Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-03


"What's it-quickw
He then gave an accurate history OF
what had happened to James. They
listened with wrapt attention, their sur
prise and interest growing stronger each
| moment. At the conclusion Hampton
| asked:
"Do you know where they carried
him7"
Yes, helped to restore him to life"
"Well, Tom, l want you to meet me
at the club room tomorrow evening at
seven o'clock-sharpw said Hampton.
"You may count on me, SIR"
Gin the meantime, if anything unusu-
al should happen, come ard leave mes
sage here with my sister for me-that is,
if you cannot find me anywhere in the
city,"
'I'm at your service, sir-always will
be as long as the money floats around
loose"
Swallowing another glass of brandy,
Thomas bowed and scraped himself oout
of the room.
The last sound of his receding foot
steps had echoes through the hall and
died out. Silence still reigned supreme
in the place he had vacated.
Both Laura and Hampton were in
deep meditation, endeavoring to solve
the deepening issues Of the plot they had
so heedlessly instigated. 1t was very
evident to them that the consequences
might prove fatal, and they were unea-
sy. In vain did they seek to shift the
responsibility from their guilty should
ers. The die had been cast, and they
must stem the tide across the Rubicon.
Laura, however did rot feel the least
regret for the sorrow she had caused.
She only selfsh1y feared that death
would steal the object Of her hearts at
fections from her. The first words that
fell from her lips betoken this, uttered
as they were, in cruel, grating tones.
and that directly after the horrible news
she had heard few minutes before.
/ Raising her eyes slowly and fixing
them in sullen gaze on Hampton's face,
she exclaimed:
"I had rather See him dead than the
husband Of that girl p
ooh, pshaw! You needn't trouble
yourself with such fears" said Hampton
lightly. 'He will be perfectly well in a
week-perhaps in day! And hating
Nellie with venomoas hatred"
This somewhat treasured Laura, but
half-incredulously she asked:
'Do you honestly believe it'"
eyes, certainly. The stroke was sud.
den and unexpected, and consequently
the shock succeeding it harder to bear ;
but he'll get over it the sooner"
"And now" she asked, "what do you
think best to be done ?'
"Why rest on our oars until we heal
more definite news. The main thing is
to keep them separated in future; and il
they should meet in spite Ofus, we must
pitch a bar of iron in one and lump Of
ice in the other. Bus this | fear will be
very difficult undertaking. @James
affections once aroused, are not easily
subdued, and as we have reason to be-
live he loves Nellie, I'VE must obstruct
the sacrifice his generous nature may be
willing to make. Let us strive to keel
their pride alive, especially that O.
Nel--"
"Can you do it wiere the affections
are SO intense" she interrupted with {
, volume of scorn concentrated in tho
tones of her voice.
"That will depend on yourself wheth
er you charm the gallant James into the
snares of matrimopy. As for me here
swear that Nellie shal never marry any
one else but me-"
As these words fell from his lips, he
was striding across the room with an all
ofpompous superiority, chucking Laura
under the chin as hespassed her.
A maidenly fusli mantled Laura
face, but it was instantly overspread b.
an expression of wicked defiance, for
getting pure womanly modesty in he1
reply:
"And I swear Nellie Graham shall
never marry him! I'd kill her first"
/ Her words were n true index to he1
) face. 1t spoke enduring hate and ven
: geance, and her black eyes blazed lik
l livid Goals of fire.
"Ha! ha! ha! Laura you'd make {
perfect queen of tragedy, especially
: where your little heart is concerned J
said Hampton with considerable irony.
"And you, SIT, could well play TIL
part of her hero" she retorted.
"Well, well-aside from jokes, ou
plan has progressed admirably thus far,
said Hampton, who seemed half-burie'
in thought for a moment; ''now let u
drink toast--to each others success
and then to slumber."
Laura declined drinking, but woul'
join in the hope of success. :,
Hampton, already half intoxicated
filed his glass, drank the contents an
reeled out of the room.
Laura eyed his until he disappeared
then muttering somhthing about his be
ing drunk, also went so her room-eac
doubtless to chuclIlG; in dreams at tn
n misery they had drawn upon two III