The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-06-11

seemed to discern that things "eie
not we'll with him. Something ike
fear showed in her face.
He made an automatic bow. linen
a beyildercd, struggling LOOK came
into his face, then helpless looh'
and then he stood staring vacantly'
like somnambulist, at the waiting
audience. The moments OF palnful
suspense went by, and still he STOOD
az if struck dumb. l saw how IL
was; he had been seized with stage
fright.
Alas! little sister! She turned
large dismayed eyes upon me-
"He's forgotten it," she said. Then
swift change came into her face; a
strong determined look; and on tue
funeral like silence Of the room,
broke the sweet, brave, child-volce:
"Amid the permutations and com
binations of the actors and the for
ces that make up the great kaleldo-
scope of history, we often find that
turn of Destiny's hand"
Everybody about US turned and
looked. The breathless silence; the
sweet childish voice; the childish
face; the long unchildlike words
produced weird effect.
But the help had come too late;
the unhappy brother was already
staggering in humiliation from the
stage. The band quickly struck up,
and waves Of lively music were rolled
out to cover the defeat.
/ gave the little sister glance IN
which | meant to show the intense
sympathy 1 felt; but she did not see
me. Her eyes, swimming with tears
were on her brothers. face. l put
r nv arm around her. She. was too
absorbed to heed the caress, and be-
fore / could appreciate her purpose,
she was on her way to the shame
: stricken young man sitting with g
face like statues.
T When he saw her by his side, the
set face relaxed, and a quick mis-
i came into his eyes. The young maj
). got closer together. to make room
h for her. She sat down beside him
h laid her flowers ON his knee, ant
k slipped her hand in his.
could no. keep my eyes from he
3 sweet plying face. I saw her whis
o per to him, he bending a little t.
catch her words. Later, found GU
" that she was asking him if he kne1
r his "piece'' now, and that he an
n swered yes.
When the young man next on I'll
" list had spoken, and while the ban
was playing, the child to the brotl
! er's great surprise, made her way u
70 10 the stage steps, and presse
II through the throng Of professors an
q. trustees and distinguished visitor
10 up to the college president.
&C. eff you please, sir" she said, vii
I'll little courtesy, "will you and tt
trustees let my brother try AGAIN.
il. He knows his piece now"
.oe For moment, the old preside
led stared at her through his gold-bow
les. spectacles ane then, approaching t
child's petition, he smiled on h
m and went down and spoke to 1
The young man who had failed.
So lit happened that when the ba
op1 had again ceased playing, it '
hill briefly announced that Mt =
,ro would now deliver his grafton, "E
m torical Parallels"
hey "Amid the permutations and CT
blnations of the actors and the
de. ces that make up the great kale
on scope of history" This the
ct tie sister whispered TO him as
"a Il rose to answer the summons"
me A ripple Of frightened and ex
now tant interest passed over the
,e,tv dience, and all sat stone still,
1 he though fearing to breathe lest
the speaker might again take fri
, nv No danger! The hero in the y
and was aroused. He went at his p
which with a set purpose to conque
pc of redeem himself, ana 20 orins
I'm of smile back into the chlid's
stained face. / watched the fac
ught, ring the speaking. The WIDE
proud The parted lips, the whole raj
and ing said that the breathless aud
Sc So was forgotten, that the spirit
smil moving with his.
And when The address was {
n end with the ardent abandon Of ont
conf catches enthusiasm in the re
zion that he is fighting down a
/. and Judgment and conquering a 81