Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-06

+ Fanny and Mr.. Middleton had taken
their seats at the other end of the porti-
leo. NY Cousin Warren had followed
MRS. Warren to Harry's room.. / found
fmyself de trop and retired within al
SO. When, an hour afterwards, the
bell rang for family prayer, Fanny
Land Mr.. Middleton came into the
/ drawing room, and a glance at his face
convinced me more than ever that he had
''maGe his arrangements" with Fanny,
and induced her to promise him her hand.
She was blushing and avoided my eye.
When she retired she did not look at me.
Mr.. Middleton was what the novel
writers call radiant"
This result of things has profoundly
depressed me. Who would have be-
lieved it'll So my little humming- bird has
fitted by the tail, stalwart sapling Harry,
to light upon the Middleton flower! Poor,
poor Harry! / know that he loves her,
and he is going with the conviction that
she is to marry his rivali Human life is
sad. very sad affair. Poor Harry!
vi.
Idon't think human life is such sad
affair after all, and when L next assume
the tone Of the author of the book of
Ecclesiastes, shall think my secretions
deranged. Il
The fast lines written in this record of
my days at Duluth referred to scenes
which took place one month ago. On
the morning after the announcement by
Harry Warren of his intention to 60 to
Colorado, heard Fanny say to him in a
low voice as she passed him upon the
stkirs, 81 want to see you-come out after
breakfast to the rustic seat;" and after
| hreol 1uly tha vounU nQOpla warp oh
served side by side, by the present histo-
rian, on his own favorite seat, of which
he was thus deprived. ...
state frankly that L availed myself Of
my position in the drawing-room, where
[ was reading behind one Of the lace cur
tains, to look at the pair, and to try and
j discover. the nature Of their interview.
This, regret to say, [ found impossible.
NY eyes begin to suffer from age, and. the
spectsnles now made strike me as wretch
edly inferior. In an hour Harry and
Fanny rose, and the expression of his
face was certainly more agitated than !
had ever seen it before. AS to Fanny she
was blushing deeply, and was unmistaka-
bly, pouting, as though something had
occurred which was far from being to her
I taste.
When | tried to intercept her as she
came hillary having left her at the
portico to 20 and attend to some of his
farm avocations-she slipped by me,
would not hear my voice, and disappear
ed in her chamber, the door of which she
closed with bang. i forgot to say that
during the interview upon the rustic seat,
Mr.. Middleton had been seated at the
piano. upon which he was really excel
= lent performer, and amused himself play
ing q bar here and there from one of Fan
ny's operas. He smiled, observed, in a
confidential manner to himself, and SEEM
ed to have no uneasiness on the subject OF
the interview between Fanny and Harry.
Had not his rival declared that he was GO
!, ing away-and-
Fanny has Just run in and thrown her
arms around my neck, and burst into
terrs, and laughed, and cried again, and
then laughed again-and departed.
Was there ever such little witch? And
she thought knew nothing about it!
knew all about it. l listened, l caves
dropped, acted on the sly, and behaved
generally in a most dishOnOrable and
highly improper manner! 1t was last
night that [ was guilty of the proceeding
here denounced, and as after all / am not
so much ashamed of it, shall tell how il
happened.
Harry had made every preparation to
, 60 to Colorado to-day, and we were all in
. very gloomy state...Of mind about it
: Fanny, / think, the gloomiest of all, She
would tell me nothing; had lost all her
confidence, and remained so much OF heI
time in her chamber that it was almost
: discourtesy to Mr.. Middleton.
I Last night occurred the denouement. II
was about ten, and woke from pro
t lOnged nap on my old rustic seat to hear
{ voices near me.
\ "You must not co." said the voice o
Fanny trembling.
- must"
This voice was Harry's.
sIt is perfectly absurd-yOu are going
n away-yOu say because, because
7 'sBecause [ love you," came in deep
!, strong,to and love you so much that
would rather die than stay here and sex
q YOU marry another person."
= 81 have no intention-tO do so?'
The voice fiuttered.
n "Fannyr'
I This time it was Harry Warren's voic'
n that trembled.
+ isWhat made you take such foolisl
fancy ?'-there was a little quiet attemp
T at laugh here" I'll die an old maid be
q fore I'll marry the person you mean
y And oh, Harry! Harry what a goose
y must be, and foolish little flirt, to hav
. everybody, yes everybody, even my dea
old cousin THAT was mel think me so de
y ceitfull 1 only told Mr.. Middleton-oI
! rather did not tell him-that-Iw wouldn't
n Ichuckled quietly. These two negs
tives charmed me!
:, Fanny's voice had sunk to a bashfu
murmur then it died away.
"My dear, dear Fanny !''-I never hear
Z mans voice express such tenderness
"you have made me very happy! Max
a1 me happier still. Tell me not to 60 I
Il. Colorado! J"
IN They had moved away, and / saw notl
io ing, and heard no more. Yes 1 did.
heard kiss, and sob, which appeared
Q, be suppressed in some measure, from Il
!, fact that the young lady's face was leal
u. ing upon Harry's breast.
On There is no doubt of the result of Il
"a interview. Fanny has just announces
lie with bushes, laughter, and tears as
er have described, that she is engaged
n Harry; and as she has no relative but {
old aunt, who is devoted to her, the ma