The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-05-18

0NLEA MISTAKE.

1t was winter morning, cold and
cherries, with the clammy dampuess
of a coming snow storm in the ar
The strips of blue sky, upon which ev-
en- the poorest beggar of the street may
sometimes look witt, Il faint glimpse of
the heaven beyond, we've quite hidden
ny dark masses of cloud, that reflected
81, heir own somber hines ON the faces OF
. the, hnrryi,sg passers-by- g4b .at
i Ralph Field ran down the steps of
his boarding. house, and hailed a pass
hing car. The downtown rnsh hadjrst
! begun, and an involuntary shiyer OF
discomfort ran beneath his wrappings,
as he saw, on stepping in, that all the
seats were taken. Ding! ding! went
the conductors bell and one after an
other dropped in,, till even standing
room was limited. Another stop; and
| " woman, very poorly and ihinly clad,
staggering under The weight OF Il huge
laundry basket. Her. thin, features
were unnatnrally pincled with cold,
and her whole frame trembled as she
shifted her benumbed hands painfully,
still holding up. he heavy burden, I'M
able to find room for it gu the floor OF
| the car. M. -,E. icI..t.,,
Such a weary, pitifnl look, ip the
worn face, shaded by its thin grey hal,
such Il patent endurance in the eyes,
,meekly cast down., The comfortably
seated gentlemen shrank closer in THEN
gay scarfs and mutflers;, but if any one
thought cit might have been, my moth
eli" the gentle charity was stifled in its
first up springing, and there WAS no
outward sign, s,,..... aare +s.,
| a, little rustic of silk, as a lady rose
in one corner, made Ralph look, aronnd.
and u voice, clear aud sweet as "a sill
yer bell, ".Iake this seat, my good wo-
man. ~ glance of quick, grateful
surprise shot up from the. woman's
eyes, as size m,lrmured. "Thank you
M,ss, kindly" and SINK, with sigh OF
exhaustion, into the place just vacated
Three or four gentlemen sprang ul
with Il simultaneous offer of their seats,
but IL glow OF indignant color famed
Into thu L. J,', ol,,nI. no s)e, one u.rnI
with IA slight bow, IL thank you. l viii
stand" Aud stand she did, her littl.
g,nved hand holding the strap firmly
and her face turned Il l,ttle aside, Sc
that Ralph dared study her with hi.
"No ordinary girl" His artist SENSE
would haze told him that at a glance
even though his heart had not come in
to aid his Judgment, witlrhis qnick res
ponse to her generous action. Ralph
Field had too tender memories of his
dead mother and sisters, not to feel 4
kind OF, proprietorship in all that is no
blest aud truest in woman. :. 4,eEl5a
And SD he tell into a half dream
waking only us the lady sisna!td t.
the conductor; and stepped lightly
down. Then he saw, with starr, tha
he was quite beyond Flint & Chat
terton's, aud must walk up the stree
again, two squares at least. Hurryins
out, he caught sight of IL lace handler
chief, lying on the floor, inst where tht
lady had stood. He picked it up hast
lily, but IFS fair owner had disappeared
in the crowded street, A faint pc,
fnme tloatea up as he shook it from tn
dust, and there, on one corner, was /:
name. "Ettn Smart"
"Ictta Stuart, Eta Stuart" sal,
| Ralph to Himself, as he walked up TIN
street, drawing Ills brows togethe
in a puzzled frnwn; 81 have surel.
heard the name before"
just then, Frank Evans bore dow
fupom him, with II hearty morning greet
ing.
Halo, Ralph, my boy! What ar
you bordering, that you look like :;
judge, all but the wig9 You must &c
off that face, and come up to the Lous
this evening. Sister Lon is just HON
from Springfield, and cousin Eta, th
! peerless, has come home with. her 70
the winter" ea :,
"Ah!n
Frank Evans was hardly prepare
, for the sudden illumination of Ralp
Fields face. He stared minute, an,
then went on: "a
"You know / told yon about Eft;
Stuart before, and promised you an in
PRODUCTION"
"Yes, yes, remember. Thank you
Frank. III come"
What an intermfnably long day
was! Ralph caught himself ono
sketching pair of dark eyes on TIL
margin of IA business note. "Whatail
me 2" he said to himself, energetically
as he thrust the offending sheet int
the waste basket, and dashed off
fresh order