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

|
boiling and bubbling, aud the crisp
cakes were certainly burning. In hcg
haste to remove the kettle to q place
less exposed to the; fine Jane let the
bail slip in her hand, and in ner effort
to save it the burning fat spilled owe"
apon both her arms, scal.ling lhem in
a shocking manner. Both Peter aud
Natalie sprang to her assistance, and
when they had borne her to Il seat tho
old man decided tina: physician was
the first thing to be sought: Natalie
suggested the calling of her step
mother; but Peters negative was
prompt and emphatic.
"Goodness mercy he cried, "taat
would be the Worst thing We could dc.
She'd 60 crazy. She amt fit to tcI.
III suci work. No, no-do YOU ,gun.
for doctor. my, dear, as quick rs eve
SOW cam Id go,sbut my. poor old legs7
are dreadful slow. Yon go, anu II
keep the cold water goin' till he doe
ter comes"
a beseeching wall from the sufrer-
ing domestic started Natalie into az
ton, ant hastily throwing n lighs
scarf over her head, she hurried ouf of
the back way. As she gained tho
street she thought which doctor shoult
she call. There We're two who livcd
not far, away. DR.. Cooper wae tho
best but she could not go to him.
She, dared not. Her heart sank at tho
very thought. He had avoided her,
and sighted her; and gloom had
dropped upon her life in the withdraw
ing Of his smile. No-she would cal.
Dr.. Thomas-nnd with that thought
she sped on.
Presently, as she passed within the
glare of a street lamp, voice sound
ed in her ear. She had ,overtaken %
man on her way, but had not noticed
him NM Jn4GFy3f5
"Natalie ~
She stopped; and turned, and the
hand of Edmund Cooper was laid
lightly npor her arm. as
Natalie, whittier away so fastq
What has happened 2"
She could but tell him: ant; when
she had told the story of the accident
he turned about to accompany her
back.
"Iou were going for me 7" lie said.
81 had thought of both you and Doe
tor Thomas" she answered., evasivelv:
"And were you called up from your
bed to come upon this GRAND Z"
Natalie lOokedup in SURPRISE
."Called up from my bed ~ she re-
peated.; ,i,s35asea o.tasIsis--5
"Aye. Had ;'ou not retired 7"
"No, sir, l was in the kitchen at
work when the accident happcncd."
Sand did your step-lnother know
where you wereq'' tsaHH -5eE
'Sl,e could hardly have done less,
since she1herself set me at the work."
."Hold on" cried Cooper, greatly
excited. Bht directly he added, in Ii
more rational manner "Weiought not
to tarry here. We can talk as we go.
There may be no other suffering than,
that of outward scalds and bnrlIs.--
Pardon me, Natalie but will suffer
10 more for want Of a knowledge Of
the truth.l1iTe me-IIave you, of
your own accord, duing these last
few weeks, purposefy avoided mee'
"'Neyer " answered the trembling
girl. And her look showed her SUIT
prise at the question.
SIS it possible that ! have been de-
ceiGel 2" s,. ,s~.. J., y sg1,
"knd yon,' ventureti Natalie, urged
on BY an impulse which would not DO
restrained. have You not avoided.
me pr s''ia'tJ5i .'.''t' '. ~
"Avoidet1 yous" "a $50 49,
DR.. Cooper stopped fnll upon the
sidewalk, and looked into his, COM
panion's face; and by the ra:e star
light heTsonlds see The rich moist ure in,
her eyes. HaslTT rssI .f4ss,,
avoided asou y he repeated.
Natalie, | begin to fathom the mys-.
terry. But, ere another plot can come
between US, answer me This. If you
knew that had sought you, and had.
beer denied-if yon knew that my
heart had been all yonr own through
these long and weary wecks,--if .yo,
knew that | had prayed to Cod that I
might be permitted to win you for MY
own-if YOU knew all tliis!-
Natalie!!"- @t"1l A@ Gt ia72n't
With assmotherel sob she sank upon
his bosom, mnrmuiing, as she did So.
20, Edmund wouldabe heaven!"-
"And you will never avoid NEE
''Never.p, ...,<, ..,.,.., .i....5f ez
"You will be mine, ard 60 With ms !
through life-my wife ~
4"Yes!" itfl'E1 2sf' "'.F' '''
And fien thay hurried on, and found
the suffering domestic in. mucI,pain, :
but not seriously injured. Dir. Cooper
very soon made her comfortable, au,.
promised. her that She should not be
long an invalid.
AS for the occupants of the drawing
room, they knew, as sOou as they saw