The Washington critic., 1886-11-12

mean2 She knew nothing OF the
paper and could not remember ever
having seen 1t.
what you tink now?' muttered
Jeanne.
IL only think that I see n piece OF
paper with some of Mr.. IlaverHeld 5
writing upon it. That's all. She en-.
deavored TO hide the emotion the
Inference even of his name caused
her.
Han so he write to you even hin my
bown ousc. Ali Estelle, Estelle, yo
know ow much &c ces TO me-"
Estelle Holton at first was about to
resent the manner of her friend but
her good nature came to her relief aud
she inquired: "Why, what have TO do
with this? l never saw that paper be.
fore"
This aroused Jeanne "You ncvare
saw dis? Why foun' it hin yo room
jes now. Yo ave use 1t for papillote
in yo aire."
Estelle was confounded. She tried
to think. Even as now, in those days,
young ladies were given TO twisting
and curling up their dainty little locks
In paper before retiring, at least 80 ira
dition says, but, of course, no male
witnesses ever so stated. She remem.
bered having torn some pieces of paper
for this purpose. but where she had
obtained the paper she could not tell.
She must have picked 1t up from the
mantel or somewhere about the room.
She knew she had never received q
note from George Haverfeld. If she
had she would have been proud of 1t.
II tell you, Jeanne, never read this
before. may have used this paper,
but did not know what was written
upon it,"
She tried to remain calm aud col
lectcd.
ut ees too much. Estellel E5tcllc.
Go ave deceive me-han such a fren' :,
too. Io are my guess, han hi ham
sorry dat hi ave sho my feeling"-and
the nervous girl broke down. She
ran TO her room, and throwing herself
on her bed gave way to flood of tears
Neither young lady was at breakfast
that morning. At noon, when the
little New Orleans packet, Louisiana
Belle, passed down the bayou she stop.
ped at the Marcadc plantation and
Miss llolton and her trunks were taken
on board.
The plighted friendship had been
broken, and although Jeanne, to keep
up appearances, stood on the levee
waving her handkerchief at her de-
parting visitor, she felt in her inner.
most heart that hereafter there was to
be no affection between them.
Whilst the Louisiana Belle was puff.
ing along down the bayou between the
II a. h., 1t, 1,
side, there was not word spoken In
the plantation house of the sudden de.
parture of the young lady guest. She
herself had made some excuses to the
rest Of the family, but all believed
there had been rupture between the
girls. At the dinner table st. Romes
had inquired for his sisters friend,
and was told of her departure. He ap.
peared surprised, but said nothing.
After the cdf6 nOir, eXcusing himself,
he strollcd out TO the front gallery,
putting his cigar. The ladies had not
risen from the table when he entered
hurriedly with scrap of paper and
asked who had found it.
Jeanne recognized the piece at once.
She said she believed Miss Holton had
dropped II. st. Romes shook his head
Then he remembered he had left the
note on the hall table, after lighting n
cigar with the envelope.
"What note?" said Jeanne, eagerly.
"Why, Haverfeld's, Of course. He's
coming up Saturday for hunt"
Jeanne said nothing. She entered
the room Miss Holton had occupied.
On the bureau there was piece Of
paper not unlike the one she now held
in her hand. She picked it up. Then
BILE top. Yes; it was the same hand
writing: She placed the pieces side by
side. The irregularities of each fitted
into the other. They were both parts
of one letter page. A feeling Of re.
morse entered her soul. "And then
Estelle knew nothing of it, after all
could it be so?" She leaned over and
read the whole letter. 1t was:
New OGL EANs, Nov. 2, 1856.
Dear st. Rones:
Your kind letter touch ed my deepest
affection. To my dog and gun l am true
as when hunting. 1t, a bove all other
sports, enjoy most, and will until death.
On Saturday next Twill see you.
Forever yours,
GEORGE HAVERFIELD.
When they reached her room they
found her in almost an hysterical con-
dition on her bed. The solution Of
the words on the papillote of Miss Hol-
ton showed the note to have been Hav-
erleld S acceptance of st. Romes in.
vitation to hunt.
What letters passed between the two
girls after this discovery were never
known. Whatever they were, they
reawakened the old friendship, aud
that maironly looking lady, Mrs.
Haverlield. never puts her hair in
papillotes at night without thinking of
her sister.in.law, Estelle Holman, now
Mrs. st. Romes Marcade, and the lit.
tie episode at the old plantation. Half
q loaf may be better than none, but
half letter is much orse.-[Charles
Il. Whitney in the New Orleans
Times Democrat.