The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-12-18

hard" said Ada; s. and / think she ID
very pretty, she has such a lovely com
| plexion, and such penciled eyebrows. -
''Penciled, indeed, said Miss Morris,
"black lead pencils. i wonder does
she know Captain Chichester is engaged
to Lady Ida Leigh. If not somebody
ought to tell her, there is no use in her
setting her cap at him."
Next day, on going to her room, Flor
ence, to her surprise, found Ada's
maid busily engaged in repairing her
damaged dress. On being asked where
she had got the muslin, she said the
footman had found it on the hall table,
and, as it was addressed to Miss Molly
neux, he sent it upstairs.
Florence flew to thank Lady Brandon,
but neither she nor Ada knew anything
about it.
She tried to pursue her inquiries, but
the gentleman turned off the converse
ton, Captain Chichester having appar.
emily forgotten the accident.
Mary and Jane Morris exchanged
glances and smiles, and whispered:
Il told you so. just as if he cared
| about her dress. You will see he will
not go near her tonight prophesy
| that.
Miss Morris prophecy was not full
filed, however, for Captain Chichester
danced SO often with Florence and paid
her so much attention that Miss Morris
thought it her duty to tell her next
morning that he was engaged to Lady
Ida Leigh, and that there was no use
| trying to catch him.
''And, oh! if you had seen her face,
my dear Ada! she was as red as tur-
key cock, and almost told me was i'm.
pertinent"
Meanwhile the days few by agreeably
to Florence. Captain Chichester was
always by her side, ever charming and
| tender. She did not dare to analyze
her feelings. She was drifting down 9
rapid current, leading she knew not
where, but there was no escape. Nc
one spoke of Lady Ida now. Every
day Captain Chichester's looks and
words seemed to give fresh proofs of his
affection, and she lived in dream OF
joy and love. The awaking came, when
one morning at breakfast she heard Sir
Charles Brandon say: Chichester, here
is an invitation for you from Lord Well
wood. | am going to shoot with him
tomorrow, and he hopes will bring
| you with me; the shooting is very GOOD:
you had better come" Captain Chi
| chester hesitated. He had promised his
father to return at the end of the week.
The day passed by heavily. The
gentlemen were out shooting, the ladies
took drive. At dinner Jane Morris
seated herself between Captain Chiches-
ter and Florence. In the evening Sir
| Charles asked him to play ecarte, and
it was only when bidding good night
that Captain Chichester made his
adieux.
81 suppose 1 must say goodbye
now," he said to Florence. ''We start
so early in the morning -''
Florence corld not command her
voice, but gave him her hand.
ave shall meet again, I hope? We
must meet again. Do you ever come to
town."
''Oh, do move on, Miss Molyneux, /"
said Jane Morris. ''you are keeping us
all standing"
Florence disengaged her hand and
went upstairs. Her happiness was at
an end. They would never meet again,
and he had said nothing to her. Nay,
it almost seemed as if he had avoided
| speaking to her. What fool she had
been to think he cared for her. An I'M
| opened letter lay on the top of the pin
cushion. Who could be writing to herP
She took it up. There were initials up
on the enVelop and motto. The mi
tails were 81 c." the motto True till
Annf L L
eyes. 1t was his motto. 1t was not a
dream, it was letter from Captain
Chichester. She pressed it to her lips,
then tore it open, and then read the
contents as quickly as her agitation
would permit. 1t began:
81 have in vain tried to speak to YOU
alone; but | cannot leave YOU without
learning my fate. You must have seen
that / love you devotedly. Can you
give me any hope? ! leave early
tomorrow, but my future movements
depend upon your answer. II you love
me let me have a few lines from you
tonight, and [ will return from Well
| wood with Sir Charles on Friday. NV
room is the last in the gallery. May
ask you to letme have few lines there
from you tonight On your reply my
happiness depends. Ever yours de-
votedly, L. CHICHESTER.
Florence let the letter fall into her lap;
the revulsion of feeling was almost too
| great. The bitter tears of sorrow and
disappointment were still upon her
cheek, but some subtle chemistry had
changed them to a rainbow of hope and
joy. He loved her! he had written to
say so. And now she had the delightful
task of replying. What should she
sayp She could consult no one.
Florence wrote from an overlooking
heart, without stopping to choose the
words, a joyful and happy acceptance
of Captain Chichester's love. She went
to bed at last, not, indeed to sleep, but
to indulge in blissful thoughts. She put
Captain Chichester's letter under her
pillow, and felt it from time to time to
assure herself it was not dream.
AT length, toward morning, she fell
into peaceful slumber, from which she
was awakened by the maid bringing her
cup of tea.
Florence started up as her new-found
happiness flashed upon her. A letter
lay on the tray. She snatched it up,
scarcely waiting for the maid to leave