Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-24
-AIEXANDRIA La SATURDAY, AUGUST o. 1872. -

the parlur, she found them SO busily
engaged in examining some landscape
sketches of Jessie's old home, which
she had brought from her room at his
request, that neither of them noticed
her entrance, until she came forward
and said fiigidiy:
I" All. Mr.. Courtenay, you are being
entertained l see."
eIndeed am" he answered, look
ing frankly into her eyes, although he
did not fail to observe the glance of
mingled scOrn and Indignation which
she flashed at the flushed and half
frightened Jessie. 81 did not leave
town as was my intention," he con
timed, sand so called, and as you
were out, | took the liberty of asking
to see your cousin"
Mr. Courtenay did not prOlong his
call for, some how, the charm had
been broken. All, the last two hours
had been sweet revelation to that
man. Such pure, womanly thoughts,
such noble, unseltish, unaffected M
turp, aud vet SO delicate and lady like,
and meanwhile, without seeming to
notice, his eyes had taken in every out
line of form and feature. Ehe grace
fnl, girlish figure, the shining, golden
hair, ripping away from the white,
b.ue-veinrd forehead, and confined in
great mass OF glossy waves at the
back, the timid eyes, veiled with long
curling lashes, and even the delicate
chin and hite throat Nothing es-
capped him, from the highest wave OF
hair. to the folds of her heavy mourn
ing dress. She was his ideal of all
that was sweet, pure, and womanly.
But alas poor little Jessie was
forced 10 take up refuge in her own
room frum the storm of wrath and bit.
| ter cruel taunts which tell upon her
offending head after the departure oil
her visitor.
Such boldness, such unhearsl Of un.
womanly conduct, and in a begg:ir at
that, sitting by the side of an entire
stranger and talking as familiarly as
friends of years. But though there
were tears in the blue eyes, there WAS
a strange new feeling OF happiness in
the lonely heart which had been d
stranger there for many months.
Howard Courtenay called several
times the following week. and each
time found Edith lovlier and more
beautiful than ever. But there was a
reserve, an indescribable coustraint
about him which she could not fatholn
Several times he asked for Jessie, buf
eacl, time she was sweefly excused by
he, cousin. She will not come d0wii ;
do not blame her. She knows no bet
ter, you see." But Mr.. Courtenay
knew better, and one day he sent his
card up by servant, and in a few
minutes, ii. ucll to Edith's cllagrin, Jes-
sic walked into the room and after ex-
changing few words with Howard,
quietly seated herself as though moth
Ing unpleasant had ever happened.
She was somewhat milliffei, however,
that Mr.. CodrtrI,ay paid his exclusiv.
attention to herself, only occasionally
addressing remark to Jessie, and
watching her eagerly, a little toe
eagerly Edith thought.
This was repeated several times, till
at last one day Edith informed him
! that Jessie had one OF her queer
Mreaks, and refused to come down
The white teeth same down fiercel,
upon the red lips, hut he made no re
ply, ami appeared wholly Indifferent
much TO Etlith's delight.
There was to be grand ball Al
Madame Dupoint's. All the elite O
the city were to be there, and Edit
had more than hinted to Howard tIia
she expected him to accompany her