Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-21
Guardian AND WARD.

upon the lovely, half-averted face OF
his companion.
"Be your wife, my dear guardian
And the large gray eyes, in whose
depths there lurked world OF mer-
rinent and fun, were raised with a
surprised look to his. !Surely You
are not in earnest. Why, you are
nearly old enough to be my grand
father. The idea is ridiculous"
And with a merry, ringing laugh,
Elise Wild caught her hat from the
table and tripped lightly from the
room, stopping a moment to say;
~ am going down into the glen
after some primroses; and if you will
promise not to get any more such alb
surd notions into that dear old head
of yours, will let you come with me
and carry the basket.
''Indeed. Really, you are sener-
ous," said Will, with an amused smile.
'.You will not go, then! Very well!
Unless | am greatly mistaken, yonder
person coming up the lane is Captain
Paul Crosswell. lam sure ne will be
only too glad to accompany me-"
And playfully throwing him kiss
from the tips of her little fingers, she
fitted through the open door. leaving
the discounted lover standing with
folded arms and thoughtful brow,
gazi. at the door through which she
had vanished.
He was thirty -four, remarkably
handsome, well-informed, and very
wealthy. Many specializing NAM
ma had endeavored to entrap him tor
her manageable daughters. But he
was reserved. did not mingle much in
society, and they had all given up in
disgust, until it became to be an &C.
knowledged fact in the neighborhood
that the owner of stately old Elmwood
Hall would never marry.
On his death bed his old friend and
college chum, Ralph Wilde, had con-
consigned to his care his little daugh-
ter, Elise, then only ten years of age.
He had taken her to the Hall, intend
ing to send her to boarding school
but by her winsome ways and loving
manners she entwined herself around
his heart until he could not bear to
let her be away from him for any
length of time. A resident governess
had been engaged and the time fit
ted rapidly away. Little Elise was
as the housekeeper asserted, the very
life and light OF the old Hall. VII
was satisfied and contented, neve
once looking forward to the time
when she could leave him.
When Elise reached her seven
teenth birth day, and the school book
had been cast aside, Will awoke t,
the consciousness that his littel Els
was little no longer. The thought &
separation now for the first tim
presented itself; for Elise already ha
scores of admirers, and many of tn
numerous visitors of the Hall weI
attracted thither by the lovely Ellis
Wilde. He awoke also to the cor
seriousness that he loved her with a
the strength of his mature years, an
it panied him, oh. so deeply, to fin
her treat his love so lightly.
Standing for moment in the ope
window, he caught glimpse OF Els
and her escort, Captain CrossweI
as they sauntered leisurely along Il
lane that led down to the glen.
was with heavy sigh he turned
his writing-desk, and, lighing a ciga
was soon busily engaged III cuttil
the leaves of new book-so busil
in fact, that more than once the ke'
knife ran through the middle inste'
of the edge OF the leaf. But then
had taken the knife from the lun
table in the adjoining room, and
happened tobe somewhat pointed a
unusually sharp.
He had been seated but short til
when he heard hurried steps ascen
inc the terrace, and in a nome
Paul Crosswell dashed into the 100
His face was CHASTITY pale, and
trembled so violently that he col