The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-07-20

sweet, A woman cannot I'LL her heifG
with one image, resolutely closing 1T to
all others, for ten years, without max
inc the friend or the lover into an idol
without unconsciously idealzing the
hero into something infinitely more
perfect than thereafity could be- Toa
certain extent Esther allowed this in
her self-communing; but it was with q
trembling hope that she should ma
herself mistaken. Better, she thought,
that he should be still all that was
good, ard cbivalrous, and noble, even
If she. tried in his balance, were found
wanting. So
Then she had to bear with her moth
er's repeated expressions of surprise
that he should defer his visit to them so
long. To herself she said flat it was
natural. Under the pressure of so much
business, his mind would not have been
free to take up and examine this old
thread which somehow seemed so strong
to-day and so feeble tomorrow, that
she was driven to wish he would come
and snap it, that it might-be done with.
1t was evening when he did COME
: Esther was walking about, not amongst
the raspberries this time, but inthe lit
$ tie shrubbery in front and there wasa
scent of mignOnette and late-blossom-
e ing stocks in the air; and when she saw
his tall figure come and bend itselfOver
!. the gate to unfasten it, she put her
o. hand for moment over her heart. Of
1 course she knew him. Ten years, OF
K ten lustres either, as she thought, could
mot have altered him out of her ken
r. But he was strangely awkward about
y that latch. 1t gave her queer little
II pang to see that he was looking for it
v on the wrong side of the gate.
of 'You have forgotten" she said, go
n ing up and opening it for him, as stead
ve ily as though the faring red geraniums
had not got before her eyes and daz-
w. zled her. He put out his hand and
Ill took hers. s.ieb 3a tfffa
tn 81 have been away long enough to
w. forget that" he said, '.but not other
Id. things" 1 4igl rs Is s'o's
q His voice was very low and soft
yer very much changed from the impetu-
FIJI ous tones she remembered. When she
heard it first she started and looked up
no at him, She saw that he was lingering
~ little white scar on his cheek, and he
49, did not meet her glance. But she
,aaI thought then that he was very little
altered, except for. the thick dark beard
o in and the large whiskers that he was try
ON ing to coax over the scar, .,s. ).
he ~Turn to the light !" he said, sud
the denly stsuch light as there is. l wan
to look at you. want to company
ved. YOU with this"
,c,- She saw what was in his hand, and
,red flush came into her cheeks as he look
an ed at her in the dim twilight.
of "Years have dealt tenderly wit
. he you,n said Sir Felix, still in the sam
Int. low voice, which somewhat irritate
4 co her a little, it was SO unlike him.
and ssThere is the same resolute will, til
room same firmness Of purpose. Were 70
! vexed that ! did not come before"
and "No," she replied. 81 knew you hs
,ock- business
and Cuisines ~ he echoed. "Well, yt
ers- 1 had business. So You think tn
there should De the hrst copsiueias'o".
com have not yet told me you are glad ID,
1t its see me-" e7 ssa He'd f3f
mend They turned and walked up 7
ne nv shrubbery slowly, and it struck EST
,cetb- that the evening had turned colder
. and The mignonette and the stocks mil
y with have been sweet still; of course II
saei were; but there was faintness alb
,u,o the scent, and there were dark clio
rising up above the Callerton woods
"Well7" said Sir Felix, stand
:..L.1s still in the path. ,s~
eyes, am glad--at least, I think
have longed for this SO very mu
81 said Esther, going desperately bac
INSi1HH what was true in the past, and tt,
.isg.g to lose sight of the present, "that
90, qua it is come, hardly know whether
tn. i most pain OR gladness." .aai7f
nld. II He put out his hand once again,
ell, not a moments hesitation.
oman Is sLet it be all gladress, y he said.
7seas it depended on me, Esther, there 81
5irhaa not be cloud on your life" ~" -
81 When Sir Felix got away out Z
nise,. all little carden that nief,t he drew q
re it, breath, as if weight had passed
less she him and he went up the bit d
er strong between the cottage and his own
q certain gate quickly. At the gate he ST
in these minnie tn look across at Call
tired to sleeping in the moonlight, and p
TO her IN to himself scene to be enacted
elf-sacri- in which he should be the most
1t prlntci- tant actor, and altogether the
ny; 80 he of greatest consequence, since
For her he body said that the man from 4
home and Crewe would not hayes ?. chance
win po- him. And then bis thc.pht
it at her back to the stor's "a ana a., Phi,
e tyranny and the Late wb: :, no bod tr;e'