The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-09-07

. trembling on his lips wonder what Es,
will say. to him. Aha! fancy could ei
shre&d guess" =. -
~, Miss Essie did not say no. e. -..
). Then you will let me take you aw.
: to the old Hall with me, dearest Essie
Carl! said, iuIprison.ns I.sis little soft har
IN his. ut is now nine years since crosse
Its threshold. And" -f
! lie paused abruptly, remembering. tn
u he had not told Essie of his ward.
My ward is there now-Iittle Eth
Lyttleton, just returned from Madame
;. Ia Vanier's boarding school. You will low
# her too, Essie."
= There was a slight shadow on Essie How
0 ards brow that fell like ice on Carll's hear,
, as she withdrew her hand. .. D..
"Is your ward to reside with you?"
"Most certainly, Essic. l pledged m,
word to her father on his DIVING beds
II do not approve of any such arrange
i sen, Seho nef awdy! a .nomeless'orpunu: -
/ "Sho might go as a goveruess, or ever
take the situation Of a companion. y f
4 CARL Oxford bit his lip until the blood
started. .'Y'
Essie, this is a subject on which INV reso.
luton cannot be altered even bv vour wish
L.e, Ayttieton is sacred bequest to me-
nel happiness and interest are nv life's
study while have home,' Ethel must
snare II; whiie my arm can ward off life's
storms she shall never feel their bitterness
Essle. will you not take her 20 your heart
alsO?" ....
But Essie's beautiful lips were compressed
like carved coral.
| GU must choose between me aud this
Mlss-Mlss Lyttleford. l take no divided
| allegiance" - l4e~
.'Essie!" -s#
"lour decision alone can-settle the mat
ter. Colonel Orford.''~ a. 20. ILL.,
"Ihen it is made. Essie, love YOU more
dearly than my faltering tongne can ever
tell; but cannot forget my duty as a Chri
tlan-my honor as gentleman Essie,
once more plead my cause-this time on
my bended knee Will you not relent!''
.! have told you once that your choice
lay between me and your ward" a
Then. farewelI" ....i ,.
lie spoke the words in strange, stified
voice. as though tho syllables choRed him
bowed over her hand. and went out, n re.
jected man.
WELL" mused Colonel Oxford, as he care
lessly threw cologne bottles, dressing cases,
rare engravings and patent leather boots in
one congiomerate mass into his trunks ..that !
dream Is over" The waking was rather
rough, but suppose it is just as well. NV
beautiful Essie! Oh. my dear lost love!
For one moment he bowed his head ON his /
two hands with all the stifed anguish of
strong mans grief, and then went on with
his occupation. He smiled bitterly "A he
LOOK up velvet case, containing set Of |
garnets that he had purchased
n Paris for his ward. =
"She will be glad to have them, dear little
Ethei. Perhaps some day, when the frs
bitterness of this grief is over. che rurmfp
come like dear and cherished ds
ne. At all events, have nos<61
Aa f.-saise | made to N,
N the the hofISAd;S II E; when csiil7 5
he broad gravelled sweep o{ 0.l
he perfuged honeysuckle, hung
on the balmy air.. Home Ue..1
put. oh with what heavy heart!
The front door was wide open. How
familiar appeared the mosaic marble of the
,all pavement. the antique statues leaning
rom the walls. even the .quivering shad-
,ws cast by the stained glass windows be-
vond.
Mrs. Tudor, the old housekeeper, came
Onward curtseying, in stiff black silk dress
and gold spectacles. f-i'4siss 'oj 3
"Welcome home once more, colonel. Miss
Lyttleton has only been here a few hoars."
"Only just arrived" 4 r. Il fsssa ,
That's all. sir. She is in the garden.
colonel" rs... ,...o.s 81: ftfs ,, III
II may as we'll go and speak to her at
once. and have it over" thought Oxford as
be turned abruptly around. For what was |
Ethel but a child!"
As he lost himself among the crimson
wildernesses of the delicious June roses. a
slender figure. all in white. glided out from
the fragrant thickets-a figure with heavy
blue black curls and deep sultans eyes. ST
..Essie Howard ~ .a-.;l.,..,,,t s..If, i. ~
,:.No, dearest guardian; Ethel Lyttleton
You were true to ms--truo as knight of
have come to you, bearing my
heart in my hand. Will you take it now.
Carlll"
'.Essie, am dreaming 1fait sag.gb
..Ethel, if you please, sir. No, you ure
not dreaming. But was very lonely. aud
nv heart was filed with doubts and fests,
and wanted to see what yoo were like; and
SOL behaved like the heroines in novels.
and played an incognita part. could not
endure tho idea that you should sacrifice, me
to other hopes, and loves, and plans. Dear
est Carll. Essie Howard is quite wiling that
you should love poor Ethel Ly ttlston just
little!"
And CARL Oxford; standing there among
the roses, within his dark-eyed love clasped
to his strong, true heart. felt that earth bad
no more of happiness to give him. As for
Ethel, she had quite conquered her childish
antipathy to ..big, toll men," and was en-
tireiy willing to exchange her guardian for
a husband.
: How TO BE NoBoDY.-It is easy to be
nobody. and we will tell bow to do it. Go
to the drinking saloon to pass your leisure
time. You need not drink much now; just
little beer. or some other drink. In the
meantime. play dominoes. cheqaers. or
something else. to kill the time. SO that you