New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-23

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him. Aud Louise fell on Ter knees at The
little hall window, Watching him disappear
in the starlight, and praying heaven K
shower blessings on his dear head. AL
which did not hinder young DR.. Harvey, OF
the morrow, from turning his head il
church to see if his companion OF the jour
ney was there and when he found her
from giving side glsnces, at nrst OF curiou
inspection, at last of open admiration
but, with her veil down, and her eye
on her prayer book, not one of those
chances did their object seem to see. Sh,
| made her responses and sang her chant
with q voice that DR.. Harvey could dis
tipgu;sh through the choir, so fine and rict
it was. Louise Freelelgh, loving music 81
she did. could Lot sing note-"a fatal flaw
| in woman sail DR.. Harvey to himsel
that day, though i. had never occurred Il
him before. Yet wben, atterward, he ga
with Louise n the embrasure OF the bay
| window and she read him the old Bible stO
| ries N her dramatic fashion, with the intOna
| ton and accent OF today, so that NaamaI
| and Gehazi seemed &c draw the same breatf
| that he himself cid, then he forgot the pref
ty devotee at church, and told Louise that
she was an enchantress. Nevertheless
| walking out with her on the edge of the
| evening, there at q window we're to be seer
the pensive outlines of a face lost il
| thought, whose down-drOoped lips never
lifted ae they passed-occupied just then
in doing the work of Little Birthstone.
| WHO is sher he asked Louise.
Isn't che beautifulg" returned Louise.
| II don't know. Peculiar-picturesgue
With those colors and contrasts so BLENDED
she would be beautiful in q painting"
sit is Virginia Warren, q fascinating
being, / think
| THAT sounds az if othar women didn't.
"All the men admire her"
"And their wives hate her"
"Oh, nobody would hate ner. She is q
child-DOt twenty yet
There must be character to little
body who makes the men admire her and
the women hate her at tweaty.'
There is. I've half mind TO tell you.
Old Mrs. Scar, the pcstmistress, who knows
call her the Little Birthstone"
"A knot of scandslmOngers."
ION, n0-good old souls, who think if
papa did't make the world, he keeps it
going, and who pet me"
II take it back. Yet it's pity such
busybodiee have no other affairs to be In
terested in"
Virginia is perpetual play to them, tie
curtain is always drawing on new scene;
she is their sensation novel-Only they
would think it wrong to read the novel.
But We are very good friends"
Anybody would be good friends with
you" And here the conversation becoming
tenderer, became 30 like that of lovers in
general that it has no interest to third par
ties.
As they retraced their steps they passed
that window again. 1t was open now, as if
the room had been too warm, and the lamp
light was pouring through. A flood of
song poured through. too, sacred song,
every note clear and sweet as bells over
water; and, glancing in. they saw the
singer singing like one rapt. OF conrse
they paused. do you know her we'll -
asked Roger.
"Ob, yes" Louise replied. "Would you
like to 60 in ?" And in they went.
Gilbert Allen, grave and quiet, rose and
welcomed them. Afterward he sat grave
said Roger, later. with indignant contempt
but Gilbert was really weighing whether he
cared enough tor this supple little siren to
make the proposal he had been about to
make half an hour since. while she was
singing; wondering if it were, after all,
a mere fascination Of the flesh; wondering
if the entrance of this calm girl, with thu
saints face, had been like the entrance
of holy spirit exercising the demons of
lower passion than he had right to
feel! He had plenty of tine for his refec-
ton, 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 admirIng her, 20
have his jealousy pigusd enough to put
things in the train she desired Louise,
mean awhile, when she had assorted Miss
Warren's music and selected song for her,
when che had looked over the last leaf of
Dore's Dante, which she considered quite
Sunday book. went and sat down by Gill
bert and talked, SO naturally, so simply,
that it seemed to him he was only thinking
aloud. And he left of wondering about
Virginia, in q wondermeut over this girl;
fol- 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 Vivien |
higher type. 1t was the experience of q |
man who, familiar only with the ray of q
,olored lantern, is suddenly given the free.
dom of the evening star. His employment, |
though, was disturbed by the entrance of |
other people; and it was not till he was in |
The street that he had time to see all the in.
,idents of the evening, and zee through
Virginia's attempt to excite his jealousy. |
He wondered, then, if the young doctor
we're a lover of Louise, and if Virginia's
conduct had given the other trouble; but |
le felt directly that it would be as inn pos
'ible to excite an unworthy emotion in that
,eart rs to make a roseblush bear night
hade blossoms. Her own nature seemed
90 lofty to let her idly suspect wrong
hat was not palpably apparent.
But for all Gilbert Aliens conclusions,
When Roger, on his homeward way, said
hat it had been delightful evening. it
ost Louise sigh, she hardly knew why.
Perhaps because it would have been so
nph doll fv11 ho hoI hoA |
over alone to herself, with only her father
Odding in the corner. But che reproved
erself for the selfish feeling, and received
o give Roger just such another delightful
vening by inviting Virginia and Mr.. Allen
nd come Others to meet him. Roger did
Ot need this demonstration of unselfsh-
ess; he gave himself that pleasure be-
pre- the week was over. Not exactly the
leasure, since the presence of others made
nd finding her alone he prolonged his call
III the clock was Ginning midnight He
Did himself it was a matter of research, q |
psychological study; he did not tell Louise |
nything about it. II think" said Miss |
Warren, glancing from the window of
lmpless room to see him pause at the gate
ost. in the shadow OF the budding trees,
nd look back, gazing up at the house, 81
link Dr. Harvey is beginning to find that I
awned heavily. II don't believe it PAYS"
le said. "Such infammable stuff makes q
'ntemptible flame. Give me q great solid
,art of oak that burns to the core. 1 won
,r-oh, / wonder where Gilbert was to-
ght." 1t
Gilbertg He was like Louise. Bound by
} promise, by no understanding, he felt
mself at liberty to see more of this sweet |
d innocent girl. He did not know of her
gagement to Roger, for he seldom heard
mors, and Virginia had not mentioned it
him; and he turned to her as to fresh !
d perfect poem. q new strain of music; !
Q was satisfaction and repose to him, I
ed with the frivolities and the caprices /