New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-07


whats in the little silver flask, Rosa
said the fair mistress.
Brandy, ma'an,' replied the maid.
"He can't be very disspated to trav,
with such little bottle. That's in case ,
Sickness" returned Belle.
"lt's my belief" said Rosa, who was
shrewd girl, that the gentleman was
mighty nice one, else you'd not so readil
excuse the cards and the bottle"
For shame, Rosa. All gentlemen pla
euchre travelling, and even clergymen tax
a little brandy in case of sickness" al
swered Belle. "And this man was gel
tieman, and liberal one, too, for he CAV
the poor emigrant woman ten dollars
What's that, Rosa2"
For at that moment Rosa held betweel
her fingers letter.
| Whether it was wrong to read stran
| gers letter vexed Belle for moment, a
her eye glanced at the superscription anG
hand writing.
| "Why, of ell thingsw exclaimed the de
| lighted girl. Selling the letter. "Why
Rosa, this is Jenny Marcy's writing, and adj
dressed to Richard Marcy--her only darlin.
| brother-whO was in Europe when we two
| graduated at Madam Ritter's, in Brooklyn.
Belle read rapidly till she reached til,
middle of the letter, when she burst into {
| merry laugh.
near tnls, ROSA, sne SAID, anu she reaC
from the letter:
"Ab0ve all things, Dick, dear. don't fail
while in ST. Louis, to see my best friend and
schoolmate, Belle Alden. 1 know you will
fail in love with her, for besides being the
best girl in the world, she's beauty and an
heiress, and fathers choice. above all others
for his sons wife. He used to talk it over
at home. and hoped Belle would not marry
before you came from Europe. She is full
as anxious to know you, and wears your
hair and mine in locket father gave her
last year. Give her lots of love, and beg
her to overlook your many impertections
for the sake of her old schooltellow, Jenny"
"Then this gentleman is, of course, Miss
Jenny's brother" said Rosa, land what will
she say when she hears of your having met
in romantic wayF
81 don't intend to tell her of it till &c to
New York this fall" said Belle. Perhaps
her brother will call"
But in this supposition Belle was wrong
The month passed, and she saw no more of
the golden-headed Richard.
And she carefully separated the yellow
lock in the little Keepsake from the dark
tress of Jenny's, and put it back into its
place alone, while another locket held a
piece OF Jenny's. And somehow, Belle
looked very, very often at the wee, golden
curl. and she never did SO but the rest of
the handsome head sprang up beside the
locket; and she would sit and contemplate
the picture her fancy had wrought for her,
little dreaming of the interest she was
allowing to grow in her bosom for Jenny's
brother.
In the fall, Belle and her father went to
New York, and the first day after her
arrival found her sitting with her old
friend, who after the evasive meeting, sat
Town to empty her soul
II am go glad you are here this month";
Jenny said, because Pm to be married in
october, and have always been crazy to
lave you for bridesmaid and Dick is to
20 Harry's best man." Belle blushed
But Dick has fallen hopelessly, madly |
n love- Belle turned pale
''Yes, | was dreadfully provoked when he |
'assed through st. Louis. and never went |
rear you. But he went wild over some lady |
lie met ON that fatal trip.
He will talk to me by hours of Angelica.
Ind when l have spoken of you, he has
'een positively rude, and asked me to have
one bOthering him about my freckled
chooi friends-yOu know your picture
bows freckles; but, bless me, you haven't
ny now. And your picture don't look any
lore like You than it does me, not a bit"
"But tell me-" asked Belle, sis your
rother engaged to this ladyY"
Engaged! Why, dear heart, he don't
now her name. He just found some of her
Id clothes somewhere. He's got her old
ippers under a glass case; he's got her
loves under another; he's got her hight
own done up in lavender; he's got her
Did thlmble hung on his watch chain, and
do believe he's got hair brush and hair
ms next to his heart Oh, its folly to in
rfere He's beyond all hope! did think
10 excitement of my wedding would wean
IN from it, but not a bit of it. He looked
my new things as calmly as an oyster,
Id only said-it is not kind of me to repeat
though" br6ke off Jenny.
What was it he said n inquired Belle. |
ughing now heartily Don't fear for NV
elings."
Why be said, "I'll stand up with your
lend, Belle, and see you safely married;
I'd 4hen Pm off to winter in Paris. Pm |
me with love ON my own account. It's
sitively awful"
And so Belle thought, as she looked at
r old slipper and glove lying beneath a
Dbe on either side of the faithful Richards
antle.
And" said Belle, "since he desires only !
meet me on the morning of the wedding,
it shall be. l will be introduced only as $
are leaving the house, and can do as he :
eases about continuing the acquaintance !
erward."
Belle was radiant with happiness when !
returned to her father, and delighted his +
I'd heart with the change, for she had 3
On very quiet of late.
Jenny and Belle shopped and talked and I
tied together for the next few days, and a
en- the eventful morning arrived, and I \
id bevy of beautiful girls, Belle shone +,
Q queen, the bride was eclipsed and |
ightfully acknowledged it. p
oh, Belle ~ she said, II long to have old | :,
icai Dick see you. Hark there's his >,
p. Come into the next room now and be q
reduced. Don't wait till the carriages II
ne; it is an hour yet" !;
md Belle, with beating heart, swept | g.
ough the door and stood even as Dick =,
It saw her, only in the place of the gray e.
vellng dress, a magnificent white satin a,
IN rich folds about her, and upon her a
ely white throat lay the turquoise locket 81
t held Dicks golden curl. Upon the =,
utiful head, crowned by its chestnut te
T, coronal of pearls added to that ~
&C and beauty of an image that, shrined
)ick's heart, was already an angel. &,
ellie did not look up, but she felt the "a
sence, as Richard Marcy came I'D and =
} introduced to little Jenny's old school t.
,e. Then, as he held out his hand, she ~
ed her eyes, and laid her tiny hand in W
and said: "
think we had better rectify that mis- n,
9 about the travelling bags, MIR. Marcy !" Of
Good heavens, Jenny!' said Dick NJ
'cy. why didn't you tell me that Fl
r friend Belle was my angel of mercy 2" in
Because didn't know it until last in
1T, and then Belle made me promise not he
tell. And, besides, you didn't want to I8
It the freckled school girl until it was ~,
lively necessary" returned Jenny, mis- HI;
veusly. ho
would be hard to say which of the four in in
made Jennys bridal party was the th
piest that DAY. Fl Fl