The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-03

dbout HtI NHtH she iiaa been thinking
on acting hardly with respect to him,
especially if he left her in peace long
enough for her impression of him to
soften; and she had scarcely seen him
since the ball. She had had time to
go back to the old days, to her ten
years waiting, to the unutterable Bit
terness that somehow seemed to be
parting her from him at last. There
was no reason, she thought, for so much
bitterness between them. If the old
dream was indeed old, worn out, never
to be realized, they might still he
friends. Ii she could not marry him,
she might yet treat him as a cousin
SO she gave him her hand cordially.
and even suffered him to hold it mo-
mcnt, while fash of triumph came in
to his eyes.
II might have been q wizard" said
Sir Felix. ~ have been worried and
annoyed past all bearing by these
tonchy, carping, pcstiferous, election
eering people; and the thought of you
| came to me somehow like-lille-a flow
er garden " he blurted out.
Sir Felix did not often venture upon
such similes-they were not in his line;
and he stopped rather abruptly, with
an instant appreciation of the fact that
Esther's face clouded. He could not
know that it was the mention of the
electioneering people, and not his COM
pliment, that did this.
"Come," said he, "don't spoil my bit
of sunshine; don't bend those brows of
yours to-day, Esther"
"But Folk"
"Well,' he interrupted.
''You'll only be angry with me,n said
Esther.
'Never," he replied, "while you
speak in that tone"
,"Well, continued Esther, "you spoke
Of the election. | want to know what
is all this about secret agents, and
bribery, and making men drink till
they are mad, and don't know what
they do or say?'
"Nnd | want to know" retortcd Sir
Felix, "who has been filing you up
with such rubbish ~
''It isn't rubbish, Felix" said Esther;
Kit is truth"
''You should shut your eyes at cleo
ton time," he laughed, carelessly. ~
know nothing about it,"
"But it is done for YOU" said Esther;
"and in your namo.n
POSSIBLY" said the baronet.
"And they say that there will be
mischief, and riot, and perhaps muir
der" confined Esther; "for what DO
men know or care when the drink is in
them ?"
/. Sir Felix looked down, and tapped
his boot with his riding whip.
~ don't make men drink, Esther"
said he. 'If they viii do it, I can't
help it,"
'Who pays for it?" demanded Es-
| Their.
"My agents must get all the votes
they can, Esther" he replied, getting a
little impatient; CHATS all know. I
employ them to act for me, but l don't
tell them how to act As for Drilield,
he is q slow old stager behind the age;
these are experienced men, who -"
~ don't want to talk about Mr..
1 DGlIield, who is honest" broke in
Esther, ''as the experienced, men who
may be honest, too, for anything |
know. | only want you to stop the
scandal"
"And want to win the elections
said Sir Felix. "You don't understand
these things. my dear Esther. Don't
tronble Your woman's brain about
them"
"And you don't care if there's riot
and murderm said Esther.
Once again Sir Felix laughed, shrug
, ging his shoulders.
"They shan'C murder you, Esther
said he.
Esther had been walking up aud
down the room, but she went to him
now close, and looked at him with the
look that always made him want tc
tame her.
|
) "I can hardly believe" said she
; "that you are Felix Lyle"
Then she stepped back, startled al
the sudden dark passion which chang
ed his face. For Il moment he seemed
to struggle hard with it.
"Esther,n said he, after pause, "yot
are woman, and very dear to me
but you should not try me too hard
AS have said, you do not understand
these things, / must so now. Try tx
be little less unjust in your thoughts
, of me.
He then rode away up the hard
!, frosty lane, sticking his spurs into hi
horses flank, and telling himself saw
agely that he was fool to care. Will
success certain, brilliant career be
: fore him, and Esther tanned and gentle
: for his wife, what would these little I'M