Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-30

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head, had never felt my heart pulses
throb the quicker in the presence Of any
woman. But this summer Of which
am now about to write, could make
that boast no longer. Early in the sea
SOD, Arthur, bis wife, their three-y ear.
odd son and myself, had come toa retir.
ed nook by the seaside to spend The
summer months. There were only a
few people staying in the small hotel
besides ourselves.
Two Of the number, an elderly, gray.
haired lady, and her beautiful compau.
ION, whom supposed was her danght.
er, interested me 1T first sight. Their
names were Mrs. and Miss Carter. But
though whenever we met exerted my.
self as never had done before to be en-
PERTAINING, did not Seem to be making
much Roadway toward an acquaintance
with the young lady, whose charms Of
face and manners had so strongly at
tracted me. .. .-.ao.
l suppose ! might as we'll make a
clean breast Of il, and confess at once
to my reader that the heart which had
deemed so impregnable had succunbed
ut last. At length, chance placed In my
way M opportunity to draw nearer to
the object Of my fancy. It happened In
this wise My brother and ] started of
one morning to sttend to some business
matters in the neighboring town. We
reached home earlier than we expected,
and before returning to the hotel, we
decided to while away an hour by a
stroll upon tho beach.
As approached the bathing houses,
we were surprised to see large throng
ofpeople gathered together and convers.
ing excitedly. As we came mp, the
crowd parted, and all at once, with q
cruel suddenness, Arthur learned that
while he had been lettering only o short
distance away, those nearest and dear
est to him had been in deadly peril.
While bathing in fancied security,
bearing her laughing boy in her arms,
his wife had been caught by the treacll-
erous undercnrrent, and carried in IN
instant beyond her depth, and out Of
tho reach Of her companions, who could
none of them swim.
No man had been in sight at the time,
and had it not been for Young girl who
had been watching the bathers from her
seat upon the rocks, all hope of rescue
had been futile. Encountered as she had
been by her clothing, regardless OF all
peril to herself, Miss Carter had courage
ously breasted the pillows, and had sue
ceeded in reaching the spot where the
mother and child had sunk. When they
arose to the surface her brave young
arms had been ready, and with almost
exertion the girl had been
able to keep herself and them up, until
help had arrived.
+ If l had loved Rose Carter before. /
worshipped her now, as clasped my lit
tie nephew and namesake in my arms,
and heard my brother, in tones tremu-
lous with repressed feeling, express his
thanks to her, but for whose noble cour.
age, he would have been a wifsless,
childless man. 4
After that the veil of reserve was lift.
cd between Miss Carter and myself, and
before long We grew to be very good
friends. .I...
But the summer days, which had been
so full ef pleasure to me. were fast draw.
Ing to their close, and as yet I had not |
dared to speak plainly of what was in 1
my heart.
With my love had grown up feeling
IF dissatisfaction with myself. I had
never done greed Of heroism nothing
which could lift me above or make me
better than my fellows; and what was
hat / should aspire to the affections OF
,ne 80 pure and noble as she3 s
One afternoon as l walked on the
lands, thinking some such thoughts, .
,ustle of drapery caused me to look up.
There beside me was the sweet face of
Rose Carter. .... r....ss N .E
My eyes must have expressed the fer.
'ency of my admiration, for hers drop
bed beneath their gaze. We talked for
! while upon casual subjects; then she
old me something that caused my heart
% sink with dismay.
In few days her mother and herself
We to leave for home.
As she spoke, sudden determination
prang into existence within my mind.
Vow was my time. Then and there
would learn my fate. Ibegan faltering-
!; but as she neither drew away from