The Russellville Democrat., 1883-10-11
LUCILE,s LOVE AFFAIR.

DR.. Harrisse. like most men, was
fond of pretty face, and when he
caught a glimpse of Lucile's, as the
wind blew her veil aside on the home
ward trip Of the Malta, he wished he
was her cousin, or the stout ships sur
geon who dared offer his arm to her for
promenade. There was something al
most familiar in the face, too. Where
had he met her? at what German or
reception in the salons of the best So
ciety, or in the wards of hospital?
Or was it only trick of imagination?
Had he waltzed with her at some sea-
side hop, or taken her out at some state
dinner or wedding breakfast? : DIR.
Harrisse was bold man in his way;
the few DAYS on the Malta had hung
like lead on his hands, there being but
a handful of cabin passengers, and
many of those without their sea-legs.
He was man quick to think, but some
what forgetful. His eyes met Lucille s.;
smile OF recognition illuminated her
face; he bowed confidently, and adj
vanced toward her. ~ am happy to
meet YOU again, he said, unblushingly.
Perhaps YOU lind it as dull on board
IS do?"
If you are at your wits end for
amusement. az | am, I'm sorry for
you,r she said My poor aunt has
not been able so far TO lift her head from
her pillow"
WHO in the deuce do know with
the appendage of an aunt?n Harrisse
mentally considered However, it
doesn't signify, if she is only amusing
and the aunt is not an OGRE
suited his watch. Il shall be obliged
to deliver you to the tender .mercies of
DIR. Harrisse. Miss Lindsay" he said,
as I've hurried away.
You see l am lame STILL" she said,
presently.
is it possibler' he returned. feeling
as if he were cropping in the dark. Had
one of his acquaintance suffered an ac-
c.dent which had escaped his memory?
She took it for granted that he was ia
miliar with the circumstances. A mis-
step here might expose him. ''But
doubtless it will wear of in time" he
hazarded.
II fear not You don't realize that
the accident happened six years ago; |
used it too soon. l must ride, you
know, at that time, or die. 1t was
weak. and ! got another fall and broke
it,again.
II am sincerely sorry TO hear it, y
said DR. Harrisse Was it possible that
he had known this blooming creature
six years. and had neglected to cult
vate lcr? However, he would learn by
I Al. & -.
present
.. Is this your first visit abroad?" he
asked. day or two later
.Yes; | have been away five years.
call Europe my school-room. | didn't
know anything when | left America,
except riding. you know. / was per-
feet Ounce. have studied the arts and
languages. lean speak and sing to you
in five tongues.
with the tongues of men and angels
I've no doubt
.. can paint you picture that will
not be half bad Haven't l used my
opportunities
II wish to Heaven had used mine as
welln
II had thought OF going upon the
stare"
Il wouldn't. I'm glad you gave it
up"
:. Surely you are not one of those
who are prejudiced against the drama'.
Certainly not. But ] have an IN
conquerable prejudice against having
the women of my acquaintance or fam
lily before the foot-lights.'
And vet somebody must sacrifice
herself in the cause of art, or the drama
would decline"
Yes; and so there must be Nautch
girls, and tight-rope performers, and
bareback riders, l suppose, but we
don't choose them for our wives and
sweethcarts, we don't elect to have our
sisters and friends among them
Miss Lucille had withdrawn her hand
from the doctors arm to arrange her
veil. but. that duty done. she did not
replace il till be made a demand.
But you would like your sister to
write the great American novel;" she
asked.
Yes; the literary woman sits at work
beside her own hearth-stone, in the
shadow of her own roof-iree, protected
from the public gaze.
'.But how often she is dragged before
the foot-lights, 50 To speak Every
| penny-a-liner makes her the subject of
a paragraphs; her household gods are
inventoried. her profits estimated. her
weaknesses chronicled, and FER features
photographed
sDut personally she is not so much a
public character. She has reserves. y
And after that the subject dropped
But Lucille and DIR. Harrisse had a
thousand other things to discuss. lie
delighted in u woman who dared to
disagree with him. They found that
they had just missed each other at In
terlachen; that he had only been pre-
vented by a chance from joining the
party with which she had made the as
cent Of Mont Blanc; they had mutual
friends abroad; but still the great enig-
ma, where he had known her in Ameri-
ca, remained unsolved But he troubled
himself very little about il just now; he
was drifting with the tide; he was pass
ing through new phase OF existence.
He had believed himself invincible, and
behold he had been conquered by
touch Of hand. turn of head II was
absurc, perhaps, Tor q man oI ms years
70 be - easily enchanted: hc rather