The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-05-09
Written for the CHIEF.
AT WAR WITH HER OWN HEART

s.-.-+ p s==ts-5st- BY LETHE. =as s=s- --+ ~
Maude Travers was beautiful girl of II
summers, reared to wealth and all its at
tendant luxuries, and in view of the petted,
spoiled life that had been hers, one might
have supposed she was capricious, whim-
sical and peevish, but never did there bloom
a sweeter rose than this blushing heiress of
such rare good fortune. She was an only
child, the idol of fond parents, and it was
natural for them to keenly watch their lit
tie Aedgling just ready to try her wings, bid
adieu to childhood and embark on the sea
of society-a sea SO turbulent, yet so en-
ticing that it allures many mariner to
disport in it's deceptive waters until IRE
trievably dashed upon the breakers.
OF course Maude was to make brilliant
match. What girl is not? Even when born
to much poorer lot than this maiden's her
aspirations are of the loftiest, and many
are the castles she builds, needless how
soon some adverse wind may shatter them
to atoms. Their little daring's delicate
health in childhood had induced Mr.. and
Mrs. Travers to abandon palatial North
ern residence and take up their abode in
romantic portion of Florida. The relaxing
air of this genial cline had been conducive
to healthy mental and physical develop
ment, and this once fraii child now stood
before you charming specimen of per-
feet woman. She was truly beautiful with
her lustrous brown eyes, fiaxen hair and a
complexion that might rival the peach
bloom.
"Well, Maude dear, do you think you can
be ready to start for our usual summer tour
about next Wednesday?"
81 guess SO, papa; but why 60 away at
all? The spring has been SO very pleasant
that it bids fair to guarantee US cool
summer even in the South, so why leave
our nice homer"
"Why, Maude darling, you know we al
ways go North in the summer, and aside
from the pleasure it affords us, have bus
mess relations that always settle up dur
ing my sojourn there.'
Mr.. Travers cast quick glance at his
| daughter, furtively Watching her counte-
| nance, for his suspicious were aroused in
regard to certain young gentleman, a
! Mr.. Percy Woodville, who had shown un-
! divided attention to Maude during the past
six months. The all-important question
had not been asked yet, and Mr.. Travers
thought by showing his pet child more of
the world to break up the attachment, If
any existed, on Maude's part at least. This
he feared from her reply, although Maude
had hitherto assured him that Percy could
only claim her "purest friendship" This
Young Mr.. Woodville was an Apollo to look
upon-so tall, SO graceful, SO manly in all
his attributes There was one fault, how
ever, which, although Maude in her secret
reflections about him assured herself that q
solemn promise made to her would forever
overcome, yet the older mind and mature,
Indictment of her father led him to the con.
viction that g That young man will die 6
drunkard." And this is why he trembled
for the fate of his idolized daughter. Mr.
Woodyille being young lawyer, not pos
sessed of any extensive amount of wealth
must necessarily devote his whole time tc
his business and could not afford to spenc
his summers at fashionable watering pla
ces. Maude knew this only too we'll, ant
thus from the fullness CT her heart she re-
piled to her father. Perceiving at onc'
her fathers uneasy manner she quickly an
swered, "Al right, papa, l suppose Will
mammals assistance We can be ready tt