The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02

| hor etri 'i,o,, aStdg w soobne ana Comfort
Papa" murmured little troubled voice
out It. OF the semi-darkness, "papar'
,,ftad ,ha NH myers tlghtened upon his; he
iiigeu Inc chlld In his arms, and as he pressed
her almost passionately 10 his breast, two
large tears fell upon her upturned lace, ace WV
After this a good deal of the laughter -
their lives went from them. Not that tbev
were altogether unhappy; but they had an
uneasy feeling that at any time sometime
further .i, might crop up. as sequel to poor
amusement chance threw In their wav and
to the outer world, were as they had ever
been.
Lilias herself appeared utterly callous and
unconcerned. At times, 50 perfect was her
Indifference that a vague feeling of disan-
pOntment oppressed the others as they asked
themselves whether, indeed the love that had
seemed so real could be put aside and for
existed. But In this way they wionged her.
About q fortnight after the preceding
events, and just about tho time when, If all
had zone well, Fred might have been ex-
gave ball. The Herots went TO it. and
Lilas, throughout the evening was almost fe-
verishly gay. With panied establishment her
sisters watched her. All through tho drive
nome nome, sne Chartered, and laughed, and
But when at length the journeys end was
reached. and the friendly bedroom door was
closed against intruders, she flung herself
upon Inc lp3 paa with low, agonizei groan.
Geraldine-(they occupied the same room)-
| 1t Is killing me; will it never end on TO
sleep, only to wake to it again, that Is the
horror Of it,
"Lias - cried Jerry, bending In dlsmay
over the slight white heap upon the ground.
Darling, this is dreadful. Surely, you are
not still thinking Of
Yes, ! an" she said doggedly; II am
| fbinkinD of I b IL
ing OF him wish | was dead. Oh If |
could only see him again. only once perhaps
| might bear 1t better. But to have no good
by, no last worG-and the pain in my heart
| forever burning burning"
"Lily-Lily," called plaintlve voice from
the dressing room, In frightened tones,
| "Li'yw
1T was the Baby awakening from dream
OF bogies and calling to her favorite mother
to come to her aid. How could she refuse the
entreating accents2 She arose YEARLY but
hastily, and going to the small crib, took the
child to her breast and grooming over it and
soothing 1t, soothed too at the the same time
| her own wounded heart.
The next morning Mr.. Herlot received
letter the writing on the envelope of which
turned pale Lilias paler still. 1t was from
FREQ, ana declared his intention Of coming
forthwith to her home to learn In person the
cause OF the strange silence to which he had
| been subjected
A little thrill OF excitement ran through
the HOUSEHOLD. Lilias' lips refused to speak
| she sat silently awaiting her doom. And
/ when her father came in and said she was to
| go to her grandmOther's for n month or two.
she acquiesced quietly and made no protest
10 go to her grandmother was like going
to execution, because she was dreadful old
woman. and was vehementy detested by
every one of the girls. She had hateful
habit OF always calling spade spade and
would not hesitate about playing upon ones
weak point.
However, Liias gave In without 1. murmur,
| ana packed her things In d methodcal mis-
cradle sort OF way that nearly broke Gerald
| ines heart, and when Daisy had squeezed a
| beloved but dilapidated doll and half q gin
gerbread cake, damp with tears, into her
pocket, she stepped into the carriage and
drove away to the railway station.
Il give strict orders, said Mr.. Heriot to
the three who remained behind-takng no
heed of Daisy, who sat shriveled up In
| corner, like Niobe, all tears'-"I give strict
orders that II that young man-Sir Frederick
Ashurst-calls, none of you give him any in-
formation about Lilas' present abode"
| She had only been gone two days, when, MS
| Geraldine sat modify working in the draw
| lng-rOOID, she CHANGED to raise her head and
there outside the lower window stood Fred
| eric Ashurst.
He lifted the sash, and vauted lightly in.
We'll, here am again, he said defiantly,
before she could speak. And what is all this
| that has happened during my absence? An
gagement-the whole world dead against me
and Lias hidden away2 What is the
meaning Of this?"
"You have behaved shamefully" cried she
| with rage, "hatefuliy, and wonder you dare
| show your lace here again. No engagement |
/ indeed2 when your mother came TO this house
and spoke to papa about it, and was as rude
as ever she could be- and"
1T was not an engagement" he persisted |
angrily. There was Diana and there was ], |
| and because our estates joined, two or three |
old women put their heads together, and de- |
| cided that should marry each other whether |
we like it or not She Is four years Older than |
am; we grew up together; would as soon |
dream Of marrying my sister, and she
would not have me ii | asked her"
Your mother said you were engaged to |
her, replied she, obstinately, running the |
point of her needle across the linen she was |
working, 50 as to make a creaking, aggra-
waiting noise, land |, for my part, believe |
her."
made herself misunderstood" Then |
hOtly Am | q blackguard to GENE here and !
try to win your sisters affection when prom
lSed to another woman My mother has |
wished so earnestly and SO long to see me |
married to my cousin that she has brought |
herself to imagine her wish fulfilled II WAS |
all a mistake-a fatal one And then my let
tiers, he saidgwitb agitation, returned unan-
Swered, and | alone left in the dark as to the |
real causet 1t was unjust. And now, when |
have come down here without an inetants
me where she is, Geraldine?"
NO; indeed will not. Even If would I
could not, as have promised papa faithfully
not to do So"
ut is madness. Such promises are better
broken than kept"
ION! We all know how lightly you regard Y
your promises, muttered she, viciously.
What has come to you, Jerry?" askedF
Fred, his tone changing. "You used to be the
best little girl in the world, and now you treat
me as though I Were the veriest seoundrel
the world contains. What have | done to
your
What have you done2" she cried, tears In
her eyes and voice. What have you done?
You have upset our whole lives. You have
made dear Lilias-the dearest sweetest darl-
ing upon this earth-miserable; you have
destroyed our peace, and now you ask what
you have done. | WISH" exclaimed the girl,
waxing wroth, Il had never seen you. hate
and detest yon with all my heart-so thrre?"
Thank you" said Fred stifiy. Il have
not taken away your breath, at all events.
De you refuse 70 tell me where she is2"
''T do diStincflvn