Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-07-31


Marietta. | am glad you came on
this morning, so we can go in to-
gether. How are all at home? Re-
gale me, Claude, with all the bits of
gossip you can recall, and relieve the
tedium of the journey"
II don't know anything startling
all rather blue, though they keep up
wonderfully"
1t was early in the morning when
the friends reached Marietta; they
repaired to the hotel, registered their
names and ordered breakfast.
"Well Claude, will you go round
with me to the Doctors? | will in
sure you welcome"
"No, not this morning. Harold,
you have the advantage; you know
where to go, while /, alas T! am in the
dark, without single clue as to the
abode of my enchantress."
"You had better come with me and
make inquiries there; probably they
can give you some information.'.
"Not for the world Say, Harold,
do not mention Cecile to your friends
"Are you afraid to tempt your fate?
| will make an engagement for you
this evening-you will go!"
81 can't promise"
"Where Shall | 60 first? l should
hate to awake from my dream and find
my incognita an old maid. Oh! could
| find my blue-eyed 'Titania'-by
Jupiter /! it is as Harold says, | am
afraid to tempt my fate"
Claude dered around all
day, but his search was unavailing;
be met no one approXimating the
golden-haired vision of his dream.
He went to the office, but no one
made inquiries for her mail; he re-
turned to his room that night some
what discouraged.
Claude, you had better 60 with
me you will spend pleasant even
ing"
"No, l must find her first. l have
concluded to write and request an in
terview."
"All right, go ahead if you think o
disappointment will be better than
suspense
IL am decided; l will write to-
night and await her answer"
About two o'clock next day he re-
ceived in reply
"Dear friend IF l may presume
thus to address you after refusing
your request, cannot meet you after
my temerity in writing to you, a
stranger. Perhaps VIC may meet, and
should l gain your friendship under
my name proper, l may claim that
also of CECILE BURNEss."
To simply say that Claude was
disappointed would not express his
feelings; the desire to see his friend
was only equaled by curiosity as to
the motive that induced this reticence.
at is surely not because she does
not wish to he seen. | will wager
my life she is the very little fairy of
my dreams. Well, | will bide my
time," and his mouth settled reso-
lutely.
"What success, Claude ?"
"Listen and you shall hear" and
he read aloud the note he still held.
"Cool 'pon my word, she refuses an
interview. Well, you will go round
to the Dr.'s now? | told them last
night you were in town and they in
sisted that | should bring you round.
Leila is as l told you perfect beauty,
and she made numberless inquiries
concerning you"
"Yes, l will go with you, but 7
have not yet relinquisbed the hope of
finding Cecile. l will some day
introduce her to you as Mrs. Ray
mond, if the bloody Yanks spare my
stupid pate, and the gods are pro-
pitious in their smiles"
The evening passed so swiftly and
pleasantly by, that the old clock peel
ed out Shakspere's smallest hours"
ere the friends bethought themselves
to leave. Leila met our Capt. with
quiet selfpossession, though she
could not repress the rising blush as
she noticed the earnestness with
which be noted the luxuriant, supera
bundant hair, that in defiance to CONT
and pins, would ripple in shining
wavelets about her forehead.
"YOu have been in town some days
Capt, have you not? have yor
friends here ?"
No, Miss Lorimer, l have uo
friends here"
"How then have you amused your
self ?-have you not found our city
dull 2" Claude blushed.
81 fear you would laugh were 1 tc
tell you how l have employed my
time"
IL wont promise until see whether
it is laughable, but tell me please,
and her blue eyes looked dangerously
rougish. Claude hesitated notwith
standing he felt their power.
miss Lorimer do you know q
Miss Cecile Burness
Claude bad been irresistibly at
tracted by Leila, and in yielding t.
the charm of her presence, had forgot
ten Cecile until her remark recalled
her.
81 once knew q Rosa Burness ir
Charleston, but / don't know any one
by that name here, why Capt. Ray
mond ?"