The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-02-16
{ NUMBER 49, 49,

curtseyed me out of the door the next
morning.
''Then I shan't look" muttered to
myself, for I was rather out of sorts.
had been expecting letter from
.Georgie for the lost week, but none had
come; and making all proper allow
ance for the claims which might be
made on hertime, she might, / thought,
surely have spared half an hour to
write to me. was not Jealous, but it
piqued my vanity, and suspected Mrs.
Lomax of being up to something.
The ghost of Miss Bamford's will
rose befsre me, and made me very an
cry and indignant as stamped down
those two hundred and ten steps on to
the beach. Carefully scanned the
shore for the hated form of Miss Tabi-
tina Kezia Smith, and, with sigh of
relief, observed that it was clear. As
usual, not a soul was visible; and max
ing up my mind that the old girl had
found the sea-brceze too much for her,
] resolved to take my usual swim, and
made for the bathing machines before
mentioned. Imagine my surprise
when, on turning them, l perceived
that, though my fellow -lodger was alb
sent, / was not alone.
A young lady, in blue and white
dress, was sitting in the shade, read
ing. She had evidently taken a bath,
for her brown hair hung in masses
round her shoulders, falling far below
her waist; and on the steps near her
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES perhaps 1
had better call it Boomer costume,
such as are common at French water
| ing places, was spread in the sun to
dry. She looked up for moment as
approached, and then went on reading
again but, in that second, had con-
trived to catch glimpse of as charm
ing face as fellow could wish to see
eyes of the brightest, darkest blue,
little es retrousse and rosy lips, "ready
pointed to kiss" as the Germans say.
If it had not been for George, should
have fallen in love on the spot as it
was, I resolved that my papers and
magazines, which had been intended
for the delectation of Mrs. Browns
ledger, should be my tribute to the new
divinity.
Of course swim was now out of tho
question; so, taking out a book, sat
myself down at a short distance, in
position whence had full view of the
new arrival. Not. one glance did she
deign to bestow on ME. She read
steadily on till one o'clock; and then,
after consulting her watch, rose from
her seat, removed her sailors hat, and
deliberately twisted the whole of her
magnificent hair into bright silky
coil, which covered the back of her
head, and then drawing on her gloves,
and jauntingly setting on her hat,
again; she prepared to ascend the cliff.
l don't think, considering George
LomaA had left my last letter q week
unanswered, that / was wrong in fol-
lowing the fair unknown, (at res
pectful distance, of course y and adj
miring her graceful walk, and the soft
fluctuations of her figure tho whole
way. had some difficulty in keeping
her in sight, without letting her per-
ceive it, but still managed to reach the
top step just as the blue and white
dress disappeared within the doorway
of my lodgings, l nearly fell backwards
down the steps again of Mrs. Browns
house.
my compliments to the lady up
stairs, Mrs. Brown" / said, handing
her the days papers as She placed a
chop, colder and greasier than ever.
before me. '1She is an old lady,
think yon told me,n / continued, as
thought, very silly, s.and probably a
good deal in doors. Ify you find she is
in want of books-and they are not ca
sy to get here-you can offer her the
use of mine.n
"Thank you, sir" said she. 'Tm
sure as both the ladies will take it very
kind of you"
"Both !" / repeated; and a ray of
hope fioated across my brain that the
girl had seen on the beachNand Miss
Tabitha Kezia Smith might yet prove
to be different persons. aYou only
told me of one"
''The second one," said Mrs. Brown:
Nthe young lady Though, for the mat
ter of that, she is widow, though on
Is twenty-one, which ] know what il
| is, being one myself, and also not old;
when left desolate,) only came this
morning, having been detained by
business, for her late husbands affair.
{ are not yet settled"
! How sad! so young and pretty, and
} widow; and her husband must hav,
been dead some time, for she was dress
| Jed in blue, l mentally observed.
u 'Is the other lady her mother p
: asked.