Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-05-17
LOST.
tfLost! lostl Iostp'

sTostl lostl Iosti''
How beautiful she was in her superb
calmness, so graceful, so mild, and yet so
majestic! All! L was a younger man
then, of course, than am now, and pos
sibly more impressible; but l thought
her then the most perfect creatare had
ever beheld. And evenno,o, looking back
through the gathering mists of time and
the chilling frosts of advancing age, and
recalling what she was, indorse that
earlier sentiment-she lives in my memo
ry now, as she lived in my presence then,
as the most perfect creature ever beheld.
But, alas say it not in pride, not in
exultation, but in very sadness of heart,
hers was 81 the fatal gift of beauty" and
fatal, indeed, in her case it proved. 1t
was snare to her feet it was her flin
and her overthrow. 1 firmly believe it
was her beauty which led to her destrue-
ton. Had she been less beautiful, less
winning, she might still have been
But why do anticipate? / will tell you
the short sad story, and you may judge
for yourselves. Poor thing poor young
thingi Perhaps you will think, as have
persuaded myself to do, that she was
innocent-the victim and not the GRIM
inal-" more sinned against than sin
ming" But l will tell the sad story as
impartially as l can, and you may judge
for yourselves only remember she was
but mortal, and so are you, and judge
leniently, as you would wish to be
judged. l shall never forget the first
timed beheld her. l cannot tell you just
how long ago it was it does not seem so
very long time to me, for / am an old
man now, and to the old time slips rapidly
by. Yes, / am an old man now, and l
was not young man then-at least had
begun to look upon myself as confirmed
nephews, Frank and Charlie, had been
looking in that way for some time; but
young folks de not always know as much
as they think they do)-when certain
business matters compelled me to leave
my own quiet, somewhat secluded, but
beautiful residence in the country, to re-
side for six months in the, to me, distaste-
full hustle of the city.
Old bachelors are said to be particular,
and proverbially hard to suit; and dare
say it is true-at least 1 know | found it
very hard to suit myselfin city boarding.
house, even though it was to be (thaTIk
Heaven for thatD only very temporary
home.
Igot a list ofall the best boarding houses
in town, and | took them all i'm regular
course like medical drugs but 1.-THE fault
might have been in mel do not say it was
mott found objections at every place
some decidedly necessary element of COM
fort was lamentably wanting, or some un-
necessary element of discomfort was la
mentally obtrusive, to suit the fastidious
taste OF man who, in the luxury of his
own home, had been pampered and petted
and humored by an idolized only sister: it
was not in the nature of things that |
should be easy to suit.
AT last, having nearly reached the close
OF my list, as well as the measure of my
hopetulness, Invent to Mrs. Honeywold's,
and there, in her spall, unpretending es-
adjustment, l. General Leslie Anchester,
having been subdued, trust, to proper
ana humble state of mind by my past ex-
Rerlences, agreed to take up my abode.
The situation was an excellent one. CEN
.ral and easily accessible, but not too pub
nc the house small. but neat, tasteful.
anu nome like. My landlady, who had,
she sald, no other boarders, was a quiet,
Meii-meaning, kindly woman. had been
.olu she was what is termed ssa decaved
genuewoman;" but there was certainly no
pt app.aIance OF decay in her bright, intelli-
gent lace, quick, light step, and erect fig
ure so conclude the term was figuratiye
ana nnanclal. My chamber was pleasant
one, and iaultlessly neat in all its appoint
ments; the table abundant, and well
served and If it was not home to me, it
eauie tN nearer to it than my late explora-
uons nad left me any hope of.
anu IL was there / first met her, The
!.hhuuigent reader must bear with me If in
oth Ct,s niue narritive forbear to give any
I Iener name than the personal pronoun
nave used already. When YOU reach the
close of my story you will. / think. nm.
derstand and appreciate NV reticenca nnor
TINS point. Perhaps she had no legal
right to the name we called har hv
question II she had; and even if she had