Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-15

bing and weeping and Walter, holding
her to his heart, kissed away her tears
, and told her that he loved her better thar
] life itself, and that he would devote hi
life to her service, now and for ever.
dear boy ~ she said, at length, smil
ing through the disorder of her passion
1T was worth the anguish of enduring
her insOlence to know that have such 8
preux chevalier-that have such gal
liant soul from so ungenial fate!"
And while this scene was taking
place Kate was walking homeward
through the lane, muttering, half aloud
81 wonder if that shaft struck true
could not read her face. 1 wonder if it il
she, after all! That foolish fellow! But
| will not let him 60, all the same. be
suits me; and he will soon forget thai
wicked woman when he finds out what she
is, If she is as l believe her to be. II she
is not"
But this thought displeased her, and
she put it from her to indulge the dream
that she was what certain Ietter-re-
ceived that morning from London in an
swer to one of inquiry from her touching
suspicion she had entert, ined from the
frst-gave great cause to suppose.
Kate was so far wise in her generation
that she could hold her peace. Having
shot her bolt, she could afford to wait the
result. Accordingly, when Walter re-
turned home late in the evening, she re-
ceived him with the quiet stolidity COM
mon to her and neither by word or look
made the faintest reference to the stormy
scene that had taken place at Elm Cottage
that morning. She prevented, too, the re-
prOaches with which his father and mo-
ther were charged and gained golden
opinions for her own part for the gener-
rous affection they said she displayed to-
wards one so unsatisfactory.
"Oh! know him. He will come back
to his better self as soon as this horrid
creature has gone; and go she shall" )" she
said, smiling, while Mrs. Drummond
kissed her tearfully, and Vicar called her
" blessed among women"
Madame, ",she said to Mrs. Drummond
two or three days after this, during which
they had scarcely seen Walter nor had
she noticed a certain letter of his, giving
her back her freedom, and breaking of
the proposed marriage; ~ want you to
ask Madame Dufour to dinner to-mor-
row."
"My loveI' said the Wears wife in a
tone of astonishment; "why have that odi-
GUS woman here?''
''Do not ask me, pray" she answered.
81 wish it."
swell, my dear, of course you know we
all study your wishes in everything" said
Mrs. DrummOnd humbly. 81 am sure, If
you like it, Ihave no objection; and sup
pose papa will have none"
''Thanks. A gentleman is coming from
London" then said Kate indifferently.
n 4
"What is the meaning of this, my boy?n
asked pretty Madame Dufour, when the
servant brought in note from the Vicar
age, requesting the pleasure of her COM
pany at dinner tomorrow at half past six
O. clock.
Walter was startled, too. What did it
mean? Had his father and mother taken
to heart how things stood with him and
were they prepared to receive her he loved
as their own?
''Shall 60 ?" then asked Madame.
"Oh, yes! yes!" exclaimed Walter.
"You wish it, my boyr'
"Wisn it Do 1 wish t, live in heaven :"
he cried. Don't you know tits heaven to
me where you are2'
''But this terrible Miss Kate; will she
like to see me?''
"Oh! don't you know that my mother
would not have asked you else?" answered
Walter innoeently. "Kate is the mistress
of the Vicarage, not my mother"
Sand she will not insult me again ? She
will not punish me, Waiter, for what
cannot help-your love for me and"-in
a lower voice, shy, sweet, tremulous
voice-''mine for your
On his knees before her his fresh, young,
fervid face turned upward to hers as she
bent so gracefully, SO tenderly towards
him, his glad eyes dark and moist, with
the passionate love which at last had found
its home, Walter poured forth his thanks,
his alteration, his protestatiohs there was
nothing to fear, and his assurance of de-
fense, in breath; and Madame Dufour,
smiling, radiant, lovely, turned to her
writing table and wrote her acceptance of
the invitation on pink scented paper with
a golden monogram and coronet on the
top 49,, - .,. ..,a ,.,,,, . ,,..+v v,.uo,
pointing it out to Walter. 81 am really a
countess but this Is the only sign of my
state in which indulge myself. A coun-
tess with couple of maids h. remote
English village!"
The gen tleman from London came, true
to his time; and Kate took it on herself
to show him the one local lien, namely,
the church, with its old monuments, Its
fine Norman arch, its quaint carvings, and
the like. Their talk was interesting
mean while; but it was not on the things
they went to see and listener might
have heard, madame Dufour," Clara
Bell" ''forgery," actress" ''clever es
CAPE" "kiown bad character" uttered
more than once. But it cane at last to q
conclusion, the gentleman saying warmly,
"But after ALL miss, you have been the
cleverer of the two," as they turned up
the lane to the Vicarage, to dress for din
ner-and Madame Dufour.
Exactly at the half-hour she came; more
enticing than ever, thought Walter, as
he flew into the hall to receive her. He
brought her into the room. leaning on his
arm, his poor foolish heart bounding with
pride and joy. Kate and his as yet un-
annulled engagement with her were
alike forgotten, as he led his queen, his
saint, his idol, to his mother and it was
with difficulty that he prevented himself
from saying out before them all, "Moth.
er, take her to your heart; she Is youI
daughter!"
He did, however, hold his peace, and
only Kate read him clearly, and shrugged