Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-16
THE BANKEE-s NIECE


Whereby they live
-
THE BANKERS NIECE.
Il was quite la'e in the evening er'
the Iauker'S clerk. Pierre Dupont, wa:
able to meet his engagement and enter
the splendid hall room of the Counties:
ID. 4 nOble-looking fellow, dressed
with exquisite taste, and withal brim-
ful Of miIth and compliment, he was
ever a desirable acquisition to the
s0!ree Of the season. and as he passed
along now. interchangiBg bows and
greetings. many a lady's eyes grew
bright. and many a heart beat tumult-
uOuslv. But tie clerk was too wearled
iusu then to regard any very closely;
and. indeed. had only repaired tn the
CAV Spot because he could lot well
excuse himself. Threading his way
4 through the graceful dance he gained
at length a draperied window AID en-
seconded himself behind the rich cur
/ taius and looked. listened ard rested.
His attention was soon riveted on
i the face Of a young girl who sat beside
+. an orposite window. Not because she
was not beautiful. for he thought her
very plain in features; nor because of
Il her costly robes. for she was dressed In
simple muslin; but only from the cir
cumstance that she was the only mai
den seated, the wall flower of the ball,
the rest all tripping the mazeS of the
figures Just then called. He thought
she looked a little sad, and did not
wonder. she sat there so lonely and
neglected. Pierre had a warm and
kindly heart hidden under his laughing
meiB, and be resolved at once that,
fatigued though he was, he would seek
an introduction and lead her to the
floor.
The countess passed just then. He
expressed his wish to her and asked
the name of the unknown. To his
astOuishment he was told she was the
niece of hi employer, ID called Louise
Lascelle.
"a liquid name, truly, my lady, l
wonder II her voice be aS SOitIy musi-
cal
Il can hardly tel you. l have 50
seldom heard it. She was introduced
to ue last week by her uncle, and, of
needs invite her Dut she is not happy
here, think. She is so clean and poorly
dressed that cur beauX do not fancy
her. She has not danced at ALL"
Present me, if you please. 1t would
i'll become me 10 PASS her hy."
lOu think, then, to gam the bank
er's favor. but | warn you. He told
me size had 10 expectations from him
to offer to the world, and l infer she is
some poor relative 10 whom in pity he
has given the post of housekeeper,
Yet, present he. If poor, am her
equal. If neglected, the more need
that ] should show her some respect.''
And lie crossed the room and the
countess introduced him.
Pierre had thought her quite plain,
but when she raised her eyes to his he
saw that she had at least as brilliant a
pair of oTbS as flashed in the whole
saloon, and lie noticed too, that the
lasles which Yeiled them were long
and siIken. And when she responded
TO his compliments he found that her
voice Was softly musical, and when
their conversation became animated,
her whole cOuutenaDce, though very
pale. became radiant with the express
sion of her thoughts, laughter now
dimpling her thin lips, gravity chast-
ened their curve, ana sarcasm rounded
them into fulness. And when ne led
her away lie marked that ber step was
light and graceful, her attitude a
model, and her whole mien enchanting.
He saw, too, that her hair, though not
abundant, was rich and dark, and soft
and glossy as untarnished silk, and,
though confined in braids, had a Wavy
outline that gave 1t the appearance of
imprisoned ungle,s. Her dress, too
though OF muslin, was of the finest and
and most delicate India fabric. and the
little iace that flounced her neck and
sleeves WIS Of the Arrest kind.
she las exquisite taste, | know"
whispered he 10 himself, -'Or robe
50 plan would not hang in such grace
ful lOids, Hor would It's few trimmings
be 20 expansive" ,"
And forthwith he began to wish that
he Were Tich, and TO fancy how he
would array the maiden if he were
burdened with the care. Strange
thoughts fsr him! An hour kefore.
ana lie did not know she lived. Now
lie hoped She might live forever, and
he beside her.
He devoted himself exclusively to
her during the remainder of the even
ing, the other ladies wondered what he
could find SO enchanting in a maiden
whom other beauX without exception
had slghted. And when the bankers
carriage was announced, as the uncle
had excused himself quite early, he
begged and obtained PERMISSION to
escort her home, and the musical
'-BOnSOlr, monsieur" which trembled
on her lips as she parted from him
haunted his memory all night long and
sang sweetly III his ears tie whole of
next day, no withs an1ing he spent it
amidst dusty ledgeIs.
The succeeding evening there was a
party at the bankers and the clerk, one
OF the invited guests, went early this
time, and thus obtained half hours
conversation with The niece, unmoleSted
by hearers or lOokers-on.
But he was better pleased than even
he had been before, and only left her
side when pOlltenesS to other friends
demanded. de sounded her mind and
found that it was rich in ores that rust
could Lot corrupt; while her heart, for
as she chose TO show 1t, was a very
heaven of purity and holiness. In
short, he WAS in love, and he thought
1t no wonder, either, or rather he did
not stop TO analyze his feellngs-it was
enough 10 know how he felt-enough
to know that her hghtest tone was
music TO his ears. and the gentlest
touch OF her soft hand sent an electric
revelation TO his heart.
They met evening after evening.
sometimes in the lonely parlors of her
uncle; sometimes at the theatre or
opera, but oitener at the bathrooms of
her wealthy rela1ves acquaintance,
whither she went for what reason 1t
scented hard TO tell. Perhaps to crafty
her uncle's wishes, perhaps her curiosity
because size hoped for admiration or
attention, for she was still neglected,