Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-06-07

knew that VIII Wallace had been devoted
to her ever since they were children, and
mad cared for noone else. To be sure,
they were not engaged, that's, in so many
words but were words needed? Had
not every look and act of his spoken
palmer than any words could speak?
Poor Harrie the dsmon of doubt and
distrust had driven away the sweet spirit
of peace and conent that frightened her
heart in the morning, and had taken full
possession.
Allowing she thought that that horrid
Mrs. Gilman had been purposely mis-
taken, why didn'i he come up, the after
noon was wearing away, and no word or
sign to let her know that he had come,
and when before lad he failed to present
himself in the dull little house at the ear
| liest possible moment? No, there was
something wrong and she made herself
as miserable as a girl well could, in con-
juring up all sorts of possible and impos-
sible things that night be the cause. No,
she would not 90 10 that party, but there
was her Aunt, who knew that she mad in
tended going; what would she say to
her.
She expected she would say all sorts of
tantalizing things, and she went down
| stairs, with a determination to be very
brave and cheerful and patient, under the
most exasperating circumstances, and she
needed all her caution, for her aunt CON-
menCed:
swell, if you've got through moping,
| guess you'd better iron out your dress,
unless you expect ne to keep the flats hot
all the afternoon. That is, If you intend
to 90 to that party l wouldn't 90 If was
you, though, to let folks see I'd lost my
beau"
Harrie brought out the pretty Swiss
muslin and commenced ironing, without
saying word. Itwas very pretty, and
she looked especially well in it, and now
it seemed nothing hut reminder Of how
happy she had beer, and how suddenly
her great sorrow had come upon her.
She remembered the first time she wore
it-when viii was down, a month or two
before then he told her she looked like
white cloud; then an angel-then a
fairy, till she laughed at the variety OF
his epithets, and the fertility OF his imagi-
nation.
snow, tonight she thought, she
will probably say the same things TO MOI.
lie Blake, and she will believe them, just
as did"
Said Aunt Susan, 81 s'pose you thought
viii Wallace would be satisfied with
you, after livin' i'm the city, but hope
you see now that he's just like the rest OF
folks, Mollie Blake's fine feathers have
done it." :.
| Harrie answered, 81 know better. 1t
isn't Mollie's fine feathers, as you say,
but 1t may be something else, and with
good reason. His life is growing broader
and wider every day, and mine is narrow,
with no prospect of being any other way
/ suppose he's just Outgrowing me, that's
ALL"
s'H'm, well, maybe that satisfies you
but if that's wha larning, and books,
and going to the city does, don't want
to 60"
aunt" said Harrie, smiling.
sWell, 1 knew just how 'twOuld be
You always thought yourself better and
smarter than the rest of us, and nobody
was good enough for you; and you SCI
how tits. Pride is pretty sure to have .
fall"
How unjust ali that was, and Harrit
knew it, too! Couldn't her aunt see thai
there was no need of making her feel tor
tured beyond what she could bear? Th,
angry spirit was rising rapidly within her
but she wouldn't allow herself the luxury
of talking back. She would not show hel
hurt to this cruel woman more than sh,
could help. She took hot flat-iron, ant
not stopping to examine its fitness fol
muslin, she threw it down with an energy
born of her desperation upon the frai
fabric. Lo! it left its shape done IL
brown upon the goods, right on the from
breadth of the dainty dress, and tn,
smoke that arose from it was witness o
k ,nlr 4
thought flashed upon her, "N0w cam
go, now can't go; and Pm glad I'm
glad !" She had been wondering wha
reasonable excuse she could invent, ant
here was good one at her hand. To b,
sure her aching head would have beer
sufficient; but that she must not own to
Her heavy heart was excuse enough, bu
what woman can make such trifie a
that weigh against her pride. Aunt Su
sans scolding over the burnt breadth wa
like music. 1t could not repair tn,
damage and make it presentable, so sh
might scold. Now it must be confessed
that one party dress was all our Har
rie owned and that being new was to d.
service, with sundry changes in trim
mings, &c., through all the summer. A
she looked at the ugly Disagreement sh
realized that it meant the expense of
new breadth, and days work at least
and she felt that more than that 1t was
sort of witness against her. Of c0urs
she could have helped it; but she woul
not admit yet but that she was hearth
} glad.
There was no denying that Harrie wa
In bad humor, and the beautiful trait {
trust was in no wise developing under thi
little test.
, Now it might have been so different
She was very young, and her aunt was s
, far away from her in thought and feeling
, that she felt obliged to hide her own.
little judicious advice, little insight int
. Harrie's nature, and Aunt Susan coul
have smoothed out many of the roug
places, and in place Of doubt and distrus
/ and impatience, brought to life faith, an
/ confidence and calmness.
, Women know so well how to tortul
each other, they have such quickness
, find out the tender spot, wonder they d
| not study more the way to help. Sint
through their own natures they kno
r much of every other woman's, / wondt
they do not love to pour the balm the
: are one day pretty sure to need then
selves.
, The day went by, the evening came q