New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-02

/ SAANAO Al BILLS DCChub0 ~ Whb III
most unheard-Of, absurd, ill-advised thing
foolish lOve-match, and not cent TO keel
the flame agoing. And Drake went on il
his romantic way, calling it splendid,
and IAN example every man and woman
ought to follow"
"Why don't you follow, then ~ Dunn
asked him.
''Mep twisting a maize-colored glow
round the whitest finger sending out
diamond sparkle. I'm not marrying
man."
You are a theorist, Drake; that's wha
you are"
Drake grew vehement; declared himsel.
willing to act upon his theories if the occa
sion required.
"Only give you a chance, eh ?" Dunn re
summed; ''the chance of an Gfdire de cGuY,
I'd like to see you do it, Drake; wish you
could have the chance. Imagine him Im
agine EgortOn Drake living on bachelors
income with his Clorinda, my friend" And
Matt Dunn picked up the maize colored
glove, and gently stroked its mellow soft
ness.
Drake was getting annoyed, and Mr..
Leeds, who had been an interested listener
now said:
II don't see why it is SO difficult a thing
for man to decide between few personal
luxuries, more or less, and his affections.
Surely, we are not so eliminate as all that,
Mr.. Dunn"
Mr., Dunn gaYly applauded, Good
good Mr.. Leeds joins your ranks, Drake.
Give him a chance, too, and he'd run away
from all the world for love of his Clor-
india"
Il would would, indeed-and count the
world well lost :"
What was it that threw that sudden spell
of silence over the group! Was it the sud
den passion that rang through the young
mans tones, or the vivid flush that rose to
his cheek, or the swift glance that fell upon
the fair hostess, or all three together A
door had opened, as it were, into some IN
guessed tragedy. And over its threshold
they saw
"a speck OF fire that lit the place."
Mrs. Meyer alone seemed unstilred from
her repOse. She sat there with the little
hands locked loosely together in her lap,
her eyes down, and a certain hush about
her that was like guard from evil,
Mr.. Dunn, recovering himself first, tossed
the maizescolored glove back to its owner
with quaint jest that broke the momentary
pause, and sent the conversation on again.
And they stayed long enough to change the
tone into another channel. But as they
were saying their adieus, Mr.. Dunn coming
last, fingered a moment over the pretty,
fair hand; and then in his curious, grave,
sweet manner, gave his favOrite charge,
mixed with a little merry speech that
clothed it gracefully-"Be good and you'll
be happy"
For a moment soft, wistful eyes looked
into his with shy expression Of doubt
that was half pain, but something she met
there brought only the sweetness to the
surface, ard her gentle voice replied, 81
will try, Mr.: Dunn" AndIMr. Dunn--queer,
quaint Matt Dunn, who was always half
laughing, half seriOus-drOpped all his
banter, and remarked, as if thinking
aloud, when they walked down the street:
- That woman is a saint "
Leeds eyes flashed and his lips hembled,
while Dunn went on" And the man that
could hurt her with a word or thought de-
serves halter"
After this ripple upon the smooth social
stream, the winter passed with no further
evidence Of emotion.
In the meantime letters from India were
seldom and bIief, and spring came with no
MENTION of a return. 1t was almost a year
ince Mr.. Meyer went away. In the mean
ime, too, Mr.. Leeds had not only rear
anged for the conservatory, and estab-
ished an aquarium for his friend, Mrs.
deyer, but he had established for himself
reputation at once enviable and honorable
n the scientific world of letters. Added to
lis horticultural taste and knowledge, there
vas deeper passion underneath. While
le was making himself agreeable and use
ul over English ferns and Cape iasmines, !
e was also in the interim making for him
elf an immortal name by certain geological
and an eloquent treatise there
n. Then came the GROWING triumph,
Then he delivered his eloquent lecture up
n the subject before the Scientific Associa- |
ion.
Such a success So modest, too, and so |
7ise, and the most perfect gentleman
ind, courteous and cultivated This was |
he way society went on, and Mr.. Leeds |
yas made lion forthwith. Straight from !
is Growing triumph that evening he came |
0 the usual ending of all glOries-a feast. |
his was a choice collection of choice spir- |
s, however, over the daintiest viands.
nd Mrs Meyer was there. A year had
My made her more beautiful-a clearer
loOnlight beauty. Looking at her you
-Ould never think of gold ornaments and
iamOnds in her adOrnings, and you never
aw them; but pearls and Opals, and the
ure lustre Of chrysOprase and aqua mari
as. 50 on this night she wore white laces
18th her sea cOlOred silks, and deWy pearls
ere and there like fiecks of foam.
"A new Undine," Mr.. Dunn observed, as |
be stood cOmplimenting the hero of che
7ening gracefully and majestically. The
erO was eager and watchful and restless
hen he came in, as if he expected some
Jdy or something; but after Mrs. Meyer
at Out her little hand to him, and said her
30 or three words of cOngratulatiOn and
1prOval, he seemed to grow quiet and in
herent Of praise, as if her cool presence
i'd proved a sedative. And from science
I'd philosophy with his host, he glided of
music and waltzes with the young
lughters.
"Was there ever such a complete mani"
ey said to Mrs. Meyer; and Mrs. Meyer
ought it doubtful if there ever was; and
hen that very evening he told her Of his
Jung sister, with such tender affection, and
gged Mrs. Meyer 10 call upon her during
T stay in the city, he spoke of her so
ARMY and eagerly that Mrs. Meyer, out
her admiration for his bTOtherly devO-
N remarked:
1T must be a pleasant thing to be your
jter, Mr., Leeds" and then she sighed and
Oke Of her own lonely orphanage, while |
e face of her listener rejected more than
r own pain and sadness.
s. Yes pleasant thing to be his sister,"
e unused, long after, in the silence Of her |
ON. This discovery Of his brotherly de-
ton was more eloquent to her than all |
) new glory. AfterwaTd, in her cOntem-
4UlOn OF the tender relation winch existed |
tween this brother and sister, her sense
lonely Orphanage grew, while the East
dla letters were rarer and briefer than
er.
One night, fearful night of wind and
over, she walked her splendid drawing
ON, full OF this dreary sense of desOlation.
I-stalrs, Uncle Warde and his wife were I
sOrbed in the "reminiscences of other DAYS,
d from the servants hail came the sound
their mingled voices in story and laugh
,. Bat all alone, in her lonely rooms be-
Y, the lonely mistress of the house held |
l communion with only herself. =
IN the tumult of the wind and rain she 7
not hear the ODeniug and shUttinU of 7