The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-01-12

THE SHADOW OF A SHAD {
a THRILLING STORY,
BY TOM HOOD.

! FROM the metropolitan Record
/ My sister Lettie has lived with me
ever since I had home of my own.
She was my little housekeeper before
l married. Now she is my wife's con-
slant companion. and the "darling
auntie" of my children, who go to her
for comfort, advice, and aid in all their
little troubles and perplexities.
But, though she has comfortable
home. and loving hearts around her,
she wears grave, melancholy look on
her face, which puzzles acquaintances
and grieves friends. 10 a6
A disappointment! Yes, the old sto-
Try of lost lover is the reason for Let
ties looks. She has had good offers
often; but since she lost the first love
of her heart, she has never INDUCED
in tile happy dream Of loving and
being loved. 80 +
| George Mason was cousin of my
wife's-a sailor by profession. He and
Lettie met one another at our we'd
ding, and fell in love at first sight
Georges father had seen service before
him on the great mysterious sea, and
had been especially known as a good
Arctic sailor, having shared in more
than one expedition in search of the
North Pole and the Northwest PAS
sage. sa
1t was not a matter of surprise to
me, therefore, when George volunteer
ed to GO out in the Pioneer, which was
being fitted out for cruise in search
Of Franklin and his missing expedition.
There was fascination about such an
undertaking that I felt could not have
resisted had been in his place. Of
course Lettie did not like the idea at
all, but he silenced her by telling her
that men who volunteered for Arctic
search were never lost sight Of, and
| that he should not make as much adj
vance in his profession in a dozen
years as he would in the year or SO Of
this expedition. cannot say that
Lettie, even after this, was quite salts
fed with the notion of his going, but,
at all events, she did not argue against
it any longer. But the grave look,
which is now habitual with her, but
was a rare thing in her young and hap
py days, passed over her face some
times when she thought no one was
looking.
My young brother, Harry, was, at
this time, an academy student. He
was only beginner then. Now he is
pretty well known in the art world,
and his pictures command fair prices.
Like all beginners in art, he was full
of fancies and theories. He would have
been pre- Raphaelite, only pre-Rap-
haelism had not been invented then.
His peculiar craze was for what he
styled the Venetian school. Now, it
CHANGED that George had fine Italian
looking head, and Harry persuaded
him to sit to him for his portrait. It
was fair likeness, but very moder-
ate work Of art The background was
SO very dark, and Georges naval cos
tune SO very deep in color, that the
face came out too white and staring.
1t was threequarter picture; but only
one hand showed in it, leaning on the
hilt of sword. AS George said, he
looked much more like the comman-
der of a Venetian galley than a modern
mate. JIG soften sl,
However, the picture pleased Lettie,
who did not care much about the art,
provided the resemblance was good.
So the picture was duly framed--in a
tremendously heavy frame of Harry's
ordering-and hung up in the dining
room. a - iE5 IHG 81
And now the time for Georges de-
parture was growing nearer. The
Pioneer was nearly ready to sail, and
her crew only waited orders. The OFF,
GERS grew acquainted with each other
before sailing, which was an a2van-
tage. George took up very warmly
with the surgeon, Vincent Grieve, and
with my permission brought him to
| dinner once or twice
'Poor chap, he has no friends nearer
than the Highlands, and it's precious
lonely work" a7 5at
"Bring him, by all means, George
You know that any friends Of yours
will be welcome here"
So Vincent Grieve came. I am
bound to say was not favorably I'M.
pressed by him, and almost wished
had not consented to his coming. He
was tall, pale, fair Young man, with 9
hard Scotch face, and cold, gray eye
There was something in his expression
too, that was unpleasant-somethine
cruel or crafty, or both. - .'
i considered that it was very bai
taste for him to pay such marked at
tention to Lettie, coming, as he did, a
} the friend of her fance. He kent b,
her constantly, and anticipated Georg,
in all the little attentions which