The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-11
MISS DABNEY'S FILTRATION.
uow TT HAD A SUCCESSFUL ENDING
tHarper's Bazar.l


Louise Dabney's friends that she was not
favorite with gentlemen fortune 80 es-
4sential to feminine well being. Whether 1t
was from lack of beauty Though about that
OF d cold and critical manner, a certain re-
serve irresponsible to the masculine touch
stone, an innate disdain Of filtration, Of maxi
ing an effort to please one sex more than an.
other, who could say? Louise was herself
aware that she inspired the masculine heart
with no serious sentiments, and she may have
wondered secretly by what spells other girls
who were not SO well bred nor SO Intelligent.
and certainly no fairer, gathered groups OF
lovers about them, while she stood by alone
and uncared for-not that she coveted plu-
rality-but what charm had they to which
she could not aspire2 Every woman loves
admiration, and it is not to be supposed that
Louise Dabney was superior to this amiable
Louise has never had filtration, love
affair, or o proposal, her friends would have
told you but they were not quite correct In
their verdict. She had had 'an Interest" to
put 1t mildly, ever since that dreadful night
on the Continent when her uncle had been
brought lifeless into the little out-of the-way
place among the mountains, and had left her
alone among people speaking an unfamiliar
and home. and Loring Northcote had come
to her aid though total stranger, and taken
her burdens upon himself, and had been like
shadow In weary land to the desolate girl,
and had finally escorted her home across the
sea- with his widowed sister as chaperon.
Since that period there had been more or less
intercourse between them, to be sure, but the
half.tender regard he had manifested toward
her had seemed to crystalline, without devel-
oping into anything more personal and par
tieular.
ut Is only his way with all women, +" she
said, and excused him in her heart. And
when she had thanked him for all his kind
nesses, and said, 'How can / ever reward
you'll "By always coming to me when you
need kindness" he answered, but be thought,
..She Is less emotional than a sphynx." And
that their relations would grow closer as time
Sped had perhaps some right to expect 1t,
yet Mr. Northcote had never advanced step
nearer; and IL she had abandoned hope the
q word, a touch, and nobody the wiser, not
even the interested friends, who thought
Louise neglected her opportunities; that any
sother girl would have had an offer, at least,
under the circumstances.
Il was the following season. which she
spent at the fine old mansion OF a friend,
when, seeing the company dispensing day
after day by twos, she resolved to amuse her
woman likes to believe that she has her own
little attractions, and how was she to make
sure Of 1t IL she attracted nobody? Besides.
there was nothing else to do. TO abstain
from the popular amusement seemed like re-
preaching those who engaged in it. Mr..
Leroy appeared to adopt her views. II she
walked, he followed like her shadow; If the
river allured, his boat was at hand II driving
were In order, he handled the reins like
Jehu. Their acquaintance had begun, more
over, under the most favorable auspices to
take o romantic view OF it.. She had discov-
cred that her pocket had been picked on the
cars Of both money and tickets; A hand,
some stranger steps forward to the relief of
the distressed damsel; gratitude on one hand;
gallantry on the other; he has established q
claim to conversation, and discovers that they
are both bound for the same hospitable roof
at Valley Farm. Could a Irritation be ushered
in more propitiously?
Really, whispered Mrs. Furniss, fort
night later, sitting on the veranda and look
ing toward Louise who sat In the hammock
which Leroy was lazily swinging, 81 believe
Miss Dabnev has made an impression"
"Who is Mr.. Leroy2' asked the gentleman
ito whom she spoke and who had just arrived
in the last train.
"Alliteratiye at least And has Miss Dab
new landed him."
"She, could il she would 1t isn't his fault
III she hasn't
sT shouldn't say that Miss Dabney was slls-
How did you find that out, Mr.. Northcote?"
laughed the hostess.
by natural processes, believe"
I'm told she isn't favorite with your sex
SUBSCRIPTIONS prove the rule. never knew
her to have q filtration before, confess"
us this a flrtationw
con her side, yes. It's her very indifference
that attracts Leroy He's used to being made
head, SO to speak. AS she doesn't want to
marry him, she can afford to be audacious. p"
81 didn't think she would condesoend to
flirt"
s'You seem to have made study Of Miss
Dabney. I think she didn't wish to be left
"A out In the cold. All my guests seem to be
paired off this season, You will have to de-
vote yourself to me, Mr.. Northeote, unless
4 mot ay Ian mn
"Don't beg; am content with the bless
ings the gods have provided:
aYou might dispute Louise with Mr.. Lee
roy, to be sure"
fsTrue. Let us begin by interrupting the
1ete-a-tete'
sMr. Northeote," said Louise, ''this is a
Dleasure for which Mrs. Furniss had not pre-
pared us"
IL he regarded it in that light" said North
cofe aside. 81 hope l am not de trop.''
Il didn't know that such humility as that
hope suggests was trait of your SEX"
aShall go away again ?"
stWhy, certainly not Immediately; 1t would
look as If had snubbed you"
ssAnd I'm not sure but you have"
1t was doubtless pleasant to have specta"
tor witness her REPUTATION OF the popular pre-,
iudice respecting her want of attraction, and
that the spectator should be Mr.. Northeote
added piauaney to the affair. cat least he
viii see that somebody finds me worth Guilt
waiting" she reflected But ia spite OF this
she found herself Incapable of entering into
the spirit Of alirtation with the same uncon-
Germ after Northcote's arrival. She felt per-
petual Insane desire to shorten the walks and
drives. that she might hasten back to his
neighboIhood, snd know just how he was
passing the time, that she might see his face
and hear hds voice. But the further she with
drew the closer Leroy pursued, the old
adage that a bird in hand is worth two
IN the bush not holding good in love
affairs. But when Miss Dabney ventured to
diirl she did not know it entailed serious re-
suits She had such small belief in her pow,
are Of fascination that she would have laughed
AZ tbe idea Of Mr. Leroy being in danger or
IN earnest. There was no one else at leisure
TO receive his attentions, to listen to his gush-
;nrs: when other women arrived all this
would be transferred, and she would slip
S hack into her natural state OF isolation and
nerlect, Didn't she know that Leroys ten