The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-07-07
A GAME OF HEARTS.

Morton Leyyllian looked into his COM
p%anion's face and wondered if she really
possessed a heart ! Or was she only-as
had been saba creature of intellect,
one who required not, and wished not,
the most precious of all life's blessings
love. Rather a difficult question! and
her beautiful, queenly countenance,
with its lustrous brown eyes and delicate
chiseled features did not serve to satisfy
his doubts.
He was accustomed to be a favorite
with the gentlsr sex. Wealthy, intel
l~ectual, and handsome, he was very
naturally appreciated by maneuvering
mammas and manageable daughters.
Clara Vane was unlike the woman with
whom he had been thrown in contact.
Although among, she was not of them,
and her indifference hurt him much more
than he cared to confess, ever to himself.
So this evening, a they wandered to-
gether through the brilliantly illuminated
rooms of a fashionable devotee, he asked
carelessly, albeit his eyes rested search
ingly upon her face:
Miss Vane, do you believe in love ?"
She laughed---and, although her dusky
cheek crimsoned a little, displayed not
the slightest discomposure az she an
swered:
"No-at least not as you do"
That sentence implied q certain
amount of something that the gentleman
scarcely liked. How should she know
whether their beliefs were similar?
Indeed " he commented, somewhat
dryly. Would it be impertinent in ME
to inquire what your belief really isl"
She bit her lip.
" make no, ~pretensions to understand
tl,n fFnyone's ideas upon this or any other
subject fbje3rref than they themselves do.
I only know that my own opinion of
love is very different from the latter day
sentiment which is now digniied by that
name."
He smiled provokingly.
$50 is mine. We agree thus far, at
any rate. Perhaps, were we to compare
notes, the similarity would exist still
further"
Scarcely probable" she answered,
calmly. "But it is not an interesting
topic, and as it is of no consequence
whether we consider it in the same light
or not, | propose we discuss some other
subject"
Of course after that the conversation
was changed.
"Confound it, what's the use ?" he
murmured sadly, that night-or rather
that morning-after returning home.
:" Here / am, fairly bewitched after a
woman, who, if report speaks truly, is
not capable Of feeling a particle of affec.
tion for any man, and who has demon
beyond a peradventure her utter
Indifference to me. In love with an ice
That's what's the matter But
[ swear won't make a fool of myself
any longer! She can 60 her way, and I'll
20 minei"
Whether this resolution would have
oeen Kept or no, is a question that must
brewer remain unsettled, as the next day
Mss Vane had left ~town-gone, no one
NEW where to remain, none knew how
ong.
But we, being wiser than the majority
f folks, may follow her away from the
metropolis to a beautiful coun-
ry seat, down in Kent, where, disguised
like with the world and herself, she had
refuge for the summer months
18th her young married friend, Mary
hurston.
Now, Clara" said the young lady,
) they sat together, some few evenings
fter Miss Vane's arrival" Of course YOU
now how glad I am to have you here,
nd all that sort of thing but what in
ne world possessed you to come ? for,
hen saw you last, you gave me no
Encouragement to hope for this VISIT
Well, Mary" to tell the truth. I
the slightest idea of paving II two ]
eekB ago but {
But what? ;" eagerly asked her CON-
anion. You were not involved II. :
y iove affair, were you? head some
ing of a serious Irritation you were !
aving with somebody. It didn't be- :
too serious--did it :
: Yes, it did" answered her guest !,
lpetnously, startled out of her usual !
ticence by that strange longing for :
at sympathy which sometimes seizes !
Q proudest of us. ST became &C.
tainted with q man endowed with ex. !.
.ordinary gifts Of mind and person, !,
d | undertook to teach him a lesson. , !.
1t. alas for human Volitionl I learned :
D lesson IL
{ Does he know it ~ interrupted her =
and anysnueIv :,