Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-19
ALEXANDRIA, PARISH OF RAPIDEs LA. 44l44 Ie1a
"Ah! Cousin George. We have been
expecting you. When did you arrive?"

"Ah! Cousin George. We have been
expecting you. When did you arrive"
Just now."
"Fido! fetch my hat" she suddenly
said to the dog. sit is time to get
our supper. Are you hungry, Cousin
Georger'
"Yes-nor' | answered confus edly.
She laughed goOd-naturedly, and took
the hat from the dog.
How coed you are to that huge ami
mall' said, as we rose.
"Good! he is my idol /; he is the only
one who has at all times proven true to
me. and the only one"
She suddenly checked herself Stoop-
ing, perhaps to hide her embarrassment,
she kissed the white spot on Fido's fore
head. But L completed the sentence
with:
"To whom you have been true"
$50 they say" she returned, laughing.
But look into his beautiful eyes, and tell
me whether you could help being good to
him. Oh, if did not possess you, my
good FidOr' She stroked his head,
while he wagged his tail and gazed at her
with his large. fai hful eyes.
with us. When go through the woods
/
felicity of a race with mei'' And, with
out waiting for reply, she bounded over
the sod, the dog in pursuit barking jubi-
lantly.
We soon became good friends-some-
| thing like brother and sister, thought.
How this sentiment developed into love,
cannot satisfactorily explain. One day,
| as | was taking 3 raml'le, L came upon
her Unexpectedly: she was walking slow
| ly along, with eyes cast down, and look
| ing more grave than had ever seen her
| before. When she saw me her face sud-
| denly became transfigured with radiance,
but she quickly tripped by. This glow
ing of her face and the respondent throbs
of my heart revealed to me what we were
TO each other.
Ii was late when l reached the cottage.
| 1t was one of those serene, warm, NOON
| light evenings which exercise such a soft,
magical influence over US. Pauline was
| sitting In the garden arbor, the dog at her
side.. 1 seated myself 50 as to obtain a
| full view of her countenance, which was
illumined by the moonbeams. Its express
| sion made me ask, anXiOusly:
Pauline, are you i'll 2"
"No." A pause. :" am going away
tomorrow"
Whither?"
"Home-to the city! But what ails
you. cousin? YOU"
But why must you go?' interrupt
ed her hurriedly.
Why ? for number of reasons. In
the first place. had intended remaining
only three weeks, and 10! have been
here nearly six. Secondly, have busi
ness matters on hand, which must not
postpone. Finally, my friends demand
my return, and should not come, they
would say-that yeu were the magnet
| that fetters me here. Is It not nice that
my fri nds miss me? Oh. the conscious
ness of being missed is truly delicious
| sensstion!"
"Then-then you wish to return to
your old mode of life, and in the course
of time, perhaps-to marry?"
| Pauline's hand rested in mine, and the
touch of her warm, velvety little fingers
| quickly scattered my wisdom and self
possession. /, who had firmly resolved
never TO eater the matrimonial noose-I
said to her. in voice so soft and tender
that both of us trembled at its tone:
"We have been so happy together
herei''
"very happy ~ she whispered, quiver.
ing.
held both of her hands tightly; she
avoided looking at me, but did not turn
away her darling little face. | continued
"Betwixt you and me there is con-
siderable disparity in age, and | am by
nature much more seriously constituted
than you. Excepting you, l have never
loved woman, while you have conquered
Heaven knows how many hearts. You
are not what the world says of you; you
have heart that can love and be true.
| Therefore pray you, tell me frankly and
faithfully whether you can love me-or
do love me. | am not accustomed to adj
dressing such questions. and | do not
know, perhaps, how to express myself
conformably 70 tae requirements of an
occasion like this; but b lieve me when
[ say that you have won my heart, and
that do not think could be happy with
out you"
81 believe you."
"But will you trust me, too, and love
me?"
az love you ana trust you," she answer.
ed frankly. Are you not surprised that
| tell you this so quietly? That is be-
cause / shall never marry you. l am
capricious and presuming, and would
soon make you weary of life with my
cons ant demand for attention. l was
born to be treated like spoiled lap-dog
you are, although capable of loving, new
ertheless not an affectionate man. We
shou d not have passed two months in
wedlock before you'd wished me in Cay
enne, or some other torrid locality. But
as that would not be practicable, there
fore you would break my heart-not rude
ly and harshly, oh no !-undemonstra
lively and calmly. That is just as cleal
to me as If had it all before my eyes a
this moment ~
She looked at me, and her whole sou
Was in the glance: it spoke love, passion
and yearning tenderness. Oh, wha
strange feelings, never hitherto expert
enced, this glance awakened within me
Tn next moment held her in my arms
and exclaimed:
Pauline, if ever man loved woman
with all his heart and soul, unreasonably
madly, and yet so truly and honestly, It'll
l."
"But will that last, Georgie?''
/ / bent down, and our kisses breathef
all the delirious fervor of first true love
| UYou must be my wife. Pauline -,