The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-03

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"Madgep and serious look came into bis
face -, Let US drop pickering, and begin where
we Ieft or Yesterday
VERY we'll she replied. II believe the
poiat { which you left off was whstling, and
was doing nothing In particular; SO II you
VIII strike off q staye OF anything will de-
my masaxe st he a sRassyd sza IL yef I'D 1
'yraintings and whistle 7 Faith, my last re-
membranes Is OF q prettier picture than an
art room ever held l saw II beautiful woman
| want for my wife,
1 Here was a poser! Proposed to It came
like sweet SURPRISE, nevertheless But it
was contrary to Miss 8, Barron's tactics. Were
| weeks OF delightful flirting to be cut off In a
! moment In this fashion How could he have
believed her In earnest It was ridiculous
She had meant to play the Injured mistress
for several days, and make him abiect in his
efforts to reinstate himself with her. She did
not want q climax reached with this man.
Her heart had told her II would leave regret
that she had never known before. To avoid
this now, she would begin with raillery.
| "Really, Mr.. Darlington" she said, "you
must be- hungry Or ,overtired to make such u
| statement. A Widespread table. staaming
viands comfort and o wife must have shot
| through your BRAIN 1 tan assure you de-
| lightful supper now awaits you"
| Miss Barron" he began. frowning without
| apparent notice of her words, and arising to
his feet three weeks ago did not know YOU !;
| but in that time all my life now seems to have
been crowded. l never stopped to question
| your actions. It seemed as II there was no
need Of asking for VOWS they would denote emo, "a a
| commencement of love-. l wanted it to be as
| Ii we had loved forever"
VERY well, she said, "let it be so; no vows,
no commencement. You see | agree with you
mo, will not have 1t SO, he cried, trying
| to take her hand.
"As you please she laughed, Struggling
i her shoulders, i can pick my way through
81 hope | am not wanting in gentle behavior,
but before I or you stir a step further he
said, stepping in front of her and barring the
way. IL want @ simple answer to q simple
MadgeY'
"lf / cannot say yes perhaps cannot say
no, ! think friendship does not justify an
| abrupt no. T.
IF you loved, eyes, lips, voice, acts all would
blend into yes 1t must be yes or no. say"
Madge had never met any man SO mas er-
full. But she answered nevertheless. "Then,
no. since you force me TO be unladyike"
" l do not ask you to be unladylke | do
not say that you are. | asked you for your
love. It was straightforward question. l
wanted a straightforward answer. My arm,
Miss Barron
And thus walking, assisting her over every
the villa.
Miss Barron was exceedingly gay that
evening Lyndhurst loved herl Ofcourse, she
was moi, going to make any prosy engagement.
But they could live the delightful life they
had lived this last three weeks always. He
had nothing in particular to do. Why could
lle not, when they should return to London,
ilirt all the same when he was not by; and his
Intentions, therefore, would be just 50 much
gained. Her life was not to be altered an
lqta. She did not profess to love the man.
He must not, however, scatter his intentions.
He must concentrate all his admiration on
her.
But toward the close of the evening. when
Madge found he had not sought her once, q
shadow Of although passed through her mind
that perhaps he was not poodie-dog, after
all, to be led about in this way by string.
She had sung, thinking to bring him to her
side. but he had lounged away-a thing he
had never done before when she was at the
piano. She had taken a garden stroll with a
rival. Mr.. Oakley, and Lyndhurst had care
lessly drawn up his unstretched legs, as he
sat lazily on the veranda steps. to let them
pass down. without other notice of their pres
ence. He had she decided, fairly ll-treatpd
her, a lady, and she would not tolerate rude
ness She would teach him what was due to
her.
But days passed A week wore on. She
found t no possible. chance to visit her anger on
civil and well bred, but that was all. She was
downright perplexed.
She , scarcely ever met him, even at table,
much less OF an evening. He went fishing
and at night asked the gentlemen up to his
chamber; the ladies. sitting lonely in the par
Tor. heard, through the windows, laughter
ring. out and gay songs being sung It was
getting maddening.
One evening Madge curled herself up on
sofa and looked at the matter seriously. She
had tried hauteur, and it had signally failed
Now she would try a dash of giving in,
herself on the old footing.
just then Lyndhurst stepped into the room,
cautiously at first, as if fearing her presence.
She Immediately rose to meet him. He did
not start, but looked her over from head to
foot without a word. She gayly said:
doing things trifle? Then She lost { control
of herself, and showed her vexation. "Sipg
to me-" she cried, "walk with me- talk to me-
do a,ppyt1hi,ng to obliterate this doleful week"
suppose we talk and walk. III say, under
the stars, what / said under the oaks; and
you shall give me q true answer"
She looked at him moment then fairly
hlazed. II never saw such persistence.
Thank heaven | 60 home tomorrow, where
gentlemen know what to do to q lady, and
take mo- for no without getting sullen. Good
night. Mr.. Darlington: and, good-by. If you
ever consent to be less bOOrlSh, persistent, /
shall be pleased to see you in town.
He watched her out of the room and then
sat down to the piano.
Miss Barron's first impulse was to seek out
the party on the lawn, but somehow every
face on earth but one seemed tame. Then she
resolved to go into the library and read, but
books were so wearying.
,,"I would play" she said, pettishly, "if
that masculine was not monopolizng the
piano"
just at this point she bursted into tears. |
Crying, usually, to Miss Barron consisted Of a
couple oftears mopped up by bit of lace. She
had never before thrown herself down in such
limp shape, and got herself into such thor
ough tempest of weeping as now. She was an
hour at it, Gradually she got calmer. She
sat up and began to consider what was next
best to do.
She tried to think of going home as a pleas |
ure soon at hand. Homel What had she |
there2 Only an old aunt who dozed in lace |
cap. with a cup OF chocolate at her elbow, half
the time. The memory of the pleasant hours |
SnAnt hor I'D, bo,, to-, tI,n4