The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-03
THE MEMBER FOR CALLERFGN +;
THE FALSE HEIR.
IFrom the N. Y. Record.l
CHAPTER VI.

satiOn than any defined feeling, that
began to creep over Cal1erton as the
election drew ON, and Sir Felix went
about his canvassiDg. 1t was the odd
est thing in the world, that while eve
rybody spoke in loud approval of the
new bar0net, yet there was a certain
reserve and doubt in the background,
which the loud speeches would not
drive away. Even Lord Creditor, who
would have been the better perhaps
for moral eyeglass, in his clumsy OBJ
tuscness, stayed at his neighbor, Squire
Duke of Rauslett, and reiterated, "a
sensible young fellow! / always said
so, but yet"
That was just it: tsbut YETI no one
seemed able to get any further, except
indeed old Colonel Fosbrooke, who
said under his iron-grey moustache, "a
spice of the devil in him, that's ALL
Wouldn't be son of old Felix Lyle if
there wasn't"
But this was not it. The late Sir
Felix, bad as he was, and yet in his in
tercourse with his peers, gentleman"
written upon him. Now, whether his
rowing life had told him or not, it did
certainly strike some of these old-fash
iored country gentlemen that the pres
ent Sir Felix was-well, they could
hardly explain what. Young Reginald
Duke said boldly and contemptuously,
"a cad;" but then, lie was q disap-.
pointed sutton, where report said Sir
Felix had prospered. The Misses Duke
held that he was chad ton; but this
was little feeble womanly stab, which
their father pooh-hoohed. What was
ton for if it came to thatl And what
did his daughters know about it9 His
fear was lest the man should at heart
be Il Radical after all but that was too
monstrous superstition. Then at
first, too, the beronet had seemed eve
rything that was gentle ane polished.
What, for instance, could have gone off
better than that ball ? Certainly twas
rather soon af&er his fathers death. but
then circumstances required it, and any
show OF mourning beyond ordinary de-
cency would have been hypocritieal.-
But it was in these canVassing days
that the nature of the man began to
glare out of the sudden rents in his pol
ishcd earb. lie could not command
his temper and when his temper grew
too much for him he was not a gentle
man. This was what Calleton would
have said if it had spoken out; but it
did not. He was essentially their man;
it was necessary that he should beat
the Abbot's Crewe nominee, they could
allow something for the ten years of
half savage life, of which, however, he
seldom spoke; and perhaps marriage
would alter him. And Sir Felix, send
ing his eager glahees here and there,
saw, and swore inwardly-his fathers
habit. Riding away from Rauslett,
and thinking of the five Miss Dukes,
who had sat in solemn judgment upon
him, caught up his words, and twisted
them, working him into fever of inn
potent rage, Sir Felix gnawed his lip
till it bled, and snapped out dozen
oaths upon the frosty air that cooled
him.
~ was fool ~ he said ga rash, pre-
cipitate fool. They have all got il
about Esther. IF had waited a bit
if had only waited-a young baronet
rich, free, to be wol1, would have held
different place amongst these dowdy
young women with their cursed airs
In this Sir Felix did certainly show 6
little of that worldly wisdom will
which Lord Creditor had endowed him
"And | might have fooled them to
the top of their bent" he went on
"made love in all directions. But III
win yet, and Esther must come down
from her high horse. I wish l knew
What she really does think ofme. But
ats no matter; once married, and who
iDhNhNo lilty tVuCHtS Iiit
herr
1t would have been rather an obscure
train of thought TO any one standing
outside the baronet's life ; but it seem
ed to be lucid enough to himself. He
sIaekened his pace at the cross-road
hesitated, and finally turned off in tbs
direction of the cottage.
Pm not in a good temper" he said
but I'll see her. She'll refresh me af.
ter those dowdies. She is woman.-
If she wouldn't take those high ani
mighty airs-and yet what q wonder
Jul sadness and quiet there is abou
her at times. Any one would thinl
list then that it must be the simples
thing in the world to mould her to hi
own will.
tie hung his horses bride over Ii.