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

story; so we need not linger over it
No matter what visions of love and
honor came to him, in his bachelor
den, others have dreamed before him,
in all ages; no matter how fair and
stately were the Spanish castles he
built in the dusk and dimness Of the
counting r0om-LOvei has had its own
IsclOole0f architecture since the world
began. ~. - ~ i,48 ~ sH
Did Eta loye,hin7 He had never
asked her in words; but the heart has
more than one avenue of expression,
and there is an tlnqnence of look and
touch that is sometimes Sven more
than audible language. He waited the
promised advancement, that should
place him where he need not be
ashamed to ask Eta Stuart's father
for the keeping of his dearest treasure;
and, meanwhile, was it not enough
that she read the books aud sang the
/ songs he loved; that her checks took
tendtfer color and her eyes, a, softer
smile at his coming9 ~ A
Winter had worn into Spring again.
Charley Marks placed his hand in
Mr.. Fields arm, as they left the sup
per room together oneevening. Some
body was annnunctd to speak in Mu-
sic Hall wonldn't Ralph Field gn
down z, 1t was still early when they
took their seats. aud there We're few
people in. Slowly mp the aisle came a
lady and gentleman. Ralph Field
looked up to see his Eta; but who
was this. with his bronzed. handsome
face and foreign airP Z!
+ "Capt. Tileston, as liver said
Marks. l didn't know he had arrived
-you know i,im7r - 81
"No.' said Ralph, shortly
".Ah | thonsht yom did but he has
been abroad two years. What "a bean
tiful girl that Miss Stuart is! hav'n'
seen her equal in the city this season.
She looks happy TO get back her KIN gl,t-
Grant. Well, Tileston is a lucky
tlogp p iatf-b 5tA
n "What do you meanG' said Ralph
Field, with an agitation he could
SCARCELY conceal. 'i 33 aJ
"Why. don't yon know They
have been engaged three years. Capt.
Tilestnn went with Frank Evans to
Springfield, and met this girl there
Franks con>in, you know. Ii was all
MP with him from The first time he saw
her The day was fixed for their we'd
ding. bat I'ileston had !, severe hemni-
rilagc of the lungs, and the doctors said
nothing would save him but travel.
He looks well enough navy"
Yon know all this, Charley It's
n" mere run,or'" Ralph's hand was
on his friends arm. se'a
Know it? p Charley stared. "Yon
don't want me to take my oath on it.
do yon BY J"ve, Ralph. n body
would suppose you were personally in
teresttdw .af's
Poor Ralph The chance shot re-
called him tn his senses. He sank back
again in his seat, essayinga faint. re-
Election Of Charlry's qnizzical smile.
He sat through the hour ton utterly
stunned to realize anything beyond a
vague, terrible sense of loss-only
knowing the lecture over by the t,,mult
of applause that burst forth, aud the
noise nf the audience rising to go ont
Once in the street, it was All uneXppct
ed relief that Marks launched out into
an animated criticism Of the Sneakers
topininnS, too eager himself 10 iidiice
the abstraction of his listener
Before the dawn OF the morning that
followed that sleeples> night, the first
tumultnnus snrges of grief had passed
and Ralph looked his trouble in the
face, resolved to bear it like the brave
fellow that he was. He did not re-
proact Eta now, though the tempta-
tion had been sore one ut first luiht
less she supposed the fact of her en-.
gaoememt too widely known to have
had thought OF caution only fool
ish blindness could have made hin
mistake the kindness, which her nobl,
heart prompted toward all. alike, fol
something more personal and tender
Then how could she know how he lia,
loved hcr7 He had never told her. so
he thought. bitterly, although in those
few months she had grown to De $,
much part of all his life, that as vel
he was. too weak to think of the desc
late years that seemed to stretch end
less before him without her. Life was
1 made up of moments-he could beal
them. one by one, till, 10y and by. ma,
be. strength would come with enGur
ance. - e
Flint, senior, was waiting for him a!
he went III.
ga few minutes conversation if yO,
please, Mr.. Field" he said.
Ralph followed him to the office
What new leaf in. his book of fat.
would be turned this time.
| NJ Flint NaS :, maj, ~ fpyv ,r,rJ