The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-12-15


to that Of the 1ndian.footed Maun; but
Maun did not waltz, neither did John
Earring, but the moist-mouthed Yeslit
was well-nigh as fluent with her feet as
with that member between her teeth,
upon which language in its velocity
was not only reduced to very thin
fluid but often dissolved into sort OF
labial spray, and he waltzed great
deal with her. Besides, there were
scores of Openstone girls, and indeed
several Openstone mothers, who were
not adverse to adding their charms to
the elegancies of Joers accomplished
son. But Yeslit continued to keep the
prize well in hand spinning soft and
pleasant webb about him with alulling,
continuous buzz, and ever and anon
shooting little restraining thread
across in front of him when he made a
movement to escape, then releasing
him and capturing him again at pleas
ure Mrs. Whitney obviously was not
pleased, for there were many richer
GIRLS present, but Yeslit obviously re-
manned in possession of the field, and
Salvo Popp, from his corner, from
under the load of bis sloping shoulders
and looking out from his CHASTITY
display of cuffs and collar, thought
his sister marvelously clever.
After the waltz had partly spent it.
self, the old lawyer came to John Earl
ing, at whose side Maun had remained
throughout the evening, and claimed
his daughters company home. The
young man courteously asked that
pleasure for himself. but his old en-
ployer put him off with a jealous,
good-natured growl, and led her away.
Then, having felt the physical fascina-
ton of contact with Maun broken into
but once by the singing of Celeste, and
after that little troubled by the
presence of that quiet white figure in
another room, now that the spell had
lapsed little he started to find the
sweet-voiced stranger. Yet he found
that he could not 60 to her after what
had happened; it would not be just to
Maun. If he clasped any other hand
than Celeste's it mattered little, but to
her he felt there would be something
of sacrilege and to Maun something
of untruth. For there was
something "a ray OF feeling,
understanding, sympathy, or knowl.
edge, between him and Celeste
Bright, though they had never looked
into each others eyes but once. thai
had never gone out. Perhaps it was
entirely in his own heart, though, ane
not reaching to hers; memory only o
her voice now suddenly renewed. III
went out upon the veranda debating
he should not go to his lodging, but h
could not be discourteous to his friends
Judge and Mrs. Bower, nor to &c
leste, and he started in and met Mrs
Bower coming to find him. Judg
Bower and others were busy at a gam
of whist in the large front room owe
the parlor, and Celeste. looking a littl
white and tired, was lying back in a
easy chair watching them, when Mr.;
Bower led John Earling to her. "Cl
leste, this is Mr.. Earling; Mr.. Earring
you remember our little Celeste?' sh
said.
The girl got up, supporting herse
! slightly by the chair, and her face |
up with smile and her big, clear eye
looked warm and luminous asshe too
his hand. "You did not come back
talk again as l told you tor were he
! first laughing, melodious words. job
Earnings cheeks colored. "Bnt hav
the tea-roses YETI he said, and Mr.
Bower broke out laughing at so quee
8 resumption of long-broken an
scarcely begun acquaintance. Celeste
! cheeks, too, turned pink with his IT
: mark, and they all sat down and fe
= to talking of general things, but tt
clear eyes of the young people, NEE
q ing, would linger little and 81
. down consciously. Mrs. Bower in
/ short time, however, asked her hu
n band to get the carriage to the door ;
n it was growing late, and turning
b John Earring she invited him to con
n and take tea with them soon, and ia
i ing Celeste's arm they bowed goo
night and went away to get the
h wrappings.
AS they went out John Earlir
O watched the limping, slender girl Wi
e sinking throb at his heart. A XIII
g of sympathetic shame mantled b
r face. as he thought OF the free and wi
IS lowy sweep of Maun's carriage. al
!, the pleasure he had taken in it. Ma
d was it not the one exquisite grace tn
r had led him 10 her? In momer
n with vision of this lame and love
70 girl, the narrow compass of his pr
v sion flashed before him. He got
, and went away toward his lodging
~ forgetful that he should have thank
and taken leave of those whose hos
IF tality he had enjoyed. But his he's
r was troubled; he could not straight
Is the sweet and tangled currents Of
re feelings. He felt dimly that Maun q
ct not satisfy him; that beneath t
-e physical exhilaration which her pr
Ne ence brought him there burned SC
e. hunger which she could not fill.
"a thought of Celeste, and tried to tt
,e his feelings by her, but he could r
in feel her much with the memory of Il
ID other throbbing, clinging, regal G
ID fresh upon him. He went to sleep
,r last, and wandered about in his dream
r. at one time pursuing the voice of
IS leste through an endless green lar
N scape, now hearing it and now losi
n it, when suddenly he came upon
4 body of Maun lying dead upon b
AFT of flowers, and when he bent over
is in an agony of grief the invisible voice
X Celeste flew down out of the air Ii
e, something tangible and stung him, a
If he awoke.
~ CHAPTER XVIII.
ht The sun was shining when the fl
ty cied voice of Celeste aroused 10
X Earring so strangely. He got up a