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

the pillars, and had evidently not bee,
seen. lt.l.. ,.s...s.,
Notwithstanding that I had been fasci
mated by the extraordinary and singula
beauty of the lady, it was the gentlema,
who riveted my gaze. Tall, slender, ant
with dark curling hair, he stood erect, ha
in hand, and with just o little hauteur i,
his voice, as he said: a ..... .r.-
'Lauretta," laying his hand gently up
on her shoulder, and slowly STOPPING un
til his glossy dark curls touched her fore
head, darling, must it ever be thus mo-
one word of sympathy, affection, nor pit,
even p and his voice trembled, and tea,
glistened in his dark hazel eye, and fell
upon his handsome though pale cheek
"And is it always to be thus" he again
asked "And is your decision irrevoca.
ble?" t. .f .la ..3 .u.g
ut is irrevocable," calmly replied the
proud though grief-stricken beauty.
Iwaited to hear no more, but tottered
out and cast myself upon the damp earth,
beneath the shade of the dear old oak,
whose friendly branches had sheltered
me from childhood, from many q thun-
der storm, as we'll as from the too hot
rays of the summer-sun. I buried nv
face in my hands and wept aloud No,
had not been mistaken, it was Fenton
Fernhold But the lady-who was she
Few strangers came to Mayfeld
As soon as the rain slackened, dash
ed away my tears, and hastened home
ward. I had not q doubt but Fenton
Fernhold would would domicile himself
ut my fathers house that night; for be-
lieved that he still intended to marry me,
but that he and this strange beauty had
been lovers, and by some freak of fortune
had been separated, and that they had
met again by accident, and he finding
that he still retained for her the ruling
passion, had attempted to renew his ad-
dresses, and having been rejected would
return to Inc.
But days passed and he came not; and
then letter came. I knew the writing.
md hastily tore it open and read, with
throbbing brow: He was coming; would
be with me the next week, and must be
ready to be married the day after his ar
rival, and start on q tour of the lakes.
Ny blood boiled in my veins; would not
marry the man who had been Tilted by o
proud, imperious beauty. Not /, though
were both poor and plain; and so I
'undled up all of his dear letters such
'recious love missives- together with the
ring, and all the little tokens
# affection that his loving heart had
prompted, and sent them forthwith, with
letter demanding mine in return, and |
aging that I deemed any explanation of
ny conduct superfuous, and should give
one.
Afew days later. and one day our faith
III old house-keeper informed me that a
entleman Was lcaoseted with my fathef,
'hom she believed to be Fenton Fern
old. waited the termination of the in
srview with much emotion, for I half re-
'nted my hasty decision. Soon the door
the end of hall which separated my
'ther's study from the main part of the
ouse. slowly opened, and upon the
stood my father, looking ten
ears older than when I had seen him at
and by his side stood the man
HON I had taken in the twilightNof the
ID church porch to be Fenton Fernhold.
Lizzie. child, come here" called my
'ther, who sank into the nearest chair,
he took my hand and placed it in that
the stranger, saying: "forgive her, for
i've her if you can, the misery she has
.used your family, ~ = = "a
And holding my hand, he told me that
3 was the brother of Fenton Fernhold, |,
I'D that ON the evening in question he
ad made flying visit to our village m
arch of his only sister, who. some years
reviously, had married against the wish
of their father, for which disobedience
, had disinherited her, and now that her !
lsband was dead they we're trying to
'evail upon her'to return to her once
'ppy home, but she still resolutely re-
sed their hospitality.. and had recently 4