New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28
HOW WAS CAPTURED.

was sitting in my study, reading Mo,
lierc, when she entered the rOOm-pertectly
unannounced at that.
l look up, and saw an angel in white
Marse!lles, founced; iaunty blue hat, about
the size of a saucer, tipped to one side in a
most bewitchingly heartbreaking manner
and she wore cream cOlOred kids, and car.
ried white pOngee-taken all in all, a
fairy.
She smiled at me, and held out her hand
l took it mechanically. What did this
meant
She pouted-ah. those cherry lips-she
stamped her little No. L. impatiently on the
floor.
lyon don't seem very glad to see me,
she said. pettishly
l murmured that l was delighted-en
tranced. SO l was-such visions were not
al every day occurrence to me.
Well" said she, gleefully, that's a com
fort. Now, they told me that you wouldn't
receive me-that l would be turned out Of
doors"
Reptiles" said l.
But came-and you are not angry
"Angry!"
could say no more.
Then she walked up and down the room
How do you like nv dress :" she asked
revolving before me if on a pivot.
l murmured something about angelic
superbness.'
II did intend" she said, half doubtfully
''to get dress of gray satinteen, with the
undersklTt cut as usual, and trimmed with
deep plaiting-the spaces to be filled with
bias folds above the plaitings in a band OF
velvet silk; the overskirt quite in 'front.' and
square; the side cores rounded up four
inches longer, and Topped up into a jonner.
That, with pretty little sacIue, with open
sleeves, trimmed to match the underdress.
would be nice. wouldn't it -
l murmured an unqualified assent-not
that | understood What she was talking
about, for she uttered the full description
in one breath; but then didn't know what
l was saying.
But" said she, Il bought this Marseilles
because like it. Don't your
Il admire your taste" said family: for l
was fast losing my senses, though wonder
ing as to who and what she was.
You're dear good fellow she said
rapturOusly: and l know We'll get ON ia
mously together"
So she intended to stay here. l was get
ting into very deep water.
Now, them she continued, ''shOw me
some place to put my things, and then you
and l will have a talk
| mechanically pointed out a small room
opening out of the library. She hurried in
l sat like statue carved from adamant
Deeper water.
Presently she returned, Invested of little
hat, pongee and kids
She cast a searching glance around the
library.
"Horrd dirty she said, disdainfully,
'when has it been cleaned :"
about year ago." said l, meekly.
She gave vent to a pretty little scream.
"A year! Shocking. Oh, l couldn't
sit down in room that hasn't been cleaned
Tor year! This must be put to rights
She said this in very determined tone.
and went to work. She converted my linen
coat into an apron, tied cunning little
handkerchief over that pretty head, and,
snatching up a hy-duster, busted away
vallantly-raised a cloud of dust in which /
sat gazing on the vision. What did all this
mean! l consulted Moliere, nv standing
authority, but Moliere could give no expla
nation. Could she be an angel, sent to
cast ray OF light over my dismal path of
NE! Perhaps. But did angels wear white
MarSellles, and talk about satinteens and
Jonniers! impossible. 1t must be a
dream.
She suddenly paused. and came to me
through the cloud, and held out her arms
and said
Roll up my sleeves, please. can work
better with them up.r
d!d roll the white sleeves up, and then
immediately secuted the idea of its being
a dream. Couldn't dream of such arms.
with beautiful dimple in each elbow.
Certainly not! They We're real. | did
not think that a sculptor would have been
proud to have them tor a model, because |
was morally certain that any SCULPTOR
would have been distracted at the sioht
and have dropped his chiseI despairinS of
evei doing them justice.
And then she busted, and while she
busted she sang. What a voice. Don't
Nilsson won't hearit.
And then she drew up chair, and sat
down beside me. having first removed the
4andkerchlei and the improvised apron.
lhen she SHOOK her curls and addressed
me:
My dear uncle, let us have a talk"
Her uncle If my heart had suddenly
to lump of lead, it couldn't have
sunk any quicker than it did then.
on KNOW" she continued, "that Won
wrote me letter saying that you con
'ldered 1t best for me to stay at the farm
anti you wrote again. But, then, didn't
want to stay; | telt so lonely away out
mere, hardly seeing a new face once a
month for the twelve years l have been
therefor you know you left me there
when l was six years old. Well, l thought |
would come up to the city, so took the
fifty dollars and bought this suit. Mrs.
Marsh picked it out for me- You know She
las been in the city, and so came: and Won
ire not angry, are you! Because, if YOU are.