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

the happy day, the fair Augusta, blushing
deeply, named day so very near that AIr.
Ashton ungallantly expressed doubt
whether even he could be ready in so short
time. But he reflected that women were
uncertain; raised some money at sixty
per cent. TO purchase gloves and for other
expenses; and one month afterward had
the satisfaction Of standing in graceful
attitude with Miss Augusta on his arm in
front of clergyman who declared that
they were man and wife.
Kisses, congratulations, change of cos
tune for brown travelling dress the hap
py pair borne away in chariot to the sta
ton where the snorting train received
them. Three weeks afterwards they were
in dear, delightful Paris, walking arm in
arm in the Tuileries garden-the manly,
elegantly gloved Tom Ashton and his
blushing, happy bride!
".
Jack Temple made last attempt. lie
came one evening and, finding Annie
Heath strolling over the grounds where
the great trees were now touched by the
finger of autumn, Joined her, and they
went and sat down on rustic seat. The
youth then poured forth his love. He was
not worthy of her-she was an angel-he
was nobody-what was he to look so far
above him-but he loved her-loved her
dearly! he was poor, but he would work
for her, give his life to her-if only
only
You will probably laugh at all this,
worthy reader, if you have the misfortune
| to be over forty-five-but that is the way a
young man talks when he is very much i'm
love.
Unluckily for Jack Temple, he had ut
tered just one sentence too much, and
used an unfortunate word-the word
''poor." Miss Jemima had more than
once denounced him to Annie rs ssfor-
tune hunter" and Annie was conscious
of having suspected him-as heiresses
will. Now great flush of shame came to
her face; she had treated him coldly when
she was rich, now when she was poor he
came to offer his heart and his life, and
shame paralyZed her. She said mo, no /:
/ cannOt!" and hurried back to the house
just at dusk.
On the steps she met Miss Jemima.
Ever On the watch now, Miss Jemima's
arms were akimbo and she looked stormy.
"Will you be kind enough, miss, to
cease improper interviews"
"Improper!" exclaimed Annie.
"Yes, miss! say improper! and do
not wish to have my words repeated, il
you please! l say am in charge OF this
Annie had drawn herself up with stately
Indignation.
II have made my arrangements to
leave the house, madam" she said. look
ing Miss Jemima in the eyes, and positively
paralyziDg that amiable character. II am
tired-yes, tired to death-of living here,
a victim to these petty insults"
After having thus annihilated her foe,
Annie Heath went with an expression OF
extreme hauteur to her chamber, and did
not come down again during the evening.
A week afterwards she left Oakhill and
went to begin her duties as young ladies'
teacher in the house of an old gentleman,
a tenderly attached friend, hundred
miles distant. Six months afterwards,
Jack Temple. who had visited Annie three
times and each time had been discarded
with perfect distinctness. sold his little
estate, packed his trunks. and was making
his last arrangements for taking the train
on the next morning for Arizona, where
he intended to ''rough it'' and try, if he
could, to forget Annie Heath.
He stood at the window looking across
the valley toward Oakhill.
:" can't go without telling the old place
good-by," he said with groan; II must
look at the window of her room-the seat
she sat on-the path her little feet
pressed-.'
There he choked.
Jack Temple walked down the hill
crossed i'm his little boat, cast a glance to-
ward the spot where Annie had fallen into
the water, and went up the winding path
i'm the Oakhill grounds.
He had seen as he left his own door, a
travelling carriage ascend the winding road
TO the large mansion, doubtless containing
some friends or visitors of Miss Jemima
who was Sin command" at the hall but
these strangers, he reflected, would not be
apt to disturb him in the remote rustic seat
i'm the dell under the old oak.
He went to the seat now and sat down
thinking of the girl and trying to fancy heI
beside him. The sun was just setting, and
the ruddy light rested like crown Of gold
upon the summit of the immense oak
whose leaves were whispering in a light
breeze. A little spring near was bubbline
and laughing--the whisper and the laugh.
ter mingled and were charming.
Jack Temple was so much absorbed In
his sorrowful thoughts that his chin fell
upon his breast and his eyes were hal
closed. He went over his whole acqualnt
ance with Annie, his repeated discomfit
ures, the scenes here, all and the result
was that he muttered to himself:
"There is no hope for me whatever.
have done my best. She will never carr
for me"
A light hand was placed upon his shoul
der-a finger, rather-and the touch Of thu
finger was as fitting as the breeze which
famed his face. He started, for he bad
thought himself entirely alone. In this ht
was quite mistaken. Annie Heath wa
standing behind him.
He looked up at her with sort of won
der. She was blushing and smileda little
: but the smile was a sad one.
81 did not know"
: He stopped.
"Oh, Annie!'
He had her hand in his own, claspe,
, tight, and was looking at her with all hi
: soul in his eyes.
She did not withdraw the hand in tn
e least.
e "You have not asked me how cam
d without your knowing it," she said wit
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