The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-06-08
that you would not do ANYTHING to aecommo

= Sne poMet Win queenly grace as she fin
ished. Will took mp his hat, and, with {
cold, courteous '>ood afternoon departed
Standing before her dressing bureau. Lady
Jane Grey saw how f-she1 and angry sLC
looked, withal so charming in hor becoming
masquerade dress.
"Will Mortimer needn't think am eoina
to deprive myself of this lon, ,-antici1atctl
evening. I'll go, and enjoy myself too"
Lille clasped the blazing stomacher a,out
her slender, supple waist; and, while her
eyes danced and her brow frowned. there was
n faint, lurking pain in her heart
HE is selfish and lominccrirg. He acf,l-
ally told me- | shouldn't go with Capt Sayras
and will"
Il know as well rs VIII that Capt Sayres
is an unprinciplcd man, but he is fashionable,
an% to me sre Bedesn nfSsf S IS &F S and
shall l; and I'll slip aiay from him before
twelve"
| The flush of excitement glowcd Oh her face
as she heard a donble kn ek at the front deor
and she stood still for ne precious moment
| to make her final decision. That was a mo-
ment offered to Lille by her guardian angel.
She was set before the two paths-one right
one wrong. She might there have sacrificed
her foolish pride, sent for her dear VIII. and
man nature, that leads so many weak mortals
astray, fastened her on to sorrow, to utter
despair. Better had she never seen or heard
OF Capt. Sayres or a masked ball.
Like a dream of grace and beauty she gil
ded into the drawing-room, where, in digni-
| fled silence, Neptune, monarch of the seas,
awaited her.
81 beg your pardon for OBTAINING you Capt.
Sayres; but you must not think of calling
Lady Jane Grey to order y
Lilies silvery laugh floatcd from under
her pink ruffied mask. Neptune bowed
gravely and said, ''The rules of the ball room
demand unbroken silince till the stroke of
twelve, midnight Suppose we begin now to
conform to this rule. have special reasons
of my own for begging this favor"
HE voice sounded mufied and thick under
the wire mask; but Lille noted the glitter of
the cOal-black eyes.
"As you please, oh puissant kinSw
She spoke merrily, as she bowed mockingly:
but a strange commingling of emotion rioted
in her breast.
First, she reioiced that the c:iptain desired
no conversation; for, truth to tell. Lille dis
liked him very much. Again, like the memo
ry of troubled dream, went over her this
thought; Scan he be intoxicated, that he acts
Sd strangely; that his voice sounds SO famil-
Jar yet strange; that his eyes CLEAN so lu
ridlyw
A Shlvef thrilled over her.
"Pll beg Albert to go, too"
She rang for her brother, but was informed
that he had gonc long before. So with
heavy sigh, she threw her cloak over her,
and, accepting her companions arm, descen-
ded to the street.
A close carriage stood at the door: but the
wild dread at her heart made her turn be-
seeehingly-tO her escort, saying, SID so much
rather walk! The evening is so very fine. and
IN oclOS hx-r
An imperious gesture toward the carriage
silenced her; and, assisted by her companion,
she entered.
The drive was short and silent. Neither
spoke; and Lille began to think the occasion
and Miss Westbrook, and wondering how |
Will would look in his Indian chcftain dress,
and his cousin in simple evening costume.
She was glad OF one thing, however; and that
was that neither VIII nor Kate Westbrook
knew how she was going to dress. She had
one capital advantage. She could, unwatch
ed, watch them.
The entrance was thronged with idlers and
loungers; and, glad of any protection among
that laughing, jeering crowd, she clung to
Neptune's arm.
Within the rooms, the bright glare of the
lights for time drowned the pain at her
heart; and as she whirled in the merry dance,
q false excitement lent animation to her eyes,
ly searching for a well-known, well-loved
form. t.-e
Standing by the fre-place-it had grown
bitter cold since nine O'clOck-were the two.
Tall, princely Will Mortimer, in the splendid
costume of Osceola, an Indian chief; and.
clinging protectingly to his sarm, fair
formed graceful girl. Lille had never seen
Kate WestbroOk, but she recognized her, both
by her style and her dress.
1t was with wildly beating heart she watch
ed Will in his tenderly chivalric devotion,
and, for the first time, Lilies jealousy took
o distinct form.
"Can it be possible he will transfer his love
to her."
The thought was agony, and her steps fall
tered in the quadrille she was dancing
Truly, Kate WestbrOOk was charming
girl. Her slight, symetrical form, set off to
its best advantage by the rich wine-cOlored
mOire, and a soft cloud of filmy lace shading
her perfect neck. A long train lent addition
al grace to her appearances; and with her
dainty little hands, her faultless dancing, her
sparkling diamonds, Miss Westbrook created
a decided sensation.
And VIII Mortimer: He was very proud of
her; and somehow or other, during that de-
lighted Dance began to remember how he
| used to like little coz Kate five years ago,
when he was twenty-five and Kate but fifteen.
Then he thought of Lille, poor, selfish, jeal-
Gus Lille, and wondered if she had really
come, which of course hc could not decide
till the magic hour of twelve should sound.
Until then, he could only conjecture and
think. All this time, at intervals so near
that her robes rustled against his, Lille Law
| ton, as Lady Jane Grey, was watching him;
a feverish flush on her cheek, a brilliant
CLEAN in her eyes, while she loved him the
more, and loathed her attentive, devoted cav
| alier.
"If had but followed Wills advice she
But the hours flew by to the tuneful music.
and Lady Jane Grey had only to wish in vain
that the noble OsceOla would mutely invite
her to dance, for SO devoted was he to Miss
Westbrook that he had eyes for none else.
1t drew near midnight, and the tlushes she
felt ON her cheeks grew brighter, for now .