St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-09-06

y
only for minute. If he is SO impudent
as to come again. the moment you see
who it is shut the door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
girdle's day "at home" Captain
fortescue had not intended to go then;
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 10 brave the crowd, and be con-
tent if he got but one smile all his own.
And so he presented himself once more
at Mrs. Bracegirdle's door, this time
knowing her to be within. But when
it was opened, and he confidently
framed the phrase. not as a query. but
an assertion: ..Mrs. Bracegirdle at
home?' and proposed Immediately to
enter. the maid said, shortly: "No, 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 ng-false, of course, and
uttered by some other base admirer of
her danghter-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
Il 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
glances. 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 he only fool
or a mailman who could pretend to
misunderstood so plain refusal as this.
Perhaps it was meant kindly, he
thought, and groaned at the thought.
Miss Bracegirdle was no coquette. and
did not care to have men offer her their
love when she had no intention of ac-
cepting it. He was SO desperately
enamored of her that he busted himself
in trying to see this cruel cut as kind
deed. His hopes were gone, but he
could not bear SO suddenly to lose his
idol He determined be would not
worry her by his unwelcome presence
where she could not easily avoid him,
nor permit himself to be laughed at by
his successful rival. So he excused
himself from certain engagements at
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 not
called9'
1T Does" said Mrs. Bracegirdle: land
vet, when I come to think oft, we have
not met him out anywhere, either. He
must be ill. or more likely he has gone
out of town. He will call when he comes
back"
This she said, noting that her daugh-
ter looked little pale and out of sorts.
But, secretly. she was uneasy herself.
Captain Fortcscue had shown signs of
being SO earnest q 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 that
Captain Fortescue was neither i'll nor
cut of town. This was bad news, in
deed: for Mrs. Bracegirdle knew per-
fectlv well that her daughters heart
was seriously touched; and, as Captain
FGrtesccue was perfectly "eligible. :"
all had promised fairly. Now that fair
promise was destroyed. There was
nothing to be done except try. by other
distractions, to erase the impression
which Captain Fortescue had made.
Mrs. Bracegirdle devoted herself to her
daughter more tenderly than ever, and
the girl understood her.
Amid all the gayety and the many
engagements which came with every
day. there was melancholy about the
house which had never been there be-
fore. 1t was impossible for them to
Danish it altogether. Even Master
Harry, a cheerful youth of about four
teen. became aware of it at last, and
declared his sister was not :half as jolly
as she used to be-" One day, when his
mother and sister were taking quiet
half hour before dressing for dinner, he
came into the room carrying an UNI
brella.
Il saw, mother, this umbrella $ been
in the stand for = month. The fellow
il belonged to has forgotten all about
it, expect; don't you think l might
have it,"
isn't it yourse" said Mrs. Brace
girdle Il gave you silver-handled one
last year"
30, | lost that long age" replied the
youth, coolly; land may as well have
this instead. It's like mine, but ever
so much sweller. There's name en-
graved on it, but l could have that
scratched out.
Let mo see the name," said Mrs;
Bracegirdle. She took it and read
s.Fortcscue.
An odd look came over her face. She
said nothing for moment, but seemed
plunged in thought; then she rose and
went down stairs to the dining room:
She rang the bell and the stern-eyed
maid appeared.