The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-07

avenue.
But there Is no time to wonder any more;
1.-THE hall-door is open; Dick is handling me
from the carriage; and there, at the top OF
the steps, stands q toll stately woman, while
peepng over her shoulder is little sandy
haired man, head shorter than herself-Mrs.
Colauhoun and her husband.
CHAPTER II.
have been ten days at Merlewood. When
come to think of it, 1t is strange that |, q
visitor in the house where Dick Is also
guest, should spend 80 much time looking
through that window, and watching the
cloud-shadows play h1de-and-seek with each
mosphere doesn't suit me- To put it plainly,
find that | don't like people who possess
''many sterling qualities" in other Words
don't like Dicks sister.
Every hour since I came to Merlewood,
every day that Dick and have been together
in the society of Harriet Mrs. Colquhoun-
| have felt as II anNwful, intangible some
thing was drifting Dick from me; and as II
were some poor helpless child, standing On
the bank of dark river, whose current bears
away the sweetest blossom that my hands
have ever gathered.
When we started for an after-dinner stroll,
we were partie cdrree-Mrs. Colquhoun and
her husband, Dick and l.. We had fallen into
the usual procession these expeditions re-
solved themselves into. Dick and his sister
leading the way, with the diminutive owner
of Merlewood and myself bringing up, the
rear, when all at once some one--upon whose
pathway In life may all blessings rest RE
uuired Che presence Of our hostess, and with
an unwillingness that not all her tact
could conceal, she left us. Hardly had the
stately figure of his wife vanished from our
sight, when Mr.. ColguhOun's little green
eyes gavde me hs fnG aa dSgpR
ly off among the golden-br0wn beech trees
that surrounded us on all sides Having men
tally Rugged the little man for his consider
ate departure caught fast hold of Dick s arm
with both my hands, and tried to put into
words the content felt.
"Oh. Dick-darlng-1 am SO glad"
He gave comprehensive glance round
and seeing no Indication Of our solitude being
disturbed, drew me to his side, and stood on
tiptoe to meet the kiss that dropped upon my
happy mouth. dare say it was very nndig-
nifcd to show my gladness and my love in
such open fashion; but it seemed as natural
to me to let Dick read my most inward heart,
as it is to flower to unfold its blossom when
the sun shines upon it.
All through those ten days Of restraint
had been garnering up things to say to Dick,
when should get the chauce: and now that
the chance had come-behod, / was dumb !!
meant to ask, had reference to his sister Har-
riet. and something warned me that they
would sound unwecomely in his ears; | had
gradually come to realize the fact that some
subtle strength OF influence ABOUT neT cDaThc-
ter had been lifelong power over Dick, and
that even while at times he WINGED under it,
he could not shake it off. SO | was silent
happy. too, for the time being, with the moon
light shimmerlng down upon us, and here
and there glimpse of the curling sea show
of the trees. We paced slowly on, Dick s curly
head bent low, his eyes full of restful, ten
der light, his hand on mine y 1t Is
nothing, think you, to be perfectly happy just
| Inv flntt tir,rr
hour to look back on and say, ut had no
| fIawP'
We are going to party tonight 1t is the
first bit of dissipation that has offered itsel
since my arrival at Merlewood, and am anx
ious to make a creditable appearance. | feel
that il my toilette is unbecoming, Mrs. Col
quhoun's deliberately critical inspection will
make me shrivel up, and feel as ii Dug ht to
apologize for offending her sense OF the beau
tfful My resources are limited, very much
So So in fact: but we Merivales, though often al
most reduced to penury as regards our ward
robes, are not deficient in good taste; and {
slender figure goes great way toward max
ing the plainest dress look presentable.
and am quite dazzled by the glare of light
and the crowd Of people. | am presented tt
the hostess, a little fat woman, who greets
Mrs. Colquhoun with gushing fervor, ant
through the suite of drawing rooms. As W.
are entering the third-a small octagona
room, luxuriantly furnished as a lady,
boudor, and lighted by hanging lamp
Dick stops suddenly, and as | look up a
him see. TO my great terror, that all trace o
color has left his cheek, and that his eyes ar
fixed in silent wonder, and with something II
them that is half fear, half joy, upon {
woman who is standing just where the ligh
falls full upon her lovely naughty, face ant
graceful form. She, too, Is strangely moved
and grows as white as the pearls that wreatl
her raven hair and clasp her mik-whit
throat, while the same mingling OF passionat
gladness and nervous dread dawns in he
she bends low, yet with the dignity of {
queen; and Dick-my Dick-trembles as h
returns her greeting, while | feel that hi
! moustache hides q lip that quivers with SOM
sudden emotion that the sight of that woman
has evoked.
Then Dick and pass on in silence. on
choking, and could not speak though my lii
depended on my elOquence.. 1t Is as though
gulf had suddenly yawned at my feet an
across it's dark abyss / gazed at the man
love- forever and forever parted from me.
II have been looking for you everywhere,
there is Dicks sister. | see meaning loo
pass between them, pleading, as it seems t
me, on his SIDE almost threatening on hers
and then 1 found myself drifted to couci
, into place by my side, and / know that
shall never get rid of her again the Who'll
evening.
,, People come and go, and make clever re
marks and imbecile remarks, and commeI
: on the weather, and the harvest, and the bird
that are the yield of that seasons shooting
and the various ailments and misfortunes an
good fortunes OF their friends and relatives
, but Mrs. Colquhoun never leaves my side, an
Dick has vanished, and / am "a-wear.
a-weary," like that mournful maiden in he
moated grange. Indeed, | begin to think
! shall see Dick no more that evening, when a
at once l catch o glimpse of him towerin
, above his fellows, and looking earnestly
, yearningly-and as If spellbound against h
will at something.
A moment more enRghtens me as to the ol
). ject of his gaze, for through the archway thu
! leads into the farther room we have view
the piano, and there slowly drawing off tt
> gloves from her slender white hands, stant
> the lady of the raven locks and gleamin
> pearls. She takes her place upon the mus
a chair, strikes few plaintive chords, and the
soft, full, low vibrating notes of melody ris
i and fall and every voice is hushed under tt