Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-08-23
fool, as it justifes their preconceived

OF relief. as II some neaVy cloud were
gradually dispensing from before his
eyes.
He stood and watched her every motion;
fascinated, but with a fascination how
| different from his old passion. There was
| the same turn of the head; the same up
lifting of the eyes he had been wont TO
think so graceful and sweet; the same
sidelOng motions of the body, which he
had once compared to the movement of a
| lily on its stem. Why did all these airs
and graces now strike him as so disagree
able: and the manner. which had once
been charming artlessness, seem self
conscious affectation? Had he been a
blind fool, or had she been different; and
from what creature had been modelled that
fair, sweet image that had so long been
enshIined in his heart?
| "Oh, don't feel as if | could sustain
life in such place as this" continued
| Mrs. Armer. 'sHow do you manage when
YOU are at home ?" she asked, throwing
back her head, and favoring Major Mon
roe, U. S. A., with roll of her eyes not
unlike that popularity ascribed to duck
in Thunderstorm.
81 have sustained myself with pro-
phetic hope of your arrival" said the
major, with a bow, and then he slipped
out of the circle, and left a place vacant
for Mr.. Devine. Mrs. Armer's eyes fell
upon Sydney, and her color deepened and
Eer eyes frightened.
"Oh, Mr.. Devine oh, Sydney" she
said, putting out a very pretty hand as
she rose, dropping fan, flowers, and hand
kerchief for the students to pick up. "ls
this really you?'
81 believe it is,n said Mr.. Devine, smil-
ing, with perfect outward composure,
though his whole self was In a sort of
whirl, with rushing wreck Of old associ-
ations and memories going down into
chaos and, amidst them all, reason,
awake after sleep of years, seemed to
stand wondering at the destruction of her
son-house-cOnfused, and yet with
sense of relief and rising life that was de-
lightful.
& 1t is such lovely evening, / should
{ so like to go out on the piazza, " said Mrs.
Armer, with rustic and sway of all her
silken draperies.
She hung on his arm (; she looked up ap-
pealingly into his face as she crossed the
, room; she " minced" as she went, in the
!. manner that of old moved the ire of the
! prophet.
DR.. Lyon looked after her as If he Won
dered what sort of beast this might be
|, that had come into his ark. Menango, as
represented then and there, drew itself
. together a little, exchanged glances, and
was inclined to think Mrs. Armer not
, nice.' Mrs. Vale, stately, old-fash-
! ioned lady, inwardly resolved that her
, cousins visit to herself and her daughters
+ should be short.
! Mrs. Armer had the effrontery to stop
, and speak to Mrs. Hassan, and expressed
desire that they should meet where
they could talk over sold times" Mrs.
Hassan was intensely polite, but very
I cool, and she did not even look at her
Z brother.
Mr.. Devine and Mrs. Armer did not
Q stay more than ten minutes on the piazza,
4 and during that time she did all the talk
o ing, dwelling on the subject of her ''poor,
|, dear husband" and intimating, firstly
: that he had never understood her nature
n and, secondly, that he had left her Every
h well off" but to neither intimation die
Mr.. Devine respond with sympathy or in
= terest. In his sudden revulsion of feeling
e he hardly knew whether to be most dis
!, eusted with himself or with his compan
= ion. The worshiper who came to thu
u temple in the morning and found tina
: onlV the fishy part of Dagon was left Il
, him. could hardly have been more startled
" than Sydney Devine in the presence o
> his once admirable Anna. He took hel
u u in to supper, attended her with polit'
II care. and shortly after found cut his sis
!. ter, and asked her If she were ready TO e
~ home.
e Mrs. Hassan was more than ready
!. Her whole soul was stirred within her, ant
~ she longed to utter her whole opinion o
= the fair widow, but refrained, fearing 3
: y do more harm than good.
Neither brother nor sister spoke till the
IS were half way home, and then Mr.. De
u u vine reused himself from his silence, an
- said:
!, :, "By Jove!''
lp II did not seem as If this appeal to
IN heathen deity was dictated either by de
y. yotion or by renewed passion, and Mr.
~ Hassan ventured to ask him what b
W. W. wanted of Jupiter. :.
" LOOK here, Cassy," said Sidney, wit
sudden earnestness. "DO tell me: ws
1e she always like this?"
a Mrs. Hassan drew subdued long breat
te of intense relief, and answered, with stu'
o o led quietness:
X, "f do not see much change in he
Is. She is as pretty as ever, and her mann'
y is much the same as when l used to 81
,e- her."
he "Cassy," said Mr.. Devine, after anoth
%, silence, " have been a tremendous fool
IN Indeed" said Mrs. Hassan. "W
dll lldb, uuO1C vi AOocs oNPRNH
sy Doesn't Mrs. Armer strike you as u
changed?" :,
as J" As the same; and yet there is q
nd wonder, Classy; if you saw her as {
'as now, Why didn't you tell me?"
ro- 81 tried to, Sydney, but YOU said W
cal Jealous of her beauty" said Mrs. HASA
ed betraying a little thorn that had prick
els her at inl lervals for years.
or Well, well, can not see what / W
OF thinking off, And then came anoth
sigh, as of mingled relief and regret, a
led then he discover ed that his sister was CT
inc ing little.
RS. swhy, Classy, what is that for ?"
ust said, gently.
lch would fancy her again."
no "Cassy," said Mr.. Dcvine, speak,
INV with grea, deliberation. as the carria
lck DRIVE up to the door, 8 shouldn't ian
lad her if there wasn't another woman In
'er- world"
put Mr.. Hassan had come home on the ls
she train. a 4 his mother had Lit IL supl
uas raadv for him and instead of going Ds