The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-12
The Hunchback's ReVenge!
by a. L. c.

Over the whole face of the steely
blue sky, staring disconsOlately down
at the broad, bleak earth, il seemed a
dull leaden cloud for hours had hung.
Back again the earth returned the
dreary stare, and the waters caught up
and reflected the leaden image. In
deed, everything down there on the
rugged coast of Loeb Ness on that
hollow March day partook Of the lead
en-hued sky-without, I mean.
But within the little cottage-the on
ly one in view for miles around-that
crowned the gloomy brow of a beetling
crag, all was bright and cheerful
The cracking fire cast rudy glow
over the whole room-over the polish
ed floor, upon the painted walls, upon
the plain furniture, and last, but not
least, upon pretty little Olvie Carron,
the fishSrman's daughter.
Olvie was truly beautiful creature,
as fair one as the painter or poet
could wish to make the ideal of his
dreams. She had seen some twenty
summers, perhaps, though it was plain
ly evident they had been soft and
pleasant ones, without the least shad-
ow to mar their splendor. Her form
was of exquisite mold, well and volup-
tuously developed her features in ev'
cry respect were clear and faultless
while about the delicately chiseled
rose bud mouth a sweet smile, full o
happy innocence, continually played
Thrown back from the fair, white fore
head with a negligent grace,s wer
i, heavy masses of rich golden hair, whicl
f,oated in luxurious freedom aroun
the alabaster neck and the tapering
swan-like shoulders. But that abou
l her which most attracted were her eye
: deep blue, pensive orbs' from whic
D shone the pure, sweet soul OF lnnocene
> and truth.
Her dress was plain, neat and taste
/. full, and suited well-aye, set off to al
vantage the little rustic beauty.
T. She sat near window Of the co
which overlooked the lake, and b
: blue eyes were bent out upon the CO
leapen waters with a half-dreamy, pc
sive air, while the calm, placid fe
lures, the glowing countenance, al
}! the sunny smile, all told that the mai
b. en- was deeply lost in some blissful d
dream.
re She had been sitting thus for p'
on haps the space of an hour, when a Il
"a, rap upon the door from without, AVG
her with start.
he Ere she conld bid the visitant to
y rn ter, the door Of the cot was ruq
ry, opened, and the harsh, surly voice G
q, on man, as pair of greedy, sinister-lo'
sb ing eyes pecred into the room, gru1
|, "a a said:
''A "Eh! All alone to-day, little bir'
he With startled cry the young
e er sprang up, pale and trembling.
les, "Not frightened, pretty one 7"
!. the owner of the harsh voice, and
In. hateful eyes shuffled in.
r Yes, he shuffled rather than walk
and came up quite close, confront
III the maiden.
~ =, He who had so unceremoniously I
~ cred himself into Olvie's presence
truly strange being in appearance
singularly mis-shapened creature.
could hardly be called man, e
OR though he possessed the attributes
the speech and reason. In height he
get not over four feet, so stopped and
, 10 formed was his body. His sha
ing head seemed to be placed under I
sive hump-a foul and DISCUS
prominence-that covered his sho
, ers. His face was a strange medic
ike fierceness and cunning, more like
,ne of wild beast than a human, and
Ne. cred with a coarse beard that was
t. a turning gray F; his eyes were small
. s'1 Of round, and twinkled down in
is 50 DEPTHS like two live Goals of fire; v
Ike his long yellow teeth, when he lau
bril-. or spoke, shone like the snarling W
laid Albeit dwarfed and stunted he
h nrS, yet, nevertheless, his powerful MI
, up lar development showed him to
iress NO, of M ordinary strenrth-tla
sinewy angular arms, the fierce