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

anything in his life than that he did un-
derstand her, and she was perfectly aware
of il.
She went on as coolly ~ ever, scarcely
noticing what he had said, and towing
| with the heavy gold bracelet ON her
round, white wrist. <
Il went into the breakfast room last
night to look for letter had left there,
and 1 heard her talking to you-the
door was half open. Perhaps she was
right, arching her brows. people have
s'ld it 80 often, that Ireally begin to be-
heve must be a dangerous person" isa
stiAiy.
She interrupted him. g. .''-4 se'
"Oh, no! Pray don't ! There is no
need OF Your feeling annoyed. am
used to it, you know. Besides, it is pro-
bable it is quite true. have no doubt
cousin Anne was right. I perely thought
l would tell you my presumption had
not extended to you. That is all" ~
To say that John Manners was aston
ished would be to say very little. If there
had been shade Of wounded pride in
her face, he could have understood her.
but there was not if she had seemed
hurt, or embarrassed, he would have
known how to reply to her, but she did
not; and when she clasped her bracelet
again, with her steady, white hand, and
looked up ut him, he could only flush,
and feel that he was looking rather ridi-
culous. -,
de was beginning to try to say some
thing, he scarcely knew what, when she
stopped him again. ~s
"Oh!" she said, with certain no,-. -..
chalant candor, Il only thought it best
to be frank. We shall be the better
friends for it, and cousin Anne will be-
more comfortable. She was woman
enough, in spite of her indifference, to
fire off this quiet shot. "Cousin Anne
is not very fond of me. Perhaps we
don't understand each other, or perhaps"
an old little smile crept in here, I'VE un-
derstsnd each other too we'll" srF
She did not remain long after this, b
only long enough to set the subject utter .
ly aside, and sit talking for a few minutes 4
in her perfectly musical voice. Then sl,e
rose, and taking up the book she had i
brought from the shelves and laid it ON
the table, went out of the room, leaving
John to bis new train of Thought. etl-s
From that time Miss Anne had little
% complain OF, at least so far as her chief
are was concerned. She could not pre- ~
ent Miss Dare making picture Of her
elf In trailing soft, tinted dresses and
lclicate laces she could not prevent her
ropping into her perfect attitudes, and
ilressing Cupidon with that wonder Of
supple-jointed white hand but she was
cry much consoled when she found that
otinng OF this was directed at John. But
here was another thing she could not do,
'hich was to shut Johns eyes. From his
rst sense of annoyance had grown a cor
ant desire to watch this girl, who was
lch u novelty to him She had piqued
nd astonished him into wishing to know
'ore OF her, and SO he was betrayed into
4 interest which would have been dan
,rous to any man. She never avoided
IN; indeed, it seemed as though her in
ference was too complete to allow Of 4
'ch thing; but if he had been sixty
'ars old, her manper ,could not have
'en more utterly devoid Of any woman
coquctry. The quick faculty she hsd
frightening and lightning up bril-
'Atly for other people, and which was
r chief charm, never showed itself to
III. ~ Ht &
Among the many people who liked and
lmlred her, there was one person for
aom she seemed to care more than for
rest, and that person was Laura
acre. With q school-girls enthusiastic
ve Of beauty, Laura had adored Cecil
'm the first. and in observing the girls
ectionate fashion Of making her idol
confdente other failnies, John Man
rs had noticed that Cscile Lad WON
lfully tender way of treating her. 1t