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

"She went out this afternoon" said
Miss Anne. ITO do her justice, she
thought, I suppose, that you and would
rather spend our first few hours alone
together. She said she was going to the
Dacres to see Laura and Josie. Those
Dacre girls are perfectly infatuated over
her, and Fred came from Harvard last
week, SO she took the pony-carriage after
dinner and drove over"
John made no reply, but istlessly be-
gan to pull Cupidon's blue ribbon collar,
though scarcely thinking of her mistress.
Like all men he had an ideal, and his
ideal was not Cecil Dare. Perhaps he
had a fancy for softeyed, sweet-faced
little girl, whom he might meet some
future day. Certainly, he never dreamed
OF this fair, proud girl as his fate, and
certainly on his first meeting with her
the thought was further from his mind
than ever.
He was still lying upon the couch,
with Cupidon on cushion at his feet,
when he heard the sound of wheels roll
ing up the carriage-drive, and the ring of
refined, musical voice. A moment
after the little pony-carriage stopped at
the door, and somebody got out This
was Miss Dare, John Manners decided
as he listened, and she was talking gayly
with some one who had evidently ac-
companied her, and whose first speech
Fconfrlned his belief that it was Frederick
Dacre -.
"YOu won't let me come in, OF course
he was saying, ''after that solemn pro-
mise that I should perform Laura's be-
hests. But may I not be allowed to call
tomorrow go
Certainly" said the clear, insouciant
voice. "Any time you like. Don't forget
to tell Laura how miserably 1 kept my
promise. Wait q minute-here is a
flower for you. The last rose of summer,
or the last but one. Au reuoir."
And turning his head to the window,
John saw handsome. stylish, youngI
fellow pass down the gravel walk, fasten-.
ing creamy pink rose in his coat.
He did not see Miss Dare, of corrseI
for the parlor-door was nearly closed, but
he heard her light feet in the hall, and
caught glimpse Of a futtering dress az
she ran up the staircase.
In spite of Miss Manners remark upon,
her brothers non-susceptibilty, it must
be confessed that she felt no little fear a.
her young relntive's fascinations. An on
dinarily pretty or charming girl she could
have trusted, but not one like this-thii
young lady was not On ordinary girl il !.
any sense of the term; accordingly, / am
convinced, you will agree with me that i :
was rather trying to be called away n
that most critical of times the first inter
view, by a troublesome rheumatic pen :
sioner. But SO it was, Betty Flanegal
"was taken powerful bad" so said til :,
messenger, "and wants to see yez badly = :,
Miss Anne put on hef bonnet with ),
decided air. Severe ss she was, sho Wi !,
never behindhand in rendering assistance !,
to those who needed it She sent al
apologize message up stairs to Mid :,
Dare before she went out; and thi q
young lady, with a calm daring which n l.
other person ON earth would have dill ::
played, replied through the servant gil :,
that, There was no need of apologl :,
She would go down stairs as soon as 81 :,
was dressed, and pour out Mr.. MannetI !,
tea for him"
And so she did Twenty minutes aft e,
his sister left the house, John Manneii st
who was reading in his easy-chair, hes, s,
Miss Dare's bedroom door open, and i G
light, decided feet coming down i Ia
staircase, with the soft sweep Of o train lu
their wake. He stoodupon hisfeet with e,
book in his hand, looking very court A
md imposing when she entered, and sb
had Just time to SEQ her fully in the bf m
liant Light of the chandelier before
spoke. She was q TALL supple girl, vi Ia.
an air of cool eass expressing itself in | ke
and lie had u quick conc
ion of a wonderfully fair face. with wd as