The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-28
cheeks burning and my eyes full OF

cheeks burning and my eyes full Of
tears.
1T should be villain to take advan-
tage OF my position and urge YOU: y, Yet .,
happy. What would you have but
youth that I cannot give you? There
are many chances against your ever
being offered again strong, honest,
undivided heart like mine. No young
man could love as do. Mildred, what
you might be to mel"
The strange tone Of passionate ear
nestness made my heart beat quickly.
I glanced at my father. He was watch
ing me with intense anxiety. No need
| to question what his wishes were. AS
for the meaning of this strange scene I
wanted no details; enough that some
momentary crisis had come that threat
ened disgrace and ruin. | could avert
it, and how? By marrying one whose
affection might have gratified the most
ambitious heart; one of the nOblest OF
men; one l loved, though perhaps not
as he loved me. In that hour Of excite
ment and in my undisciplined mind
| little was l prepared to weigh remote
possibilities and contingencies. Besides,
| was ardent, excitable, apt to mistake
| PulSC Iol "hUo
you might be to mel" wrought upon
my sensibility; his expression Of sub
dued emotion still further moved me.
1t never occurred to me to demand time
| for explanation and reflection. / felt
constrained to answer him then and
there.
IF we're less a child,' / said, blush
ing and trembling, ''if l were more
your equal" It was enough. he drew
near me and clasped me In his arms.
'Childr' he said passionately, ''my love
gazing at me seriously: "You give your
self to me willingly, Mildred, but / will
not bind you. Six months hence / will
give you back your freedom il you are
not happy, and you will find it hard to
deceive a love like NINE"
My father rose and grasped his hand
in silence. "God bless you'll" he said
at length II would have borne much
20 secure such a protector for my child.
Leave US, Mildred. to arrange some
matters that cannot be delayed even
till the morning." | was eager to obey
and be alone to think, and left the
| That half hour had revolutioniZed my
whole being. I was q child no longer
locked my bedroom door to give way
to all the tumultuous emotions Of
woman. Sued for as wife engaged
I looked at myself in the glass, and
wondered that a man like Mr.. Lacy
could love such q young, uniformed
creature as appeared. There was an
incongruity in it that struck me pain
fully. Still there was a distinction in
his regard that fattered me. 1 had
very high esteem for him. was ward
ing off a calamity from my father. /
1nua1 nlcn-nn Innhf ohn,11I
be very happy. I sat down on the edge
Of the bed and leaned my head upon
my hand. Unaccustomed to dream, at
that moment an involuntary dream
rose before my imagination. Instead
Of this strange compact, the woOing of
youthful lover; instead Of mere con-
sent on my part, the delicious hopes,
the rich fruition Of q conscious, active
passion. Might [ not have been thus?
II beauty won love, ] was fair enough
il freshness and strength Of heart were
ideal blissl The sound Of Mr.. Lacy's
voice recalled me to sense of my duty
to him 1t was wrong to dream OF such
girlish possibilities now.
He was going away, and my father
had accompanied him to the head of the
staircase. supposed he had asked him
II he would not wish to bid me good
night, for heard him answer no; "No
she would not wish to be disturbed
fear to weary her. God forgive me If l
am acting selfish part" I rose up
resolutely; no more such weakness as
that Of the last hour ; he was worthy of |
woman's love and honor, and I would |
give it. The next two months passed in |
q state Of tranquil happiness. II manly
devotion, il the most delicate and minute I
n tap tinnc could win hoo ri oino mould
have been won, and / thought it was,
and reposed on the idea.
Mr.. Lacy made no attempt to prevent
my plunge into the gay world, postponed |
for while by the late strange incidents.
Now and then he would go with me to
ball or opera, but it was in the charac- |
ter Of protector or inspector, not as
principal, and [ felt his presence re-
straint. | was by no means coquette;
strove to bear always in mind that 1 /
was his affianced wife; but / was only
eighteen, ardent in temperament, with |
high animal spirits, very much courted
and admired, and l did enter with a
keen zest into the pleasures OF life. His
ment, used to fall like weight on my
heart.
He himself, holding an important
shA lhhoOAtAbA PoolbAoh AL CuC WOIlu,
was full of earnest schemes OF practi-
cal benevolence, of professional reform.
He seemed to think, labor, and write
mainly with an eye to other men g in
terests, and those in their highest and
widest bearings. He liked to talk to
ne Of these things and excite my moral
and while I listened he
carried heart and conviction with him,
and felt a call to such cooperation an
honor in which sacrifice could have no
part. Then his look of intense affec-
ion and happiness as he kissed the
cheek to which his words had brought
70 deep glow, stirred my soul and left
10 doubt on my mind that loved him.
At the end Of two months Mr.. Lacy {
eft me to attend a summons to his
ather's death-bed. He expressed no {
ears as to the result of this separation, {
hough perceived deep secret ankle
y. I shared it. I had morbid dread {
.f the nffant nf thio ahcanno ,