The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-07-27

that wonder at that. Come into the
picture gallery moment, Esther. 1t
is hot here, and you are pale"
cit is you who are pale, think"
said Esther, looking up at him. "What
is the matter, Felix? And you'll never
hide the little scar" she added, rather
maliciously, with all your coaxing. II
never thought you were so conceited."
He did not answer, except by an I'M
patient gesture; and, offering his arm,
they went out.
The gallery was the very place for
a retreat from a crowded ballroom,
cool, and lighted only with a dim light,
hardly enOught to search into the deep
recesses, in which here and there seats
were placed, and ranges Of dollhouse
flowers.
"This is pleasant" said Sir Felix, re-
covering. "rm tired. / begin to think
that all my knocking about i'll the
world has told upon me. But l have
worked like horse this last month";
He started nervously as he spoke, for
some one else came into the dim gale
ry, looked, at him, and turned back.
"Your admirer, Esther" said Sir
Felix. "Perhaps he wants you to
dance with him. think would, if l
were you; that is, of course, if he ask
you. 1t pleases these people"
But Esther's admirer WAS not going
to ask her to dance. He turned back
into the ball room, aud made his way
through the guests, smiling to himself
a little, as some friend of his own ask
ed him if he had seen Sir Felix.
"Sir Felixw said young Bruce.
F." Oh yes, I've seen him. What has he
been doing with himself all these
years. 2"
The other would have answered diff
| fusely, but, to all appearance, the rak.
ish young Bruce had no interest for dc
5 tails, since he cut them short with {
t brusbue. ".Ah !" and went away.
The music stole softly to tho tiret
t ears of the baronet, out in the gallery
@ with Esther, and the color came bacl
G to his check, and the light to his eye
I Perhaps he was thinking of the oil
k days when his love for his cousin hat
been new aud very sweet; perhaps
e too, some of the sweetness came back
y on the wings OF the music and til
e hour, and the faint perfume, like n dis
: tant flower garden. At any rate wheth
or she was beautiful to him with tn
b old beauty or,not, as she stood there
n secretly impatient Of the tete,a-tett
II Sir Felix took her hand from his arm
n and pressed his lips upon it passion
e ateyl.
e "You arc mine, you know" said he
5. "now as ever; bound to me. l sha
is claim you." sra. l.ss
81 With great rush ofanger and loatl
~ ing, which she could not keep dOwI
&c Esther turned from him, and seein
the CLEAN OF silk dress in the distance
re followed it blindly.
If envy dear,n said Mrs. Driffield, der
If recatingly, didn't meant couldn
:. help seeing. But you know it is
TO news to me. And I'm sure I'm vcr
D. glad. and so is everybody; and hol
H. you'll BE-"
as "Mrs. Driffield." broke in Esthe
i. "you are all wrong-all astray.
~. w think everybody is. Felix is my Co,
nc sin-that is aIl,n she added, more calr
nd ly. "Will you go back with me in
NO the ballroom, and see if my mother
q. ready ?p
~ The lawyers wife obeyed, in a ma
III of perp1exity; for it was an cstablis
an ed truth in Callerton that the baron
would marry his cousin, and that it h
,rd in fact been an engagement before
~ Felix went away and though NJ
SO Driffield had scarcely made up !
,he mind as to lis merits. or dement's, J
in it was rather disappointing to find Il
IA rumor which had received her sal
-, ton stood in danger of proving fal
WI Here, however, it occurred to the xii
mo " little woman that there might pos
. in biz have been some lovers quarrel
be speedily adjusted; so she chanl
:, the subject, and began remarking NJ
the decorations, the dresses, and
nck wonderfully good looks of the Mis-
and Duke of Rauslett.
yin- But then pink suits passes Poop
che said Mrs. Drif1ield; "and to be
there are so many of them, with
'her much to divide. They arc quite ri
any to make the most of themselves.
the won't go just yet, my dear ~
COW Esther replied that she was tired,
'"" got away as quietly rs her mother:
evitable flutter would permit, dow
| Sir the hall door, where the baronet's
say carriage was to como round for
z,a But as it drew up, Sir Felix hin
:. came down the stairs, n great clou
AM his face, cleaning anger in his
Esther never looked at him, but
felt it. She barely touched the ar
Inf I held out as she got into the car
- which was his, and which SHE sal
''e" herself that she hated. She would
ran er sit in it as his wife. When he
You Goodnight" she did indeed .
You her hand to touch his, ard her j
49,. 80 utter the mechanical words; bl
'''po sprang upon the step in his exas
ton, and whispered, I" Imeanit;
said hold you to your promise. 1t al
CRY now, is there not cause
yoprsalfn