The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-09-11


q; Natalie, = said Mrs. Wilmot Daven-
port, 81 wish you would go down and
help Jane. If You would sprinkle and
fold the clothes for her, she could be
preparing for to-morrow's cooking
We have promised I don't know how
many pies and cakes for the picnic. -
The girl thus addressed was a sweet
faced, pure-eyed maiden of eighteen,
whose tresses Of golden brown were
swept back from 8 brow that would
have t4ed the attention of either sculp-
tor or painter, and whose quiet, soul
born beauty awoke the alteration of the
inner as we'll as Of tho outer sense, She
was a shade paler than she ought to
haye been; and there We're occasional
droopings of the eye, and ever and anon
the breath came heavier than was its
wont, as though there were, cares and
aches of which she. did not tell, She
had been engaged in reading, and as
her step-mother spoke, she laid aside
her book, and tried to smile; but tho
smile wcnid not come. ..r,ts a,a.i.
It was early in the, evening, and the
astral lamp was lighted, upon the CEN
TIE table; and upon the opposite side Of
the table from. Natalie sat another young
lady Of about the same age-a, young
lady very finely, dressed, and wearing
fine jewelry-and she was quite pretty,
too; though a single glance would have
been sufficient to show an observing.
experienced man that she was indebted
to external, rather, shan to internal;
Establishment. This young lady was
engaged upon Q piece of delicate Gro.
chet work. t,,s.,,a .,.s-
The lady who had addressed Natalie
Mrs. Wilmot Uavenport-:was Of mid
die age; and, though slightly over.
dressed, she was yet very ladylike in
appearance. And, she was not without
beauty. In fact she must have been
dazzling in her youth; though those
who knew her best had never been able
to discover any generous warmth of
heart in the brightness of her smiles.
Mrs. Wilmot Davenport had been
twice widowed. Her first husband had
been Chester Bray land to her, in this
union, had been born Julia, the young
lady whom We now find crocheting.
Her second husband had been Wilm0t
Davenport. lawyer of distinction. MIR.
Davenport had been widower at the
time of his marriage with her; and Nat
allie was his child by his first wife; and
so Julia Bray and Natalie Davenport
were brought together as sisters; and
as sisters they might have continued
truly to love had Wilmot Davenport
continued to live. But Mr.. Davenport
died within five years of his second
marriage, and of this union no children
were begotten. He had been an open
handed, generous mIan--prodigal when.
led thereto by his sympathies-and at
his death he left not a great. property.
Still he left comfortable home, and
small sum in bank; and connected with
the homestead We're several acres of fine
land near the, centre of the village;
This land Increased greatly in value afs
ter Mr.. Dayenport's decease,, and by
selling off portions Of it the, widow
realized sufficient to, maintain herself
respectfully! .aegoa ~ ,bin'f ~
As was, perhaps, natutal, Mrs. Dav-
export was partial to her own daugh.
ter; and through the years Of her sec
ond widowhood she had sought to make
a lady Of Julia, leaving drudgcry~to
Natalie. i And now that the girls had
grown up she eagerly sought to gain for
her own daughter an eligible match !:
and until that had been accomplished