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

n tiny pcarl-colorcd card, placed
there, evidently by her hand. ]
snatchcd it up eagerly. 1t bore no
name, but traced with Il lead pencil
in u delicate, unsteady hand, were
these words:
"Will You help me? am friend
less and almost homeless. Be cau-
tious. We will go the Sherman
House, where will try to accommo-
date you further" @
And that was all.
Fifteen minutes later, and was
iuscribing my name in tho Sherman
House register, directly underneath
IN entry written in n crampcd, crab
bed hand:
"Prcston Douglass,
"Rose Douglass,
"New York"
Crosse Douglass! What n lovely
namol rushed to my room, made u
hnsty toilet, and FASTENED to tho Ia
dies parlor, only to be disappointed,
for she was not there but ~ turned
away, heard soft voice behind me,
md met my two travelling companions
face to face.
"Bcg pardon, could you direct me
to the ladies' parlor ~ aaid the gentle
man, n question at which wondered,
since those words appeared in large
Gilt letters not four feet from him !;
and then, as ! directed him, he, with
many thanks and apologies for his
short sightcdncss, entered but not be-
fore had caught another appealing
glance from the bcwildcring eyes of
his companion. y
"Now Rose" he saids sharply, "yon
sit down here quietly for u minute
while go and see about the luggage.
Confound that idiot of n hackman
Mind, now, You don't STIR" and then,
catching my surprised expression, he
changed color little and dew me
aside, any only sister, poor thlng'
he explained, in q rapid whisper
mnsanc, but harmless, unless unduly
excited. Obligc mo by keeping an
eve on her for a moment, Mr.. NJ
"Gildcrslccvc," said, a little stillly
for | dislikcd the mans manners
extremely, and then he pioneered mt
to his sisters seat.
Fortune was surely favoring the
poor girl, ! thought, if she really
wished to speak to me in private, bn
she looked with IN expression OF sur
priscd hautcur on her face rs he
brother presented me.
"Mr. Gildcrslccvc, Rosc--an ole
acquaintance; he will talk with you
while | am gone.'
An almost impcrccptiblc inclination
of her beautiful head was her onl.
acknowledgment of my bow, and the1
we were alone together.
The instant that her brother wa
out of sight, however, her manner lln
dcrwcnt u surprising change, ant
voice, face and gesture expressed a
intense cagcrncss and appeal as sh
told me her story.
"You are kind,' she said, 81 knc,
that | could trust your face. ] %
not insane. He is my brother.
have inherited n large fortune, Will
he has lost even what our father lef
him. Tie is my next heir and he
5 going to bury mo alive in a prlvat
lunatic asylum. Help me, for hcav
EMS sake, for | am powerlcss in hi
= hands
e lsprang to my feet.
81 will go to the chief of police"
+ said. 81 will-but she checke
e me with gesture."a
h ale has certificates" she said
= bought with money which he obtaine
from me to pay some old debts. i
/, can laugh in your. face and take n
c in spite of every one. Tomorrow
d shall be entombcd for life unless.
+ there is just one way of escape"
Il "And that is-W Iqucricd, an
: iously, for by this time | was enlist'
u in her service heart and soul, "
" may be sure.
1t "Flight !" she answered. "The II
X train9lcaves tonight at half-past OF
u I heard some one at the depot say s
IL If | can but make my escape al
II take that train, before morning
should be beyond his oreach. | ha
/" good friends in New York who won
: never give me up could | once rea
re them"-and then she mentioned t
:; names of some of the most aristocra
ps families in the city-'if it were OF
IL possible, but"
10 as it not 7" | was all exciteme
b,, thic tima EMOnt mo bnra ot