New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-06

looking at speck winding along thread
! far below. "Are you expecting any one?"
he asked, pitching q tone Rather viciO1sly
| in that direction. "For my part, there is
nothing desire less than new arrivals.
should like to draw q magic circle around
this forest retreat of ours, to keep them
away"
"But would not that be selfish! How do
| you know but that among those whom You
wonld keep away might be friend OF your
| own?'
II have no friend whom l want to see
here"
mot even Mr.. Cleveland, of whom you
| spoke the other day!'
Not even Laurie. There comes q time
| in every mans life when he desires only
one companion; and that companion, Miss
Clyde. may l venture to say that have
! found e.
! A dulier woman than the one whom he
addressed would nave understood all that
| these words implied, but beyond slight
increase of color, Hester betrayed not the
least sign of having done so. She said,
| quietly: THAT is a very pretty compli-
ment. Mr.. Ferguson-but you know don't
| like compliments Let US suppose that Mr..
| Cleveland has penetrated into your magic
circle-that he is on the stage passing be-
! low there-yoU would not be sorry to sea
! him, would you ~
"Yss: l should be sorry to zee any one.
But why do you make such supposltion
| What would bring Laurie here
| Perhaps to join You in deer Eunt-per-
hsps to meet Miss Mildmay, to whom. as
! l told yor, he is reported TO be- engaged"
But now could he meet her, when she is
is really coming"
| lit is one OF the laws of matter, believe.
| that body can not be in two places at tho
same time. Hence Miss Mildmay can net
| be coming, for the very good reason that
| she has already come.'
Ferguson stared at the speaker, whose
clear, darky fringed eyes met his with a
| light OF amusement in their depths.
You are not in earnest, Miss Clyde, ae
SAID
Il am perfectly in earnest, Mr.. Fergu-
SON." she answered. will you try and
pardon me-will you try not 70 be desper-
| ately shocked-when 1 tell you that AM
Miss Mildmay Z?
Miss Clyde!'
Il am not Miss Clyde, except by court
esy. Mr.. Clyde is only my step-father,
NY proper name is Hester Mildmay-but |
did not come here in search of you, Mr.
Ferguson. l have often heard Nelly Black
talk of her brother, but l had altogether
! forgotten his name-in fact, may say his
exlstence-until your story recalled it TO
me. She did invite me to meet d gay party
at her house this summer. but Just before
the time for starting l had an attack of
fever. after which papa brought me here to
rest. had no intention Of deceiving any
one in bearing mis- name. am so much at
| tached to him that often call myself by it.
owe you an apology for not telling you
| the truth when We were discussing Miss
| Mildmay q week ago, but l was so much
| amused by your intense prt iudice that
could not resist the inclination to win your
liking before telling you who l was
While she was speaking the changes on
Ferguson's face but slightly represented
the tumult of his thoughts. Nothing could
have been more unexpected, scarcely any
thing more trying, than this revelation
The blood came to his face in burning tor
rent as he recalled all that he had said of
Miss Mildmay to Miss Clyde. His first il
teliigible conclusion framed itself uncon-
sciously into words:
Great Heaven! what fool have BEEN
IL don't agree with you" said Hester un-
able longer to restrain laugh. You were
not to blan failing to suspect who l was,
if that is what you mean. Apart from the
tact that a photograph gives little idea of
the real countenance, had lost flesh and
color by illness, and fashion had abolished
the elaborate couture and brought in simple
arrangement of hair. As to the silken skirts
which you came here to avoid, should
never, under any circumstances, be guilty
OF the bad taste OF wearing those n the
forest
You may spare me. think" ne said, in
low voice. 81 am sufficiently punished
But you should not feel that way at all.
cried Hester, eagerly. Il was not in the
least hurt or offended by your opinion
.'Since it was altogether without value
in your eyes"
Pardon me; l was about to say since it
was based wholly on hesrsay. l nope you
think now, Mr.. Ferguson, tba. l am not
quite so black as / was painted, and that
you will not so heartily cOmmissera.e you,
friend tor being engaged to me-
He gave great start at this.
Il had forgotten that" he said. - have
no right to ask but l should like to know
it it is true?'
ut is true, she answered.
The words were 80 decided tina. Ferguson
rose and walked quickly away. He felt
like o1e who had received blow, which for
the time almost stunned sensation. AS a
refrain to which every thought was set, the
words rang through his mind, what a
fool l have been!' How long he stayed
looking at the wide, beautiful landscape
without seeing feature of it, he never
knew. 1t was Hester's voice that reused
him.
MIR. Ferguson" she said. very gently, 81
am truly sorry if my foolish mystifcation
has given you annoyance. Pray forget it,
l am very willing to ignore Miss Mldmay
and continue to be Miss Clyde to you until
we part"
You can never be Miss Clyde to me
again." he answered, without looking
round. "You talked of my learning to like
you. but you must know"
She interrupted him ruthlessly.
Il know that you have been so kind and
pleasant to me that should be very sorry
if have in any way thoughtlessy given
you pain. Will you not try to forgive me,
and-fGrget! You must for Laurie's sake,
if not for mine. have not told you vet
that he is really down at the hotel. Come,
will you not shake hands and let Us 20 to
meet him as friends
There was minutes longer pause. Then
Ferguson turned, took the hand which she
offered and kissed it once, twice. thrice.
I'VE are friends" he said Let Us go
And go in the soft twilight they We,
down the hill tOgether.-Appleton Jouha..
Garibaldi at Home.
Garibaldi is the great friend OF the v ora-
ingmen; and is president Of a cooperative
lol., - 49, H.. &