The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-01-12

cd him to the core of his mans heart.
He scarcely kllsw how she had touched
], m, he only knew that lac was touched
in spite of himself. No effort Of hers had
done it, NO txiAing grace Of manner had
ever been assumed for him, and vet he
was as completely entangled as any OF the
men she smiled upon, and softened her
subtle voice to.
Perhaps dashing Fred Dacre was the
true cause of the awakening, for, being
.r,v. susceptible young fellow. lie stood
the first on the list Of Cs Ills q !mirers
and ~ it was cherished scheme Of Laura's
TINT her brother should be successful, it
.1.ine about that when there WAS cream
c,,ore notes ,be carried, or bouquets to
beS y !, Fred usually cantered up the road
on his handsome brown horse and played
messenger, Fred, indeed, was only one
of the many who followed her, and prais-
cd hsr, but it seemed as though she ia
yored him more than the rest.
This was hard for John Manners. The
contrast betxeep the face that met Fred
Dacre aud the face that n,et him, WIS too
great for mems pride to bear, and Ms he
was but NAN, after al. his pride stung
him to rebeliOn.
It was after one of Fred pacre's nAmcr-
o,,s visits that this occurred. There was
going to bea ball ut the pacres. to cele-
citrate Fre,lericlss's coming ofage, and as
Laura was deeply Interested in the deco
rltions, of co,Hse she relisl upon Cecil
for ass q ance and SO the brown horse had
caatsred to the NJ snners' with note FIJI
If eager questions. But the visit was
ended ut last, and the slim, cream-tintet
envelope, which contained the answer, Wal
being carried back in cloae proximity t.
Frcderick's heart, otherwise III Ais YES
pocket; and Miss Dare cnae buck ~ he
evergrecns with fhe shadow Of II smile u
her rei'-!ipptd nQph, brought there
perhaps, by her admirers adieu.
She looked very girlish und charlpin;
with the soft, scarlet shawl trailing from
her graceful shoulders over her gray robe
and contrasting NO artistic:lly with he
heavy bronze hair and wood-rOse tipte'
skin: but when she bent over Cupidon
who lay curled up ON the lounge, and be
gan to touch him with her careless whit
hand, that john. who had been paciu'
ting room restlessly, turned npon her AS
she had done HIM IN injury,
"Do you know you'are very cruel t
me?" he said, abruptly, in . vpice tina
was strangely excited and unsteady 70
so grave and selfll,ossessed . gentleman
DO You lRow you are making IN
Nretched 7"
She actually did not raise her eye'
and the careless white hand carcsse'
Cupfdop as steadily as ever but if job
had been near enough he might hay
seen suspicion of startled deepenin
In the wood-rose tint
NO." shc said. coolly. That WAS all.
He came to her side, and looked dow
Mt her with sudden passion in bis fac
"YOu understand me-" he said. ~Yo
ta.,st understand Inc! This il too hard ,
be0r!"
She did not raise her eyes yet, and ho
utterly careless her lovely face was,
''This!" she sehoed, "Whatw
II say you must understand me-"
repeated, passionately. indifferent /
You are, you cannot but see that l n
wretchsd-thst you make Inc wretchs
that ! lore you in spite Of your ind
f.rencs-'p spite ofmyseh."
She looked up then, and the shade
Of q smile changed into the shadow
something which might haze be'
triumph. Was it triumphf He bad n
tn.. b decide, for she looked dov
again the next moment and the viii
land touched her favoritc's neck with