The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-02-12

L al
looks that . bystandsr on bsholdinI
them would have sworn he was utterinl
the most fervent protestations Of love
though his talk would probably-be abou
the last party or the newest opera. III
was tall slightly built, and of . delicat
appearance, and the interesting pallor o
his complexion was set OF by the darl
fringes Of . silky-looking but very heav,
moustache. he had married one Of tn
greatest heiresses that had ever grscet
New York society, and she or her guar
diaps had taken the precaution Of havine
al her large fortune 90 tied up that hen
husband could not touch it; An arrange
mont which, it whispered, had prevented
the slopemsnt Of ths fascinating Gordon
with brilliant married Lady. tho funds
for tho proposed trip not being iorthcom'
ing ON the gentlemsn's part 1H) aS@ A'
Such was the parsonage whose name
scandal had coupled With that Of Miss
Pemberton. The Pemberton family
were in very reduced circumstances, the
father having died insolvent sumo years
before, and the widow and the children,
comprising besides Msude two younger
girls and two boys still younger, had
been forced to live IN very simple and
retired manner. But the charms and
social grsces Of the eldest daughter had
insured her position in fashionable
society, and no uncomfortable share OF
admiration from its votariea Mrs. Penn
berton was weak, foolish woman utterly
Incapable Of guiding or governing her
children; 80 that when the rous Gordon
Arnold singled out Maude as the object
Of his compromising attentions, she was
pcwsrless to interfere. The young lady
was only tco charmed - bs the chosen
Cynthia Of Mr.. Arnold's minutes. Cos
sips whispered, elderly matrons shook
their heads. md gay youths looked
askance and smiled whenever the pair in
question were seen promenading to-
gethcr in the suburbs Of tho city, or
conversing in whispers ct some place Of
public resort. Married ladies Of severe
principle began to "cut" Miss Pomber-
ton, and modest girls ceased to visit her,
and tho affair was beginning to assume
a serious phase it was suddenly an
nounced that Mrs. Gordon Arnold had
been ordered to Europe BY her physi-
clan, and that she, with her husband and
children. was to sail in q few days for
Havre. OF course it was Immediately ru-
mored that jealousy va. the cause of Mrs.
Arnold's sudden loss of health; and
scandal-mongers even declared that q
separation was the penalty she was pre-
pared to inAict on her husband, in case
he refused to accompany her. But tho
fascinating Gordon was too fully alive
to the advantages procured for him by his
wife's large income TO object; and at the
time first made Miss Pemberton's &C.
quaintance, the Arnold family had been
absent in Europe for nearly a year.
Such was tho tale which my friends as
well a. my foes hasten to pour into
my unwilling cars 20 soon IS my atten-
tions to Maude Pemberton became an es-
tablished fact I Istsnded with stub
born incredulty. mentally accusing the
speakers Of gross exagggeratiop. Il not Of
actual falsehood /; and with indignation
against those who could 20 misrepresent
the girlish imprudence, the ardent friend
ship of that naive and candid soul rising
hot within my breast II waa after one
Of these conversations that I hastened to
purchase the splendid parure Of tur-
quoisss and diamonds WHICH Wa my Sfrt
gift to her, and I went from listening te
another to offer her my hand. Opposi-
ton and warning only confirmed me in
my mad passion. only rendered me moro
to make amends 10 this cruel
ly-wronged angel by making her my wife.
Again I cry aloud in bitter scorn at my
own folly, Blind, blind sr
Well, one lovely Ay in autum we were
II was quito gay wedding,
and tho brides veil and Aounces of cost
" point applique were deservedly admir-
ed. and next week obtained the distinc-
tion Of q paragraph in the "Home
Journal" I say costly" advisedly, for
before xe had ban married six weeks