Louisiana capitolian., 1879-08-16

~ It''les anu gaIlant gentlemen q
r fitted before my vision like gay bir'
y and who acted as though the wol
t, was made for their sole enioyme,
1t and after the summer had passt
% had taken them within, my fooli
is hearl grew harder and harder t
g wards my country swains, and stro
a ger he longing to get away from the
: all, and out into the world, that II
g only real pleasure was to read abo,
1t was Oh a beautiful afternoon
> the latter part Of June, that, retur,
ing from my office, ! passed the hote
for it was the only one the tow
, afforded. The stage had arrived, an
as l went by gentleman steppc
from it. For an instant l paused in
voluntarily to look at him. Ho wa
l suppose, twenty-five, not NOR,
tall, with the Aandsomest face In
ever seen. l found myself blushin
deeply as | met the glance of his dark
earnest eyes, and with averted face
quickly passed him. Alas! for poo
Will May, who l met shortly after
and who walked with me towards IN,
home, AS the face l had just see1
rose before me, more silent did he
come, shorter my answers to his, NJ
doubt, witty remarks. was glad t,
get to my own room, where alone
let my thoughts rest uninterrupted or
tho handsome stranger. Not long
was | permitted to do so, for my aunt
called me to make biscuits for tea.
went down; better for all I had re-
manned where l was. do not know
as was in love, for the honor Of my
sex l hope not, but must have been
blind, for instead of the white sugar
i should have taken l used salt,
Heavens ! see to this day my aunt's
face as she tasted one.
A week went by, and though l had
heard the strangers name, l had not
seen him, save in the dreams that Wis.,
it'd me nightly. Several of the girls
calling OH me had spoken of the hand
some gentleman stopping at the Lion,
and sighed to think he was beyond
their reach. How l hated my life at
that period, with its same dreary rou-
tine, The sound of my aunt's voice
as she called me ut six o'clock in the
morning, Josephine! Josephine 60
ing to sleep all day." would dispel the
castles | was building, and send me
back to the endless making of bread
and chke. How longed to get away
from She sewing she had always ready
for THO long afternoons, and out into
the woods and fields!
We were going to have u picnic,
md the guests Of the hotel were to
avor ms with their society. All was
,xciteplent, for it was not often we
lad the pleasure of being in tho COM
'any Of gentlemen who wore their
lair pa.rted in the middle, and called
IS dcFced pretty girls. The girls
'ame. Don't think me vain, reader,
f / tel. you that looked lovely. It
is some years ago, and saw that l
lid by the whispering among the
'irls, and by the envious glances they
ast at mo, also by some tender ones
received from the opposite sex. We
'ero at our first dance when the gen
lemam from the Lion arrived. l felt
ny heart beat quickly, when l saw
mong' them Edwin King, for SO my
trangtr was called. Truly a king in
lanly beauty, thought, as looked
t his tall, graceful form, into the
5rangt|y handsome face. As he saw
le his ,eyes lit up, and coming for
ard he begged my hand for the next
ance. assure you, gentle reader, :
lat did not refuse.
Very happily passed the day, and I
as sorry when Aunt Mary called me.
s Mr.. King led me to her I thought i
, looked rather strangely at her, but d
on fo;got all else in the pleasure of i
'ving,,him at my side, as we walked q
Dwly home through the scented J.
Ids. my new friend did not forget +
e, AMI hardly day went by with
it bringing him to my side. Even q
aul,t seemed pleased with him, =
I'd spoke in warmest terms of his Il
ntlcn,anly bearing. One evening, i,
|! hoy it comes back to me, as we 4
ere sisting fin the parlor, unlit, save o
the soft moonlight. Edwin said, Il
tor a long silence: +,
"Josie, have little story | wish b
tell you, will you listen :" II
whispered a faint "yes," so taking S:
his thc hands lying idly in my lap,
went'on: 7
''Oncez upon time, a boy, friend M
$ and alone, came one cold night c'
a village. He had been trying for c,
eks tq find work, but met not one p'
10 cared even to give him kind pl
rd, so, faint and weary, he came to ia