Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-10

l / l
thoughts ran back over the last four
years, and seemed to stand again in
the freight of our little parlor, read
| ing the words that found an echo in
nv own heart, and filled the darkest
corner of my life with sunshine.
Again the even tones, and grace
tuI address of Henry Werner fell on
my ear, on the following Monday, as
passing the compliments Of the
evening with my mother and sister,
he entered the room just as l crushed
my precious letter into my pocket.
Nv manner toward him. was wont to
l,e distant and reserved, for l never
liked him; despite his courteous man.
ners. There always seemed a cold,
j treacherous man of the world, hidden
beneath the gentlemanly exterior and
easy indifference of our smiling g'teet
vet my own newborn happiness, made
me greet him with unusual pleasant
ness, aud return hts saucy banterings
with a wit quick az his own. 7i y
"Well, Miss Alice,7 he remarked,
+" how have you passed the first of
Aprilf Been victimized or victimiz
lingf" - - f.af.s,.T.9 ..s.g
Neither, sir, at least to ms knowl-
edge, said. aslsg 81 ,Taq .
Alice got aletter to-day" chimed
, in Lu WAS that an April fool,
Alicei" -. ,.-tl
II should think not, Judging from
her happy look, he said, with quick
scrutiny, (i,ot waiting for me to re"ly,
8. But know of several being written
. by, young men who might employ
their talent in far more profitable
Z direction"
. Could it bei Would Frank, whom
: loved and trusted, thus wan,only
2 insult inei The very Thought sent
= the blood in crimson waves over my
. neck and face, tingling to the very
: roots Of my hair. Yet it must be so,
else Why of all days, did he choose
this, on which to send his messages OF
love and devotion. But Ire should
never know how warmly my heart had
!, responded tU the cruel mockery of his
e words. He war g,Jing away and let
q him 60. and God speed him. He
should find that Alice Wilbur was not
! the woman to waste her love and
O. tears on an object unworthy of her
!. conidence or esteem. Aud feel
It ing thankful for the timely warning
!. had received, turned with well
!. affected cnmposure, and joined in a
r lively conversation with our guest. {
h Yet l was glad when the evening
, was over, our visitor gone, and in OuI
,e bright room with Lu snuggled costly
N in bed, sleeping the quiet refreshing
a sleep of children, l could think over
i, uniistnrbed, the events Of the evening
|, and school my heart to bear my bitter
N disappointment, without outward sign
7 of the struggle going on within. Then
,r without trusting myself to read again
70 the words which had brought me &C
- much happiness and sorrow,II tool
K the letter from my pocket, and hold
3. ing it in the blaze OF the lamp, watched
: it as it slowly burned to ashes the
d black remains, marring the bright
surface of the little stand. uotioa
]. Three days passed Frank thought
! must be well on his journey when OF
/, the fourth Lu coming home from
= school brought me letter. The sub
n scription told me in q moment it waf
from Frank. Should read it or senG
it hack unopenedi Ny wounded feel
!. ings dictated the latter course; but
thought may there not be some mis-
|. take, else why the second missive
: And yielding to the impulses of M!
!, heart, I sought my room, and will
:, trembling fingers, tore open the enye
!. Iope, and read the lines which toll
!" me how cruelty 1 had wrong him, ye
filed my heart with q glad rejoicing
n like the notes Of some sweet melody
~ He wrote:0s9s oasl gca EHt -
q ALICE III have delayed setting on
ne on my journey for several days, IN tn
b. hope of receiving an answer to my let
q, ter, which, l am confident you receiv
Ell, buft for some inexpiicab!e reasol
have not answered. And ntjw. wear,
II, with hope deferred, am leaving yo'
of and the happy, Joyous scenes of M.
os boyhood. Where my destination ma,
=. be I know not, neither does it matter
CT since the bright dreams have indnl