Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-12-06

| between the TWO Q0malnS-paddled over
and walked up the hill on which stood the
mansion.
On the porch two young ladies were
seated. Young lady No. l was Annie
Heath, tall, with brown hair, blue eyes.
and what Is called ''queenly," not a very
cordial-looking young person. Young
cousin resident, small, plump, smiling.
The latter received Jack Temple with such
winning sweetness. that it only made the
cool and distrait manner of the heiress
more marked, and the visitor suddenly
found himself completely ignored by her.
She had turned her head and was looking
at a fine equipage ascending the hill, in
which equipage behind his two fast horses
sat MIR. Tom Ashton, the beau of the
county. When Mr.. Ashton, delivering
the reins to his servant, passed his kid
gloved hand through his locks, and came
up smiling, Jack Temple found himself
extinguished, and half an hour afterwards
went home, muttering with great ire:
Il wonder if Miss Annie Heath thinks |
am beneath her notice because am poor.
and came to see her because she is sick
I'll stay away in future-what do L care for
| her 20
Having made which indignant protest
Jack Temple looked miserable, being in
love.
There is nail i'm every shoe and a thorn
in many households-the thorn at Oakhill
being amaiden aunt of Annie's, of vinegar
ish temper, Miss Jemima.
"lt is really disgusting to see these for
tune hunters flocking here!' said Miss Je-
NINA one morning abouta week after Jack
| Temples visit.
"What fortune hunters ?' said Annie, to
whom the indignant exclamation was adj
dressed.
"That shabby young Temple for one,
said Miss Jemima.
The young lady bestowed upon her
aunt look of extreme indifference.
| "Was he shabby? did not observe his
Clothes" she said.
"You know what l mean; hate such
affectationl He is mercenary pauper."
g Is he poorg'
Miss Jemima looked more than ever out
ragged at such affected ignorance.
"Poor! yes he is poor, and as grand as
if he was somebody"
The explanation of which attack was,
that not having received much attention
from the vinegarish lady, Jack Temple had
committed the blunder of paying herno at
tention i'm return.
WE'LL" said Miss Annie, with extreme
GOODNESS and indifference to her aunt's in
dignation, 81 have no objection TO Mr..
Temples being grand, if he chooses. lie
is only an acquaintance"
:" He is i'm love with you!'
Miss Annie turned her head quickly.
"In love. Pshawl What folly But
please let us change the subject, aunt. !
am tired to death of it. intend to marry
nobOdy.'
"Y You must"
sWhy should / r'
"a young lady i'm your situation must
marry sooner or later, and you could not
do better than take Mr. Ashton"
Which was the result of the most assidu-
GUS attention to the maiden aunt on the
part of the astute Tom Ashton.
Annie Heath looked at her maiden rela-
tive for some moments in astOnishment-
and then said with little pout and some
show of irritation:
Il wish you would not annoy me to
death with your matchmaking, aunt.
don't intend to marry Mr.. Temple-if he
asks me-or Mr.. Ashton, or anybody
and am sick of being worried J"
She put ON little chip bonnet with q
/ flirt--angry-and went out of the room
and down the hill toward the stream tc
avoid persecution. She was full of ennui
Her little pleasure-boat was at the bank
She stepped into it, and began to play in
the water like child.
Thereupon an event occurred which dis
pelled her ennui. The boat had been neg
figently fastened-in stepping upon it she
had pushed it from shore-and 10! Miss
Annie found herself drifting down toward
some ugly looking rocks below, where ter
to one the boat would be capsiZed, for the
water ran swiftly, and the rocks were
sharp and edged with foam. Annie was {
sensible girl. She looked round for pad
dle-there was none. She looked rount
for help-none. Then she looked forward
and the jagged rocks seemed to grin at hel
and saw, ssYou are our prey!' Then al
trace of ennui completely disappeared, ant
the GIRL became quite pale--she uttered {
little stified cry. and thought she was go
ing to be drowned. The boat swept on
the waves dragged it-swifter and swifte
il began to race-and-
There is always a good genius which
watches over maidens in distress. A boa
had, unseen by Annie, darted from the op
posite shore, where Jack Temple hat
, been rambling. He had seen her peril
came as fast as his paddle would drive him
and now reached her just as her boa
neare0 u0e DANGEROUS Itci. nC tWo OId'
struck. and the shock threw the girl int
the water. Five minutes afterward tn
youth was carrying up the bank, in hi
arms, the drenched and limp lookin,
damsel-one slipperless foot in whit
stocking protruding from her streaming
| skirt.
, Some cries, exclamations, explanations
, and tears followed, then Miss Anni
: Heath walked up the hill, escorted by he
J friend, both in an extremely wet condi
: ton.
, A tragic event succeeded. What in
! duced him to perform so absurd an actiol
Jack Temple never could explain after
/ wards; but he proceeded then and ther
/ carried away.by the excitement ofthe me
: ment-to propose! He proposed, MAXIM
! passionate avowal of his love, and tn
: blhshing, pouting. confused, somewha
: irritated Annie fatty discarded him!
4 Just an hour after this scene Jack Ten
: pie was walking up and down at his owl
. house, and rejecting with moody eyes an
, blushing cheeks.
: "Well, have made fool Of myself 3