The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-05-07

/ GEitu+
''1es, Blanche, and You must be
ono Of the wedding guests. 1t has
been ages since you and danced
together, let us join these waltze,
and they glided away.
GLOW do you like him, Mr.. Rey-
nold2" asked Amanda.
ale is a splendid looking man,
and ! admire your taste"
~ am so glad that you do. / love
him so well that j am only happy
when everybody else admires him.
Why, Mr.. Reynold, howpale you are!
Arc you illg'
/ "A slight indisposition, which j
think will soon pass away. ] believe
that ! will feel much betterif ] return
home" M
"Will you excuse me yourself, and
likewise present my excuse to Miss
I9evismore2"
He never wished for or stood more
in need of his mother's loving words
than on this night.
Amanda had neveriloved him. He
had been deceiving himself. He had
misconstrued her marks OF friend
ship into evidences of love. The de-
lusive dream was beautiful. He
thought that Adam must have OK
pericnced similar feelings, when he
was driven out of Eden; yet Adam
was the happier of the two-he had
Eve. His anguish was too great to
allow sleep to approach, that night,
but it opened his heart to pity.
Blanche, with her unrequited love,
rose up and confronted him. How
could the poor childsnr so much
misery when it was SO terrible for II
strong man to endure its torture.
What difference did it make whom
he married, NOW that he knew Amanda
never had loved or could love him. He
might make onelife happy, and make
that much the less misery III the
world Such thoughts would, the
whole week, run through his mind,
as he assiduously confined himself
to business.
He visited Blanche, whom he found
pale and sad, for which he rcproach-
ed himself for thinking so selfishly
of his own trouble; while commun-
ing with his thoughts, he looked out
of the window and decided his course
Of action. He had seen Armand and
Amanda in loving embrace, as they
stood in the garden among the flow
ers.
The sweet voice of Blanche made
him think of her and her love until
he was moved by great compass
sion, and he asked her if she would
be Ills wife. Some little sJlace was
given him as clinging TO him, he
heard The whispered assent from the
blushingly happy girl. Amanda
opened the door at the moment that
Reginald pressed kiss upon the
forehead Of his aflianced. Very pale,
was she as she FASTENED away.
Blanche's love could not entirely
cure the Wounded heart Of Reginald,
who could never tell her that he
loved her, and she appeared well
content with his kind and gentle
4 treatment.
1 IBlanclle's wedding day was only
five days OFF; she had been engaged
three moi,th:s. The trousseau was
completed; their journey appointed,
and when they returned they were
to reside in the elegant mansion Of
the Levismores, for mamma could
not be separated from her darling
pct. These months had all passed
without Reginald ever having seen
A Amanda. He had hcardof her illness,
shortly after the ball, and then Of
her convalescence and of a relapse,
h and one day Armand Dugue handed
!. him this note:
''MR. REYsobD-Will it be asking
too great favor to request you tc
pay me visit before i tlieg j have
my brothers. permission to write
these lines. AMANDA WEBsTER."
4 lie Wrote this answer:
! Miss WEBSTER: You may expect me
about 6 p tm.-RGetHALD REYNoLp.
May, 1868.
II The sight of Amanda's writing
4 nearly overpowered him, and only {
powerful mind was able to eontro
his emotions.
Blanche had endeared herself, a lit
tie. to him, by her anxiety for Aman
da. When she wept over the refnsa
of her cousin to be her brides maid
! as it was a proof oc loss Of love, h
J thought hardened indeed mnst be thu
, heart that could be cruel to this in
nocent child.
!. he had expected to see q change
1 iii Amanda, but the change was s.
!. great as to arouse his intense love
making him forget all things, .anf
advancing rapidly to her lounge, HI
i asked:
~'t0h! my darling, what has done
!. tLisf"
4 Her surprised but happy face re
minded him of the past.
II 4 beg yonr pardon; for a momen
{ j forget"
\ ''You forgot Blanche" in a sweet
calm voice, "to whom alone such en-
J dearing terms belong. ] sent fol
D yoI that 4 might learn the cause o
! the cessation of our frieRdsilip9..
II will first explain that j did no
= HI, 49, AL J