Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-12
TOO SUSCEPTIBLE.


an orphan at an early age and sent to
st. Petersburg to be raised" by two
old maiden aunts, who regarded me
with curiosity and dislike, as if :" a
bounding human boy "were an odd and
rather disagreeable animal; but they
tolerated me after while, and did their
best for me.
l felt that / was intended for some
thing better than to be a clerk in jew
elry store; used to feel the stir of
young ambition in my heart whenever
passed the "Ecole des Pages !" in the
Sadovoic-that great gilt structure, so
imposing, yet of the color of haIf-baked
gingerbread.
But determined to rise, and, even in
the ignoble sphere in which found my
self, I soon made my way, and was at
last confidential clerk in Carnreis &
Shovelof, the greatest house in their
line in st. Petersburg.
Old Carnreis had been a diamond
dealer in Frankfort, and had experience.
Shoveloff was Russian. and had put in
large capital; but we have nothing to
do with them.
found myself at twenty-three in the
above e-mentioned prosperous situation,
and. moreover, engaged TO q very pretty
reason to congratulate myself on a GER
tain December night when, after taking
leave of Lisa, was walking rapidly
home under the sparkling deep blue
sky, well wrapped in furs, and quite
warmed by my own thoughts.
We were so near the wedding now
there was scarcely a chance of failure.
To be sure old Schroeder, a fat, tallowy-
looking man in the candle trade, had
never regarded me with favor.
His Lisa, he thought, should have
done much better than to throw herself
away on a fellow who had nothing ex-
cept salary. But the young girl was
his only child, and had at last won her
way with him. So it came to pass l
had the prospect before me of being a
rich man; and thought of that perhaps
Inore than did OF the young girl who
was giving me her hearts purest and
best affections. So you will say !
deserve all that followed; and perhaps
/ do, but that is poor comfort.
Lisa was pretty little thing, with
hair and eyes like brown robin, and a
winning trusting look that made a man
feel like gathering her up in his arms
and taking care other. At the same time
she had never stirred the depths OF my
being, and she was not the least like my
ideal. Still l was quite serenely happy
the next day as went about my work.
thinking of the future.
Tomorrow, Conrad. my boy" ]
said to myself, "you will set your foot
on another round of the ladder of for
tune-you will have one of the best and
truest OF girls for your bride, and good
round sum with her. She is not dia.
mond of the first water, to be sure, but
more like a peari-soft, moonbeamy
and
At that moment swish of silker
drapery startled me, and tho tap ol
French heels on the floor. / looked uI
and beheld such vision of beauty thai
i felt like closing my eyes rs II too much
light had dazzled me. A lady, young
yet with the ripeness and bloom o
ummer, instead of the blush and pro
mise OF spring. stood before me.
She was dressed In a costly combina-
lion of silk and velvet. She wore 50
ble cloak, and diamond pendants at her
ears. But ] scarcely saw the Jewels
although in that line, for looking into o
pair of golden fringed violet eyes that
rested upon Newell, I might say
plunged their glances into me-in 9
strange and heart-1uttering style.
For the rest, the lady had waving
golden hair, ripping very low down on
her white forehead, a straight Greciar
nose, n pale, high bred complexion, with
faint aristocratic bloom In it, and O
mouth-ah. well, so rare and sweet nc
words could do ii justicei
would like" she said, in = voice
that seemed 10 melt into the cir and
make it all resonant with music. " tc
look at some Of your very finest dia-
monds."
There was no one in the store that day
but Alexis, 4 young relative of Shove.
lofts wbo was learning the business.
Alexis was II youth with fawn-col,
ored hair, white eyelashes and q suet,
complexion; very absgnt-minded. and
Riven TO writing sonnels TO some young
Alexandrine that he had met 4 The
Cathedral OF Our Lady q Kasar.
lie was rolling up : pair O. faded
asea. that sooked like boiled gouseher