Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-02

books, though be pleaded urgently fo
them.
One afternoon the p0stman brongh
DR.. Orman q letter, which seemed TO b.
important, for he asked father to drive
him to the next town, and requested
mother TO zee that Mr.. Compton did not
leave the house. / suppose it was moi
right, bnt this handsome sick stranger
50 hardly used, ond 50 surrounded with
mystery, had reused in me sincere
sympathy for his loneliness and suffer.
ing, and walked though that part OF
the garden into which bis Windows
looked. We had been politely request
ted TO avoid it, because the sight OF
strangers increased Mr.. Compton's ner.
vous condition ! did not believe this
and determined to try the experiment.
He was learn ont Of the window, and
sadder face never saw. smiled and
courtesied, and he Immediately leaped
the low sill, and came toward me.
stopped and began to tic up some fallen
carnations; be stopped ana helped me,
saying all the while know not what
only that it seemed to me the most
beautiful language ever heard. Then
we walked up and down the long peach
walk until heard the rattle Of fathers
wagon.
After this we became quietly, almost
secretly as far as Dir. Orman was con-
cerncd very great friends. Mother 80
thoroughly pitied Alfred that she not
only pretended oblivion Of our friendship
but even promoted itin many ways; and
in the course of time DR.. Orman began
to recognize its value. ] was requested
to walk past Dir. Compton's windows
and say 'Good-morning,' or offer hi III
flower or somo ripe peaches, and finally
to accompany the gentlemen in their
short ranlbles in the neighborhoo4.
l need not tell yon how all tn is re-.
stricted intercourse end cd. We were
soon deeply in love with each other,
aud love ever finds out the way to make
himself understood. We had many
five minutes meeting no ono knew of,
and when this was impossible q rose
bush near his window hid for me the
tenderest little love-letters. In fact,
Julia, l found him Irresistible; he was
SO handsome and gentle, and though he
must have been thirty-fve years old,
yet, to my thinking, he looked hand.
somer than any young man could have
done.
AS the weeks passed on, the doctor
seemed to have more confidence in US, or
else bis patient was completely under
control. They had much fewer quarrels,
and Alfred and walked In the garden,
and even little way up the hill, with.
out opposition or remark. / do not
know how l received the idea, but !
certainly did believe that DR.. Orman
was keeping Alfred sick for some pur.
pose Of bis own, and ! determined to
take the first opportunity Of arousing
Alfred's suspicious. So one evening,
when We were walking alone, | asked |
him if he did not wish to see bis rela-
lives.
He trembled violently, and seemed !
n the greatest distress, and only by the |
enderest words could | soothe him, as |
Ialf sobbins, he declared that they were
lis bitterest enemies, and that DR.. Or
nan was the only friend he had in the
world. Any further efforts l made to
,et at the secret of his life were fruit
ess, and only threw him into paroxisms
# distress During the month of August
e was very i'll, or at least DR.. Orman
aid 80. | scarcely saw him, there were
% letters in the rose-bush, and fire.
uently the dispute between the two
aen rose to pitch which father serious
y disliked
One hot day in September every one
vas IN the fields or orchard; only the
octOr AID Alfred and | were in the
ouse, Early in the afternoon a boy
anne from the village with letter to
'r. orman, and he seemed very much
erplexed and at loss how to act. At
'ngth he said: Miss Phnbe, must
o to the village for couple of hours
thtnk Dir. Alfred will sleep until my
efurn, but if not, you will try and {
muse him 2"
| promised gladly, and DR.. Orman
'ent back to the village With the mes
'nger. No sooner was he out of sight
han Alfred appeared, and we rambled /
bout the garden as happy as two low
rs could be. But the day was extremely g
OF, and as the afternoon advanced the l
eat increased. | nrOnosed then that l