The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-02-18

Gilbert Allen. grave and quiet. rose
and welcomed them when Miss Warren
had received them. Afterward he sat
grave and quiet still-.'As IL he were al
a spectacle" said Roger, later, with
indignant contempt, but Gilbert was
really weighing whether he cared
enough for this supple little siren To
make the proposal he had been about
10 make half an hour since while she
Was singing; wondering II il were, after
all, a mere fascination Of the flesh ;
wondering il the entrance OF this calm
Girl with the saints face had been like
the entrance of a holy spirit exercising
the demons of a lower passion than he
had a right to feel, lie had plenty of
time for his reflection, for Virginia was
entirely occupied with her new guest,
exerting all her powers TO keep
him occupied with her, and pleased
To have Gilbert see another adj
miring her, To have his jealousy
piqued enough TO put things in the train
she desired. Louise, meanwhile, when
she had assorted Miss Warren's music
and selected a song for her, when she
had looked over the last leaf Of Dore's
Dante. which she considered quite a
Sunday book, went and sat down by
Gilbert, and talked To him SO easily, So
naturally, so simply, that it seemed to
him he was only thinking aloud. And
he left off wondering about Virginia in
a wonderment over this girl for he had
known few women in the course of his
rather recluse and studious life. save
some cantankerous cousins, and had
been modelling his ideas of feminine
perfection on this Nivien of a girl with
out the knowledge of any higher type.
Ii was the experience of a man who, ia
miliar only with the ray of a colored
lantern, is suddenly given the freedom
of the evening star. His enjoyment,
though, was disturbed by the entrance
Of other people; and il was not till he
was in the street that he had time To re-
call the incidents Of the evening, and
see through Virginia's attempt TO excite
his jealousy. He wondered then if the
young doctor were a lover of Louise, and
IL Eirginia's conduct had given the other
any trouble; but ne felt directly that it
would be as impossible to excite an I'M
worthy emotion in that heart as TO make
a rose-bush bear nightshade blossoms.
Her own nature seemed too lofty TO let
her idly suspect a wrong that was not
palpably apparent.
But for all Gilbert Aliens conclusions,
when Roger, on the homeward way,
said hat il had been a delightful even
ing, it cost Louise a sigh, she hardly
knew why. Perhaps because it would
have been so much more delightful il
she had had her lover alone to herself,
with only her father nodding in the cor
ner. But she reproved herself for the
selfish feeling, and resolved to give
Roger just such another delightful even
ing, BY inviting Virginia and Mr.. Allen
and some others TO meet him.
Roger, however, did not need this de-
monstration of unselfshnsss; he gave
himself that pleasure before the week
over-not exactly the same pleas
ure, since the presence Of others made
a difference; but calling on Miss War
rem and finding her alone, he prolonged
his call till the clock was Ginning mid
night. He told himself il was a matter
of curiosity, a matter Of research, a
psychological study; he did not tell
Louise any thing about il. ~ think"
said Miss Warren, CHANGING from the
window CO a lampless room, to see him
pause at the gate post, in the shadow of
the budding trees, and look back, gaz-
ing up al the house-'I think DIR.
Harvey is beginning 10 find that he has
been precipitate. And then she yawned
heartily. IL don't believe il PAYS"
she said. "Such inflammable stuff
makes a contemplate flame. Give me
a great solid heart Of oak that burns to
the core. | wonder-oh, l wonder
where Gilbert was tonight"
Gilbert? He was with Louise.
Bound by no promise, by no under
standing, he felt himself at liberty to
see more of this sweet and innocent girl.
He did not know of her engagement to
Roger, for he seldom heard rumors, and
Virginia had not mentioned il to him I;
and he turned TO her as TO s. fresh and
perfect poem, a new strain Of music /;
she was satisfaction and repose TO him,
tired with the friyolities and caprices Of
a Little Birthstone. And Louise, wish
ing il were Roger, marveling where
Roger could be, wearying To see Roger,
was nevertheless gracious TO Gilbert 4;
and when he went away he asked him
self where his eyes had been since he
dwelt in the place that he had suffered
a witchlight to blind him TO the light Of
pure day.
How lovely Louise looked at the little
party she made a few weeks later,
gowncd in white, with some pale green
sprays, standing by the side Of the pa
triarchal physician, and bidding Roger
forget about her and take care of the
guests, lie did not obey her at once,
though; that is, not till Miss Warren
made her appearance and dazzled her
hostess out of sight. Her black lace
dress, embroidered in white daisies and
scarlet pimpernel, harmonized with her
1usEy ha.ufr and unado Mr. Carr INIT