The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-12-21
DID SHE DO RIGHT ?
BY MARY REED CRowELL.

A fearfully cold clustering DAY II
was, late in December, Just at the sea-
son when mirth and pleasantly shonld
have reigned supreme over all their
subjects: but time of unutterahle
desolation to at least one of Gods
creatures, as she stood alone at the
/ door of her late home, with the sweep
ing gale, as it dashed by laden with
fine dust, and singing chill, freeing
her in its ruthless pitiliness.
She looked up and down the long,
deserted street, that never looked
drearicr than then, as she sbade it a
mournful, silent good-hy.
Opposite, the doors were all fast clos
ed, and in the rapidly gathering twi-
light she saw the warm glow OF the
fire, the rnddy, welcoming lights that
had been seemingly lighted to mock
her own cherries loDcsomeness and
it seamed to her. in her bitterness, that
she could see a mocking, deriSive smile
on the face of all Valley Point, that
she, proud Isabel Kent, the daughter,
and once the lieircss of proud lawyer
Kent. was tonight to leave her home q
; poor girl, to battle with the world, who
had once been her slave, and was nov
her master.
With SILVER, less of cold than dis
!! trest, Isabel Kent turned away from
:, the darkening streets, and into the hal
p of the large, elegant, empty house.
It A single gas burner was lighted
sending the shadows from one place IN
to another, and that was all the hgi'
: there was to illumine her depa'tin
), footsteps.
. In the silent parlors, where the ric
/. gilded paper aud heavy carved centre
; pieces seemed to mock the empty de'
, olation, stood Isahel's trunks, packe'
he and strapped, and marked; and no
p. the girls lips quivered as the light II
81. vealcd the words to her:
~ 81. K, philadelphia"
ar- So it was there she was going.
he hundred miles from home; friends
an friends they were who had turned Il
" cold shoulder when her fathers W
had declared her worse than penniie
had left to her fond, broken-h heart t
legacy of disllonoramd debt.
1t was that knowledge that had pro
- en- almost too much for her; otherwi'
how finely, if sorrowfully, how es
nestlv. if lonesomely, she would ha
Ks, borne poverty and faced the world, W
owed her living.
!, But. everything seemed so chang
now: even Isabel Kent herself h
ans changed from a joyous, careful girl,
a.. a" a stern, embittered woman.
cir, A carriage rolled up to the door, 9
when the driver had attended to
. Wv. lnnrare, and the old colored serv
e. had kissed her gloved hand, she
wlir,ed away-to whatg she wond
-, ed. with mirthless little laugh, as
VIM sat upright in the carriage, and wat
ders .ed the houses that held people
from, feared she fairly hated.
r. At the depot she had little tim
think-the crowds, the noise, the q
the incoming and departing trail
sbls' for Valley Point was an important
minis: t.
After she had purchased her tic
and checked her trunks she sat q
WE'D on a seat just opposite the door, a.
'o"' when Champney Roberts came II
John saw hin, before he saw her.
He came straight over to her as
WIT as he recognized the hlac!S-robed II
'Isabel, am tempted to TAX
AT. away from her by simple force. l
ARE been to the house, but you we
half quick for me. Isabel, will you |
t in this foolishness 2"
He had taken an empty seat ne,
but near as he was he could not
SONS paling anguish that lay in ne