The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-25
}NO.19.
were not for an unlucky appoint

were not for an unlucky appoint
ment."
On my word, had hard work not
to laugh, vexed as I was; he had
caught US so nicely. Both of, us
disposed of at one blow, and an af-
ternoon's tete-a tete with Alcyona Sc
cured for himself.
Gertie looked dangerous, but she
likewise did the only thing left for
her, and went up stairs for her hat
and shawl. When she came down
where I was waiting with Lady Fan
ME, she honored me with long,
quizz;cal look, Of which I could make
nothing. / fancy I stammered out
something to that effect, for she
burst into laugh.
''How droll you are, Mr.. Gadgrind!
I was not looking at you at all.s /
only wanted to see If there was any,
thing about the harness that was
likely to break. You know, Lady
Fannie is not very gentle"
1t was odd that, in about twenty
minutes from the time we started,
something did give way, wasn't It?
OF course, we went back; and, very
naturally, repaired to the library to
report our disaster. I was going in,
but Gertie held me back.
We were too late. g.
you misunderstood me, Alcyona.
I may have trifled with others, But
never with you" Tom was saying.
81 love you, and you only. I ask
you in all honor and sincerity to be
my wife, Surely, my words are
plain enough"
"And mine, ALSO" returned Alcy-
ona. Il regret it, but l do not love
you" es..a ,a Is,
Tom looked bewildered. j
s'1mpossible that isl mean, are
you-you are not MISTAKEN ak have
watched you as only q lover can, and
| have SEEM" o4sd nw..a4 .I4aaov,.
aDoayou9 mean to say that you are
better informed on the subject than
II" demanded Alcyona, WILSON'S
asperity.e e1oltHs96 3sYe 9elt sadf ai
mo, of course not; but5in4 time
you might learn--might-'' ads III /
Impossible" sd3 ID bsaAe s3sl3.
I sWhy2o4 We are all human, and
therefore mutable. rYou-..''''7es llsu j
4 "Sir" interrupted Alcyona,r ttthere
is an obstacle, and IN insurmounta-
| BILE one, between u.s. 49q4 sasel-
~ do not3believe in insurmount-
able obstac,es1Ssiyao9 tsags .q,l4 10
+ "Hear what it is. III am to- be
married in, two weeks to,the man i
4 have always love'l.''s ~ 4ya3s dada
! The artful, designing, puss-faced,
little hypocrite! I was dumb
| thunderstruck. AS for Gertie, what
do you think she did2e Just flung
]iher arms aroundmy necksand kissed
me with all her might sgoiw4g
"Bless herr she exclaimed. as
soon as she recovered breath, .eThat
is the secret that has puzzled US all
so; but who would have dreamed
she conld have kept SO still
about itp'''
AS that was the way she looked at
it, Of course, the less Isaid about it
the better; but / started for Newport
that very night, leaving Alcyona
placid as usual Gertie triumphant,
and Tom wilted. The rest of the
summer | dirted more vehemently
than ever with the little South Caro-:
linian, aired all my pantaloons, and
recovered something like my ordiua-
ry state of mind before returning to
the city. There l found on my ia.
BILE an envelope Of suspicious and
satin-like smoothness, bearing the
initial S., and containing the cards
of Mr.. and Mrs. Stannerd, anil Miss
Gertrude Lee. ! heaved a sigh, and
from henceforth think of Tom with
out rancor. She has got him
Poor feliowi -