Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-24


last Howard Courtenay took his leave,
he left Edith Raymond in better
temper than she had been IN Tor
week. Miss Raymond had determIn-
ed TO capture Howard Courtenay. Not
that she could appreciate his noble,
u,anly nature, but he WAS wealthy.
talented and aristocratic, and his wife
would be mistress of IA " brown stone
front and move in the highest circles
of the elite of the city.
" But really" she murmured, half
aloud, ait does sometimes almost make
me nervous when he fixes his clear
grey eyes so earnestly upon me, and
seems to read my very thoughts, as he
discourses SO eloquently upon gener-
Gus, true hearted, pure-mined men and
women, and all such nonsense. Ii is.
,cealh and position that | am strug-
Cling for. This Howard Courtenay
can give me-. and he shall too, ard
that before long'
The next day brought bessie Ellis, u
little golden-laired, violet eyed girl,
who stood on tiptoe to kiss her tall nn.
Gle. and Immediately won warm cor
ncr in the lseart of her weak, ,minded
aunt
But all the warm love which she had
been treasuring mp in her heart for her
unknown cousin was chilled and
wounded into silence 10y the imperious
be;,nty. Days and weeks dragged
slowly by, and little, warIn-hearted
Jessie, sitting in the solitude OF her
chamber did so long Tor some trne'
warm-hearted friend to symlmtl'izi'
with her sorrows aud hr'ight.n her
cleerleSs, dlrary life. Her nrrie WIS
always kind to her, and really loved
his sisters child, but then most of his
time was devoted to business, and he
really knew nothing of how his domes-
tic inatters stood. Mrs. Raymond was
"A weak minded, frivolous woman OF
the world, and wholly under the con
troll of her unprincipled daughter.
s.She is a poor relative whom papa,
in his generosity has undertaken to
provide for" Edith had answer in re-
ply to Mr.. Courtenay's inquiry, upon
accidentally, learning much to Edith's
ammo, ailce. that new meliBer had
BEEN added to the family. ',A coua-
FRY cousin.n she continued, "shy aud
awkward, and. il may hr, trifie igno-
rant, but dear, good child, for all
that
s-Is she not lonely here in the city,
and among strangers p asked Mr.
Court,1liy, interested; why he could
not tell.
"Oh, no. We do all we can to aInuse
her, but she is in mourning and will
see no company"
+" Would Mr.. Courterr,y call to-mor-
row 7, she asked as he was taking his
leave No, he thought not. In fact,
had business ont of town, which weul'l
probably detain him several days. To-
MORROW 1 shall go shopping, Thought
Edith, and the next Morning her
thoughts were put in execution.
4 "A gentleman in the lparlor " islles
to see Miss Ellis "a servant announced
an hour after Editb's departure.
/ /" Who can it be-" thought Jessie, rs
she prepared to go down. Some one
from dear, old Brookville | hope
But no. As she advanced half doubt
fully into the .parlor, "a tall, handsome
gentleman, advanced quickly 10 meet
her, saying In sweet, grave voice,
while look of surprised admiration
swept over his face
/" You will par6on the liberty have
taken, viii you not, Miss Elliss
called and the ladies were not at home
and ventured to aked for you. am
Howard Courtenay, q friend of your
uncle's family; may not We, also, be
triends.n
Jessie Ellis raised her eyes to bis
lace for moment, with a searching
questioning look, and then said quiet
~:
:" Ii my friendship is worth anything
TO you, think we may be friends, Mr.
Cou'tenay.'
"Thank you, little girl" he said
gravely. (" True friendship is rare
jewel in this age, but il we are to bs
friends, we must first become acquaint