The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-29
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1870.

casionally into a mirror; and l was full !
~ aware that though was not a dwarf
or humpbacked, or marked with the
smallpox, or even outrageously un-
pleasant to the human eye; that Dame
Nature had not been especially prolific
in her gifts as to my personal appear
ance; that, in fact, l was long way'l
off from being an Adonis, or, on ac-
count of my attractions, an enfant gate
of the feminine sex.
Thirty-fve, and not handsome; what
right had I, then, to think of Nellie ey
en-, unless in purely paternal fashion
And just as I had arrived at this cheer
full conclusion, my friend the doctor
and found ourselves on the top of the
stairs of Nellie's house.
Reclining on sofa that was drawn
close up beside the window, with the
summer light falling upon each feature,
was Mr. Lister. Death was imprinted
on his thin face. Consumption in its
deadliest form had singled him for it's
victim. One glance revealed that the
case was utterly hopeless-that a few
more months at farthest would find
him calmly sleeping the long, long
sleep from which there is no awaken
ing. His eyes were closed, and his
hand lay clasped in his wife's, who sat
close beside nina fragile, careworn
woman, with the remains of a lowell
ness that in youth must have surpass-
ed the beauty that her daughter now
possessed.
The angel herself, in the neatest of
cotton dresses, stood awaiting our en-.
trance in the shy and graceful attitude
of q gazelle. I sat there for half an
hour, lifted ont of earth into heaven,
receiving in beatific dream the thanks
of the parents for my kindness. I me-
chemically put'on my hat and gloves,
and went through the ceremony of say
ing goodbye; but still in dream,
with my eyes seeing nothing but a
face" with Nellie herself filing the
whole of my poor foolish heart. 1t was
all up with me. 1 was madly in love !!
IL.
What was the good of struggling
with myselfF My love for Nellie was
absurd, but gigantic; hopeless, yet O.
painful joy to myself. The once or
twice a-week that went to Spa-road
we're white days in the calendar OF my
life. was no longer bluff in speech,
honest in purpose. Love had enticed
me into state of deceitfulness of which
I was thoroughly ashamed and many
an hour was passed in finding pretexts
or concocting purely imaginary reasons
for calling on the Listers. The only
salve I had to my reproachful con-
science was the sight of the invalid
fathers genuine enjoyment of the hot
honse grapes and other comestibles
/ that inyariable carried with me to in
sure my presence being acceptable
for, in spite of the earnest cordially
with which I was ever welcomed, pas
sion's timidity, dispersed all the little
self-reliance l had and made me doubly
distrustful of my own captivations
One afternoon, on entering the little
sitting-room, I was surprised to find
visitor whom I had never met before
"a tall young man whose proportions
were more strapping than elegant il
my eyes; but the dawn Of jealousy
probably made me survey him through
sort of yellow glass.
"Mr. Fleming, Mr.. IUrling," in Mrs
Listers gentle tones, and I and my ri
val-for an instructive feeling told mi
he was Nellie's lover-were formal.
introduced to each other; and then
sat myself down with an all-overish
nessn about me to analyse his defect
I did not like the young giants looks
, there was decided boldness about hi
countenance which was positively re
7 pulsiye to me-: Physically he was
!, fine animal, but with no thoroughbre'
: points abont him. There was a repel
liant familiarity in his address too tina
!, irritated me, and made me pugnaciousl
!; inclined towards the cane with show
Y knob which he aggravatingly "twid
/ died /" round and round in his broa
e red hand. I was either de trop or els
g 1 had the misfortune to be wet blan
n ket; for conversation Jagged terribly
: land after few minutes the gentlema
made his adieux, accompanied to til
d door by the hostess.
n / remained sole monarch of all sui
d veyed for a while, hoping that Nell
g would putin an appearance; but not
|. bit of it," hope" had only "told
+, catering tale and when the door n
: opened it was to admit Mrs. Lister.
b "Ncllie is out, Mr.. Fleming. Yer
:. provokingly, tor she knew Mr.. Urls
e might call, as it's Saturday, and Il
/ city offices close early. What do 70
think of him ~ And the good lad
Il folded her hands quietly in her lap, an
looked me full in the face, as she pla
!" idlv asked the question. And there