New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-19

regret bim-hOw could l after that ?-but
my heart seemed to lose the power of ever
loving again."
1T Is impossible" said Dunwardin. "a
heart SO gentle and tender can not have
lost the power TO love. You may fancy
that man blast your lite until it too late;
l am sure you can love"
you know very little of me- she said,
with certain dignity. II am no longer
very young, and then my life is bound up
in Paui's. But don't think me ungrateful."
she went on, quickly. Il thank you with
NO, don't thank me-" he interrupted.
why should you2 Even in loving you,
am not selfish Do want to secure your
presence for myself, your sweet face to
light my life But, since ths is not to be,
we will not say no more about it,"
They did not. He began at once to speak
of the ferns; and, as they presently walked
back to the house together, Louise caught
herself wondering ouce or twice If that
bret conversation had not been all fancy.
The brother and sister bad no secrets
from each other and when Paul heard what
had occurred, he was deeply di' appointed.
IL like him 40 much, Louise" he said, II
hoped you might have iancled him"
'Do you mean you would have liked me
to marry him, Paull's asked Louise. much
euTDTlstu. ulu NOV iInuglUG 1Dr d
thai YOU would."
why mott" asked Paul 'Do you think
me 50 selfish ] could not share you with
some one else-some one wi the will and
and power to brighten YOUR lief Louise, if
| ouly felt sure you did not refuse him on
account of that other--you know whom |
mean-1 should ne better sa'is fed"
Then be satis,iet.' said Louise. THAT
other has gone out OF my life 8nd my
han 10 oil II I ivl, 4
up all the supply OF passi II which nature
gave me, and l have NJ rs left now, not
enough to make the mites st blaze. You
would have felt that | had done q shameful
thing il l had returned Mr. Dunwardin's
kindness by accepting him When did not
care tor him, would you not? Yes, am
certain of it; and SO. dear, there is nothing
tn regret @xcant that l should have h4eis
forced to pain one whom we like so much"
A day OF two after this Mr.. Dun ~ardin
announced that be must make his long de
ferred journey to Laurel. II shall be back
in week or ten days." he said to Paul, who
was regretting that he must go. "Of
course, can not determine the time with
absolute certainty. have several places
to visit, and you know it is impossible to
obtain any clear idea of distance from the
natives of this country
pray be careful ~ said the young Grip
pie, earnestly. ANY one will tell you that
the settlement is the most lawless in the
II shall be careful" the other answered,
smiling; though, luckily, there is nobody
depending on me if the good people of
Laurel shall take into their heads to des-
patch me-"
la this manner he departed, bearing him
self to the last moment very much unlike
rejected suitors in general. He shook bands
with Louise at parting, and babe her be
sure and finish by his return a sketch of the
place which she had promised him.
Take care OF yourself y was the fare
well adjuration Of every body, and SO he
rode away.
The allotted week of his absence passed
The bOsrders at Alexander's
were very quiet people. The transients
same and went without exciting much at
-ention; there was nothing to break the
placid repose of life that almost seemed
to realize l0tos-eater's dream. Louise |
walked and read. and talked to Paul In |
i-hevile she had frankly said that she
missed Dhnwardin. Now she did not saw |
~, and Paul, with shrewdness beyond his |
Tears. decided that this was good sign.
At the end of ten days the adventurous |
raveler had not returned, and another |
week passed without any sign of him. Paul |
vas inclined to be uneasy, but the proprie-
or of the house pooh-poobed the idea of |
my harm having tetallen him. when |
hose mining fellows set out they never
,now where to stop" he said. 1--WE seen
% many of them with their pockets full of |
res. Depend upon it, Mr. Dunwardin will
urn up all right"
Louise said little, but as the DAYS wore
n there came an anxious look into her
yes, and in her walks she almost invariably
o!lowed the road down tho river, as if she
oped TO meet the returning wanderer. She
poked aud hoped in vain. however The
avs slipped by, and the third week of his
bsrnce found September throned in golden
eauty on the earth.
Then the brother and sister said to each
ther that they began to fear some harm
ad beiallen their friend. Since he left
liexander's nothing had been heard from
OF him. 1t was certain that he had gone
lone into one of the widest and least &C.
essible as well as one of the most danger.
us parts of the mountains, and it was i'm
ossible to deny that there was ground for
neasipess.
" If l we're an, like other men, would
o in search of hiu," said Paul
woman as am, would go-if l had
ny. right TO do so," thought Louise.
Three more days of increasing anxiety
assed. Then thunder-bolt fell. 1t oc-
nrred late in the afternoon when Paul and
ouise were sitting on their favOrite end of
It upper piazza, while on the one below
,veral of the other guests We're gathered.
in front of the houss ran the
lrnpike, along which two horsemen came
ding briskly, and drew up he ore the gate.
$ they appeared in sight, Louise looked at
rem eagerly, but, perceiving that neither
as the person she wished TO see, she sank
ack with sigh into her seat behind the
ines. When they stopped, one of them
Tered the customary country salutation-l
Halloa y
mo accommodation tonight" responded
voice from the piazza; "h0uss tun''
~ reckon you'll have t. put us some.
here" said the first speaker. We've
'me on pertikler errand. Didn't you
ave boarder here what went up Laurel
! mimi bu,inessl"
Mr.. Dnnwardiu boarded here, and went
, Laur' on mining business" replied the
,ice from the piazza. "What about hint,
We'll, mans bin drowned up there,
I'd some Of the folks think it's him-that's
~
There was quick volley of EXPLANATIONS
ON the piazza below, but neither of the
70 above uttered one word. Louise's hand
Osed on Pauis like vice, but she made
sound. She o. " leaned breathlassly for
ard, peering down through the green net
Drk OF vines.
Two or three men went hurriedly down
g short walk t. the ga q, and q cOnyersa-
IN eDsned, OF which every word was au.
BILE on tue piazzas. The matter, it seemed,
Dod bri. fly thus: The holy of drowned
an had been found in Laural, lodged
,ainst some driftwOOd which had aeon.
nlAUed in the middle of the stream He
As stranger, and there was nothing
nnd on him, by means of which he could
ideI titled Whether there had been foul