The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-12-08

away, they fell to discussing pile Of
art engravings that lay on table.
This presumably being in Harry's line
he talked good deal, but in spite of
his nimbleness here the tongue and
wits of Yeslit outran him. After a
time, the subject running dry, Ycslit,
catching her breath, proposed, with
squeak of delight, that they should go
out upon the veranda. The Others as
senting, they went out upon that
monument Of Joers conception OF
complete thing" since it girdled the
entire edi6ce with an astounding prodl--
gality of .curlycues. Yeslit secured
Harry when they came out, thing
evidently not exactly to his liking, and
Maun taking John Earnings arm held
it closely as they wandered about, the
/ latter two saying little, as Harry and
Yeslit kept the air full.
John Earring felt his companion
very warm and pleasant and sensuous
as She chung to his side, lifting her
dusky eyes to his in the half-light and
murmuring something now and then
in her thick, mellow voice. The even
ing was very balmy and some of the
windows were open from top to bot
tom, letting out great floods of light
and merry noise. After a moment
Yeslit drew Harry away down one of
the lantern-lit walks, and John Earl
ing and Maun sat down upon seat in
the shadow, and the girl crept close to
him and took one of his hands in both
of hers and held it. He could have
flung her off, for such an inclination
crossed him, and then her physical
touch was so sweet and strong, and
her innocence so appealing, he longed
to clasp her to him. Warm words
came to his lips as her clinging hold
upon his hand frightened, but he held
them back. Her face was close to his,
that Greek, Indian, Spanish face, with
it's passionate flower-likc mouth and
dark eyes wide and liquid with feeling;
her warmth filled him with pleasure.
and after moment their talking died
away and she looked steadily into his
eyes with melting, appealing gaze.
..Do not! do mott Manu- he said,
thrilling and springing to his feet.
Then she came close to him and he
saw in the shadow that her face was
white and her breath coming quick as
she put out her hands toward him.
He could not put her away, but
trembled and said: '.Maun! Maun!'
; in a low, husky voice, and caught her
quickly to him, and strained her hard,
kissing her again and again. At that
soft shower of notes from the piano
in the long parlors began floating out
, and wonderfully sweet voice broke
| into a song. At the first ringing
, silvery flight the young man dropped
the girls hands. All! ah! it was the
, voice, the voice he had reproduced so
many times in fancy! How full, how
marvelously clear! How lark-like it
went upward, silencing all the rustic
and murmur and laughter of the
| house! John EARRING started toward
it, forgetful of Maun. Then he
t stopped. LET us hear it, let us hear
, it!' he said, and together they went
: quickly to the open window, the young,
: man with colorless face and the girl
, with flaming cheeks
Mrs. Bower was at the piano play
l ing, and slender girl was standing
by her dressed in soft white with pink
, roses in her corsage John Earring
$ with one look saw the delicate outline,
the bird-like poise of the head-it being
held slightly back as with spirit, and
. crowned with gold-brown braids, the
small red mouth, the luminous eyes
9 and the white throat pulsing with its
4 crystal freight of song, and knew it
. was Celeste. Celeste, who had given
! him the tea-roses long ago; Celeste, the
g silken-headed fairy sprung into woman
. hood. He listened, trembling and with
. parted lips; fresh from the passionate
4 kisses of Maun as he was, unused to
e such divine singing, young, not much
| acquainted with the world save in books,
, and with heart as sensitive as harp.
8 When the bird-like song had ended,
t the white, slender figure limping a lit
: tie went quietly to a seat amid a
Q shower of clapping hands, and Maun
9 drew John Earring away, clasping his
4 arm hard against her side, but he was
: silent.
. In a moment they met Harry and
I Yeslit coming toward the house, with
: the latter young woman inquiring hys-
9 terically: "Who had sung so MASKING.
ly!' Then they all went in, and all
: the swarming, rustling, noisy throne
: were seated after awhile at short tables,
0 and long tables, square tables and round
: tables, stands and whatnots, and Indeed,
8 wherever there was an available spot
1 upstairs and down, and even up in
: the tower This was the only way in
which so many could be refreshed, be.
: sides, it was exactly Joels idea of an
informal thing.
: 1t was great gastronomic crush
Joel was everywhere helping and di-
: recting the flow of edibles toward the
> hundreds of mouths; very purple aid
> beaming he was, and ere long under
: the high pressure of affairs he diyestec
y himself of his coat, and with white
:. towel over his capacious front looked
!. the flower of ford bar-keepers Mrs.
: Whitney was ere long pressed into the
: service, and presently Harry and Ether
:. fell into the ranks of the six waiting
girls that Joel had procured, and joined
in the struggle to get the food forward
to the hungry Openstoners. The house
fairly quaked with talk and laughter
; and Salvo Popp, oblivious of his slopin.
: shoulders, thought it indeed a CRANE
3 and successful affair. He had been sitting
with the still book-keeper neara corner
and with the announcement of refresh
{ ments drew little card-table between
them upon which presently some cof
!, , fee, chicken and cake appeared. The
Oh | L. z !.