The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-12-13

I tlSA hOH SalA gou 0Sh yOA Hol1 AtA0
Tom became more than ever absorbed in
I his excavations. '-s 's5
The truth is. = he bluffed out between
the digs, :. the truth is, that lately, quite
lately, | think I've seen the only girl | shall
ever care TO ask to be nay wife and he
looked suddenly up at her. f...... ,.5 -
She rose confused; began to consult her
watch earnestly.
- l must go, really Please give me my
things. This is the park boundary, SO
won't trouble you any more"
She sprang over the stiie as she spoke,
linterposing it between them as they said
E5adieu. s-
When shall l see you again ?'' he asked,
as he held her hand at parting. She al
lowed it to linger in his as she answered:
Oh, soon, / dare say; perhaps when
you least expect it, And gently return
I ing tle pressure of his hand, she turned
away. After a few steps she looked back.
s. ''Any message to Miss Leigh? f? she asked,
mockingly. 'i
ssOh, confound Miss Leigh ~ growled
Tom, :. wish she was in 0taheite.', Then,
seating himself on the stile, he lit a cigar
tand watched her graceful figure till he
could see it no longer. Suddenly he smote
khis thigh By Jeve I! i never got her
name, after aH, he said. $50
immediately on arriving at his inn he
Is9mmenced a cross-eXainination of his
hostess, by which he learned two facts.
First, that Newlallds was the property of
Sir John Turnbulf; and secondly, that
there were two young ladies staying there,
Miss Leigh and Miss Harding.
Next day saw him speeding in hanson
from Paddington to his fathers house in
Brook street, intent on destroying that
| worthy old gentleman's peace of mind by
the announcement of his determination to
give up Miss Leigh and Hillingdon.
rs my father in, Simms ?'' he asked of
the butler, when that fnnetionary appeared
to attend his young master.
No, sir; Mr.. Luttrel went out with
Mr.. Leigh just after lunch"
MIR. Leigh lis he mere ~ AsSss
- Yes, sir; Mr.. and Miss Leigh arrived
this morning from the country ali
The deuce !" said Tom, " they seem to
haunt me wherever I 60, !" and he retired
lpreeipitately into his own den. ksssz<s2 s4i
Issss Bring inea something to eat here,
sii1afas; and, don't let Miss Leigh. know
that am in the house.
aI3y the time he had finished his lunch
4 his mind was made up. Selecting a huge
l1y-crested sheet Of stiff note paper, SO as
/ to give the document an official character,
| be sat down, squared his elbows, and pre-
| pared to write. The following epistle was
! the restit'of his efforts:2 h'ss e.
= My DEAR Miss LEIGH: For the first
time / address you personally, though you
must doubtless have been for some time
aware of the link which IN some way con-
meets us. The time has now ARRIVED when
whether we shall go,through life together, 81
| separate at once and forever. 4 will not cen.
cea1 from yeus my dear Miss Leigh, that fel
many years / have looked on you as my des
Etined bride, and have considered myself for
tunate in the prospect of an alliance will
one of whose beauty and goednesssI + have
heard SO much, 1t is but quite recently
have discovered tl4at my heart is no longer
! niue to dispose of, and l now feel thattt
urge you to fulfill our eHga cement would bt
to insure life of misery for both of US. Be
| us, then, separate without a personal inter
view, EVliieh would only cause unnecessary
embarrassnentse rs TO sHillingtl0n. resigf
it to you willingly, feeling sure That yeu vii
make a better mistress there thans eYer'l
shauld master. sss -ssa sssstf ssf5 sss asasSEi
/ ETrusting, then, some day to meet you al
the bride of one more worthy to possess yot
than myself, / am, dear Miss Leigh, your sim
/ cere friend. saaS sszs I sssssss "a sssst I
L 'sTHoMAs CURZoN LUTTREB.''
.Ffs' That'H do, think. i hope it wen'I
! smell of tobacco; Simfns, y as that worthy
answered ethe bellysss take this to Miss
Leigh, with my eompliments. = "a
Simnls was too well trained to SHOW
surprise at anything he bowed and went
In ten minutes he returned = 81 =
@ss Miss Leigh HIS compliments, SIR an(
would you speak to her in the drawing
room ?''
| Oh, hang her p said Pom but there
was no escape. The *9lrawing-room was
darkened to exclude the afternoon sun
1sbut Tom discovered a white figure at the
far end, which rose and bowed as he ad
lvanced.
iss am delighted, Miss Leigh,'' he be
gan, ''to have thespleasuresz-s ss Hulloa
/ Miss Harding ? Kou here ~ itassf 81
sss Miss who 2 said the laughing voice
kof his Settlebourne friend. . / am moi
Miss Harding"
j Then who in the name of goodness art
you ?'ahe demanded eagerly. 3ss A9asss.
/ She looked down aemurely. s
!" I'm that horrid Miss Leigh, as You
called me the ether day:asa ssazsss sAasa 6
Tom sat down and stared at hers. pres.
entity he broke into a great laugh.
/ ssOh, it's al very sSvell2sto slatfgbs,; she
said in an injured tone. saz@ss assssss
L In a moment more he was kneeling by
her chair, looking up into her eyes.
g Miss Leigh Nellie --'' - .
g told y0unet TO call me Nellie, yes.
terday, ,2'1she said, tartly. in,
- g Yes, but yesterday isn't to-day; we're
Esengaged now" 4sse ~s
i 8 Engaged sir? What, after this?'
T. & Oh, hang the letter You know
! love you to distraction. You are You
own only rival in my love Y : d ~ a
:. Certainly not. You said / was fas
and slangy, and that Hillingdon would b
a cheap price to pay to be rid OF me: Ane
then this letter! Let go my hand--hov
dare you, sir! Be quiet, Mr.. Luttrell
i Tom don'ti"
i But Tom was not to be denied. Aftel
this spirited resistance Miss Leigh slirren
Edered ANONYMOUSLY. ss
i $ Tom, she whispered, as her head lay
on his shoulder, 'sdo you really care foi
me ~ Kisses and protestations.1
And you really want to marry me p
1 (AIore kisses and protestations.l
Il L.