The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-11

he wanted the lovely Miss Bracegirdle
to himself, not surrounded by . crowd
of admirers. But as he had not been
able to see her the day before he deter
| mined TO brave the crowd, and be con-
tent if he got but one smile all his own.
And so he presented himself once more
ut Mrs. Bracegirdle's door, this time
knowing her to be within. But when
| it was opened, and he confidently
framed the phrase. not as query, but
an assertion: "Mrs. Bracegirdle ut
homer" and proposed Immediately to
enter, the maid said, shortly: mo, she
is not" and quickly Shut the door upon
him.
No words can describe his feelings.
He stared blankly at the handsome door.
well shut and firm, that suddenly had
closed upon him and separated him
from his love. What could this awful
thing mean? Had Mrs. Braccgirdle
heard something-false, of course, and
uttered by some other base admirer OF
her daughter-which had made her
take this cruel step? 1t was impossible
to guess. 1t was impossible to knock
again and ask; it was ridiculous to stand
staring at the door. He turned, de-
scended the steps and walked down the
street.
Before he had gone halfway he met
n hated rival, a very fine fellow. whom
he had only begun to hate in the last
three or four days, since he had noticed
that Miss Bracegirdle sometimes gave
him very charming and encouraging
chances. Captain Fortescue walked on
slowly, and listened for the confident
rat-a-tat-tat of his rival. He heard it,
listened, and looked back. The door
was opened, and the visitor instantly
admitted.
The unhappy man who had been
turned away from that same entrance
sighed heavily and went away down the
sunny street, hanging his head. He
told himself that it would be only fool
or mailman who could pretend to
misunderstood so plain refusal rs this.
Perhaps it was meant kindly, he
thought, and groaned at the thought.
Miss Bracegirdle was no coqnette, and
; did not care to have men offer her their
love when she had no intention of &C.
cepting it. He was SO desperately
enamOred of her that he busted himself
1
, deed. His hopes were gone, but be
, could not bea- so suddenly to lose his
idol. He determined he would moi
worry her by his unwelcome presence
, where she could not easily avoid him,
nor permit himself to be laughed ut by
his successful rival. So he excused
, himself from certain engagements al
houses where he knew he should meet
| her. He gave up dancing and took to
, cards instead.
"Mamma," said Miss Bracegirdle
, one day. doesn't it seem odd that for
. three weeks Captain Fortescue has moi
, called?"
ut does, said Mrs. Bracegirdle; "and
/ yet, when ] come to think oft, we have
, not met him ont anywhere, either. He
, must be i'll, or more likely he has gone
/ out of town. He will call when he comes
back"
|, This she said, noting that her daugh.
+ But, secretly, she was uneasy herself,
/ Captain Fortescue had shown signs Of
4 being so earnest wooer that it seemed
: very improbable he would leave town
! without word to them. At the next
: opportunity she quietly made some in
!. quiries about him, and learned thai
Captain Fortescue was neither i'll mol
i out of town. This was bad news, in
e deed; for Mrs. Bracegirdle knew per
n fcctly well that her daughters hear
1 was seriously touched; and, as Captain
Fortesccue was perfectly .'eligible. y
q all had promised fairly. Now that fail
? promise was destroyed. There wa.
!, nothing to be done except try. by othel
D distractions, to erase the impression
which Captain Fortescue had made
3 Mrs. Bracegirdle devoted herself to hel
1 daughter more tenderly than ever, anC
3 the girl understood her.
. Amid all the gayety and the many
q engagements which came with every
> day, there was a melancholy about thu
g house which had never been there be
9 fore. 1t was impossible for them Il
Danish it altogether. Even Master
; Harry, a cheerful youth of about four
: teen, became aware of it at last, ant
declared his sister was not s.half as jolly
a as she used to be-" One day, when hi.
, mother and sister were taking a quie
| half hour before dressing for dinner, b,
, came into the room carrying an UNI
: brella.
II say, mother, this umbrellas beer
in the stand for month. The fellow
!: il belonged to has forgotten all about
/ it, / expect; don't you think I might
have it?"
'.Isn't it yoursP" said Mrs. Brace
: girdle. II gave you silver-handled one
: last year."
: 20. l lost that long ago." replied the
g youth, coolly; land / may as well have
v this instead. It's like mine, but evcl
: so much sweller. There's name en-
Q graved on it, but I could have thai
q scratched out"
''Let me see the name," said Mrs
Bracegirdle. She took it and read
''Fortescue."
g An odd look came over her face. Sht
4 said nothing for a moment, but seemed
a plunged in thought; then she rose and
s went down stairs to the dining-room
l hu H. ,on Al