The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-11-23

II""'f'S ''' o''"u' 'Ih round myself in
= boot with the captain ana a portion of
crew were rowiX ~ away q
= All this was called to memory bv tba 8,
iect on which Erred and had been speak;,
and as | continued to think. felt sure RI
he woald lose his wager and at length bo 5,
isiied that meant just what l said, and Ia
| what was talking about.
''PineGae!" shouted the railway nor,
as the train stopped at our destination IN
as night was beginning TO envelop tl.s ear
in her sable mantle
Come, Phil" said Fred. 1--WE must mo,
our pegs nimbly. for we have vet TO Dire
for the party. and am expected to be the,
and ready in time TO receive the guests.
And we jumped out.
The fine residence of Squire Lrcy wa
brilliantly Illuminated; and when Fred an
l, arm-in arm entered the spacious drawin
rooms they were all aglow with wax can 1le
smiling faces and bright ewes. The ga
throng assembled there, was hushed int
silence by our entrance. and mur,ner. of nd
mira'ion and welc3ne-for Fred, of cour,
acqaain,ances came tti 1clfwaru To gtett nni
Phil. this is MY father-Mr. Morton
father" said my companion; and the mex
instant jovial looking old gentleman wit
gray hair and smiling countenance, wa
shaking the warmly ny the hand.
There seemed to be something familiar i,
that benevolent face that attracted my at
tention. and could not help scrutinizingsi j
studiOusly for moment. But | concludes,
that it was freak of my Imagination. mas
much as it was hardly probable that l hat
ever before met Squire Lacy.
After making me acquainted with few
of the chief persons present, Fred whis
pered in my ear. There. now. Phil rush il
among 'em aud choose a partner. can tell
by their looks that those ladies' are waitina
anxiously for you to make selection frcm
among them. Quick! The quadrilles ar,
already forming"
NO." | replied, Il wish to be alone 70,
awhile. l will dance the next set" and
turning away from him. l repaired to one
corner of the raom there to gaze at the diff.
ferent parties the room contained.
From my seut watched the handsome
form If Fred AS he moved among his happy
guests, with pleasant word for everv one.
and wondered which. of the many fair be-
ings. he would select for partner in the
dance. was not long kept in doubt.
He led forward a young lady-led her
within a few feet of me-to fill the set at
the lower extremity of the rom, and as nv
eyes rested upon her. fairly started, and
could hardly suppress an exclamation Of as.
tonishment.
She was beautiful woman, not tall and
queenly. yet with form that was faultless
ill symmetry and graceful in motion. A
wealth OF silky hair, golden in hue, umid the
folds of which was q single white lilly, was
an adornmemt to the sllapely heed it covered,
whilst the great ysarning eyes IF soft.
ethereal blue. reflected in their liquid depths
the soul Of their fair owner. The lips, full
and pouting. and riyaling IN hue the ripe
apricot, seemed to NnvItJ kisses; and her
delicate cheeks we're an index to the state Of
her mind, as the rich caaoation sureed back
and forth beneath the transparent skin.
Her ornaments were few and simple, aud
her dress of spotles white, sweeping buck
in rustiing folds from her pretty waist to the
gaudy carpet. s..s
But it was not her beauty that caused me
to start and almost exclaim with amazement;
It was not that, deor reader, for the.s wer..
others present, perhaps, who were no less
than The blonde beauty who
CLAIMED my attention. r. Cd t
This it was that caused my surprise:-,
There was that in the foir face before ne,
hat. Ike Squire Lacy's struck me as being
not entirely strange to me. More, my mon
al decision II, first sight of her was that
his was Lillian, with whom had. Just fve
years ago, leaped from the burning steamer
Victory.
But my second tllouht was that 1t could
Tot be; and then laughed at the idea As
perfectly ridiculous. How could it be Lii
ian-she with whom had parted years ago.
lever to meet a gain IN this world-she with
whom had leaped into the fathomless sea,
md whose golden hair had seen floating on
he dark waters for single instant, and
hen disappear beneath the rolling pillows !!
No. it could scarcely be the lost love Of my /,
'oyhood, unless the almighty had seen fit to
FORK lniricle in this modern time.
And yet it must be she !" was my next
xcited conclusion, as looked up and saw
er again.
The music was playing now. and che, with
ushed and smiling face was gliding hithsr
nd thther to it's liquid notes, marmuring
ONE jesting word. 50 it appeared. every
me she came opposite Fred. Surely it'll
'ust be she; aud yet, how could it be How
retty she was! How sylph like and be.
itching How began to grow restlsss,
nd my cheek and Eorehead to burn with a |
ind of dry. feveilsh heat as continued to
anerug 'nA,ry::-' :sa -heyild.-.a a
Ha that laugh sthat sweet, riplipp lsueh,
was exactly hers aud if this IL not Lillian
the 'll-fated steamer. it must be q near i
siAtlnn. a hoA L. ~
q suspense, tuned to . couple Of gen.
emen who sat near me and asked them if
tner OF them knev the name of young
acy's partner?
Il should fudge i was Miss Belle Gordon,
nee they seem vety familiar" said one. Il
"Ab. Belle Gor3fa :" unused. "Shs is
reds betrothed. She is the adored lady of ID
'om he has SO often spoken to me as bist
lure wife. and in praise of whom he has
ways wuxed eloquent" ''s 'if- II
Aow like she is te-ihat cne who sleeps be-
ati the ocean wave! Mayhaps 'tis her =
ter. never learned her surname. and ?.
could pot tell whether it was-
'rdon or not. gss,.--
Forgetful If nv position, and forRetful of
brilliant throng u and me. reclined /
head weari!y upon NJ haud; aud allowed
thoughts to drift back over my past life. o
vas living over agais those happy days .
mt with her upon the open sea; l was =
my over again .thuse few brief moments :
En- We stood together, on tho f,rrcastle G
list the quarterback was wr ped in &
mes, when in the miskt # my Ii ri ghti e
sent thrill Of joyte my heart and I /.
led herin my urr,s. and pressed n pas [
nate kiss upon her quivesisg Hps-an
) was living over again when the eh-~ry K
ce OF Fred aroused me from the profound !,
eric into which l he'd fallen. :,
Miss Gordon. allow ne to present my old v
nd and scbooImate, Mr.. Mortou, who il N