The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-08-18

mansions; therefore it was with min
gled pleasure and disdain that, on
the first evening of her arrival, she
was formally presented to John Ra-
leigh, and, looking anxiously up into
his six feet of stature, decided that,
after, all, even in this rural spot, a
few toilets might be necessary, and
the hours would not prove so heavy
as she had feared.
Mr.. Raleigh was a farmer himself,
of good family, she learned, but one
who scorned not to till his own soil,
and who had evidently titled it to
some purpose. He had college ed
ucation, too, but had, singularly
enough, supposed the years be had
spent in acquiring an education were
years TO be devoted to that purpose,
therefore had returned home almost
as ignorant of the social world as be
fore going into it.
All women he veneratel. To hear
a man speak lightly of woman al
ways brought flush to his cheek
To him, womanhood and motherhood
were inalienably and sacredly inter
mingled.
Miss Armon was to him a revela-
ton. He bad known her for. two
weeks; she had accomplished her
purpose-he was desperately in love
with her.
That she might not love him in re-
turn was an easy matter for his mind,
in its humility, to grasp; that she
should try to win his love for pas
time and compassionate she should
inflict upon him, with deliberate in
tent a wound, whose scar might new
err heal-would have been by bin re-
ceived as gross calumuy.
In his eyes, she was pure, inno-
cent, beautiful child. All through
their drive the touch of her arm still
thrilled him, until, when they had
returned and be lifted her down
gently TO the ground, an irresistible
impulse caused him to Whisper
Il am coming over this evening, l
want to speak with you
"Foolish hoy?" she said to herself,
as she drew of the dainty gloves
within her own room. "Iy visit is
but half done, and already he wants
to bring matters to a climax. 1t
must not be. l need him yet little
longer"
Therefore, when, true to his prom
Use, he returned and begged her to
go out with him for a little walk in
the moonlight, Sue refused, and pet
ulently shook her head. She was
tired, she said, but ratified on gaily
on every theme, until he could not
speak the words he had meant to ut
ter. That night he went away with
a strange, new pain in his heart, and
yet loving her more madly than ever.
She had gone out for a stroll the
next morning, when she suddenly en-
countered him. He had scarcely
slept since he had left her the night
previous. She read his purpose in
his eyes and strove to divert it. AS
we'll attempt to stem Niagara!
"Miss Armon,'' he began, II love
you! I should not have had the
courage, perhaps, to tell you, but
that 1 have dared hope my love
might not be unwelcome to you. ]
!. know how bright and beautiful you
are, and how I lack in all that
you possess. But, oh, my darling
my darling! what / have not the
courage for is to live out my life
without you. Will you share it, AID
elaide, and mould it as you will?'
The words were out now. She
might no longer hope to avert them
1t remained for her but to punish his
presumption.
"Sir,'' she said, "you forget your
self, and presume greatly upon my
having been thrown upon your so
ciety!'
The mans face paled with sud
) den pallor. A hauteur and a dlgni
ty equal to her own robbed him o.
the humility a moment before ap
! parent.
"Did I understand you to use thu
word presume, Miss Armon2" hi
questioned. "May ask in what lay
my presumption2''
e Silently he waited her reply. /
was her turn to grow embarrassed
and i'll at ease. She had meant tt
! play with harmless tool. Already
she discovered her mistake.
"The difference in our stations