't tell why it zshould not be. But
Esther has fancies. She says that he
q is changed; and in fact" finished the
+ widow, 18th some discomfort, %
shouldn't wonder if she were to breal
n it off in the end"
q Lord Creditor had not heard thu
one half of this speech; and already
!, bustling away down the room after thu
, face of an old friend whom his eye
y glass had brought near to him.
"And it's too bad to have to say sucl
q things, grumbled the widow, "whcl
,s it might be all so straight. And I'm
IS sure the trouble I've had-and whel
v she has refused young Reginald Duk
that stands there looking so handsome
= and dont't know how many Others
II all for Felix ! Girls were not like tlli
10 when was young. don't know VIII
4. would bring up daughters in thes
er days"
at Lord Creditor was right about tn
%. ball; it was q brilliant affair; and 81
If Felix, conscious of this, felt himse
th inspired to be brilliant also ; and
to make himself an object of general &C
es miration amongst the tenants daugl
w. tiers with whom lie danced. How W;
8 it that, in full tide ofsuccess, when tt
sit supper and champagne had stirred IL
,ot life in guests unused to such fare, M
it's gaiety was at its height, somcthil
came Tapping suddenly at the bar
he net sheart, turning the glance of lig
lon to dull mist, and his dark face to ;
mo ashley grey?
=. 1t was at this moment that Lo
re- Creditor had noticed him bending
rcd devotedly over his cousin, but t
II movement was in reality only an
ed stinctive hiding of that ashley face.
,on Esther said Sir Felix, 'look do
ark the room by-and-by and tell me W
81 the man is with the white flower
nrn his button hole"
he The tone was sharp and anxious
ont spite of itself. 1t would have strr
ont Esther but for her pre- occupation, &
-ej, the real wcariness which was beg
the ing to creep over her. AS 1t was,
tho followed his glance, constrained rat
ano by the sharpencned tones than by
Ion. interest she felt in the man with
and flower in his coat, but when she
reused a little.
~ am interested in ralses," said
- Felix, watching her, Hand | should
that is one. Well, who is he ?"
iiin' "Old Bruce's son come back aga
''p replied Esther. 81 am SO giad!"
Wv "Why?p he asked.
.af "Why7' repeated Esther. "B
ne forgot; you don't know. He has
ne little wild, as they call it, and he
. o''' away from home some time ago.
con- must take him up again, Felix.
n not know you did help him out of sc
heip- or two in the old days"
much every foolish of me if did,
IL Sir Felix.
"No, indeed" said Esther. ''Bu
5ly.- glad he is come back. Some one
me OF he had enlisted as common soil
S not "The best thing he could
TX off should say, replied Sir Felix.
armed "Wby ?" asked Esther, in her
K that ..And what makes you look ut h
ure.- that way, Felix? Any one '