The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-16
fCoNTINuEn FROM FIRST PAGE

Oh, Hester! if you would make me but
one PROMISE =
"Not to be cool to him ?-not to
give him npi' said hastily.
"One cannot well give up a man
who has never offered himself she re-
piled; ';,nd, as to beng cool to him, l
do not think that Colonel Gerard has
the least cause to complain Of that
al felt my checks burn at the impu-
tation, but she continued, without no
ticing me, The first day you came
home, Hester, told sou you were !,i-
ding something from ms. | nave
found it out for myself; and all nope.
is. that you will have Il little too much
pride than to let him read your heart
- as clearly as I have read it myself
81 leave yon to judge of the effect of
these words. Is there a girl in the
universe who could bear to lee accused
of showing preference for 4 man who
had not expressed the same feeling for
herselfin words, whatever he may have
done by manner, attentions oractions9
The accusation threw me back, as it
were, upon myself, and the first time
/ met Colonel Gerard after this, i
spfided myself on the perfect inditfer-
ence Of my manner toward him. Edith
was present, and congratulated me on
my conduct, whilst ny heart was swell
ling within me with self-reproach and
anguish.
1.-THE night after, we, Colonel Gerard
and I-met at Il ball. Edith was not
there. declined dancing, seeing him
in the room, and feeling sure. should
be the first partner he would seek.
Three dances passed, and lie. never
came near me. could see on my mo
Tiers face anxiety and uneasiness, and
again was miserable.
"Let us go home | said, and she
silently acquiesced; but on the stair
case an ascending crowd stopped our
progress. vow
Going SO soon?, said familiar
voice in my ear. Going without Civ
ing me one dance y
"'YOu never asked me- said, and ]
felt my eyes dim with tears.
g 4 had not the courage, till the fear
OF your departure made me bold was
his answer ,s-
"Did this speech look as if had too
openly shown my preference for him
Treasured and happy, returned to
the room on his arm, and the dance
having begun, we sat down in q long
conservatory opening out of the ball
room. | expected that his first words
would be reproaches for my conduct,
and my guilty conscience kept me 81
lent, leaving him to speak first, but his
remark was not what expected.
"Miss Gresham is not here tonight
SAID he, interrogatively; 'and 1 hardly
expected to see you.' 80
9i"Why not q asked.
because she told ME You had an
other BAH for tonight, which you
might, perhaps, like better he replied.
:" eve had another ball, certainly 1
said but we never intended going to
it. Edith was mistaken.
sis Miss Gresham a great friend of
yours p was his next question. | said.
Yes, the greatest friend I have;' and
then, with smile, he remarked that
he was glad she was not there that eve
nlng-that he sometimes felt very much
inclined to be jealous of herr and so
on ~ 81 ~.
."Ah, Helen, my child, these are
pleasant nothings when poured into
ones ears by voice one loves, and /
sat and listened, nothing 10th, as the
saying is, until crowds, entering the
conservatory after the dance, made it
pleasanter for US to move also, but not
before he had told me he was going to
call the following day. He wanted my
mothers opinion on some e,nertlds he
had brought from Peru. Was he like
" to find us alone s,5lao,i
"That night, as we drove home, my
mother laughingly observed that and
my friend seemed to have a great deal
to say to each otller-what was it all
about, unless it was a secret ? The
emeralds formed good answer and
explanation but until I said he was
coming to show them to her the next
day, ! tancied she was little disap-
pointed. But the. day came, and the
day passed, and Colonel Gerard neyer4
brought the emeralds, Helen. aaJ
ITO BE CONTINUED
LIVE FOR A P6RPosE. The secret
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