Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-28

that to purchase some food, in order
to gain strength as rapidly as possible,
and with the remainder take her baby
and leave the man she called her hus-
band to his own destruction.
Under pleasant aud fascinating ex-
terror, George Hardinge had captivated
the fancy of this young and beautiful
woman. Her parents were opposed to
the union. She begged and implored
them to favor his suit in vain. Their
eyes saw through the superficial tex
ture; and, convinced that he was not
suitable companion for their high bred
and sensitive daughter, they refused
him her hand and forbade him the
house, and the result, as we learned
above, was an elopement; and then fol-
lowed, on the part of her father, refu-
sal to have any connection with son-in-
law or daughter.
George, disappointed in the dover he
expected to obtain with his wife, i'm
mediately resumed his old habits, and
from one downward step to another he
plunged, until they became reduced to
the direst poverty and then poor Ag-
nes, sick, abused, and painfully humili.
ated, racked her poor brain to discover
some way by which she could obtain a
living for herself aud baby
A kind-hearted neighbor called IN to
see her few momeuts before the above
conversation, and to him Agnes entrust-
ed the sale of the diamond. From it
she realized ninety dollars. A small
portion she gave to the woman to cook
aud bring to her regularly comfortable
food, until she gained sufficient strength
to seek employment.
Agnes, | met a man this morning who
is very anxious to obtain an infant about
the age of this one, said the hardened
man, pointing to the sleeping cherub,
on his return from the usual days ca
rouse, 'aud | invited him here to see
ours. Pm going to ask him up
George, what do you meant My baby!
Sell my baby! Oh, God, no."
But the villain was out of the reach of
pleading, and returned in y moment, &C.
companied by a tiue-looking young ran,
and the two commenced an examination
of the infant.
"Sir, can not allow my baby to leave
me. DO not think of such thing al
most shrieked the distracted woman.
stake no notice of her," said George.
"She is, as told you, hopelessly insane,
and if l can find any one ready to do the
right thing for the baby, shall be glad
to dispose of it,"
George! George For tho love of God,
did you ever love me' Think, George,
think it is our baby. Mammals darling
shall never leave her!' and Agnes tried
to take the child from the hands of its
inhuman parent.
Don't mind her" she heard him
whisper. "That's the way she raves
most of the time. Just as quick as |
find home for the child, am off for
California
With look of compassion on his fine
face, the gentleman surveyed her for a
moment, said something in low tone,
and then left lhe room.
When Hardinge returned, he found his
wife in deathly faint, from which he
made no attempt to rouse her but seiz.
ing an old shawl from the foot of the
bed, wrapped it round the babe, and hur-
riedly left the house.
For two or three hours Agnes contin
ued in this dreadful state, lowering, as
it were, between life and death. Tue
kind neighbor came in with a nicely
prepared supper, and Immediately set tc
work to restore her.
After little consciousness dawned
the extent of her loss almost over.
whelmed her. Long she listened for he,
husbands step, hoping to gain some
hint from which she could discover the
the whereabouts Of her darling; but day
after day elapsed, and he came not, and
an impression deepened into con 7ictiou
that he had abandoned her entirely.
Strange as it may appear it the midst
of her great atfliction, health returned
rapidly. The emaciated cheeks were
soon plump aid rosy again. aud, but fol
the mouvnfnl expression Of her beauti
ful eyes, an observer would scarcely be
: lieve that an at,liction so desolating haj
swept over her.
Now for a position. What could sht
do? Teach music.s But that idea wa,
soon abandoned the market was flooded
} with professors. Obtain copying q
easier said than dome After a ii1jyan