The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-16
Arthur skilfully lit his pipe beneath his

making a return trip over the same road.
fifth passenger was now aboard. But
this passenger lay on the floor OF the
| wagon in sack.
At the college gate Prof. Cronin met
| them.
Have you got Alice?" he inquired You
had better put her in your room, Prof.
Denver till tonight; the lock Is broken on
the door OF the dissecting room, and II 1t
| will not inconvenience"
| mot at all"
Morton drove on slowly through the col
Iege grove The wind had died down and
the rain ceased, leaving the air full OF
damp fog. The first indications of dawn
were barely observable in the gradually
clearing eastern horizon as the trees began
| to loom into spectral shape, holding their
wide spreading arms and dripping fingers
over the wagon passing beneath. The
somber pile OF the college outlined itself
indistinctfy against the gray sky. To the
left lay the dormitory hall, to the right the
building occupied by the laboratories, reci-
tation rooms and the bachelor apartments
of Prof. Arthur Denver. To the last-men-
toned place they drove. The professor
Maid the men. dismissed Morton with the
horses. took the sack in his arms and noise
lessly entered the house. He laid his bur-
den on sofa, and retiring into the next
room went to bed.
| H.
George Dascar was handsome, clever,
passionate, weak; and, because he was
weak, cruel He loved Annie Morse blind
ly, madly She well, she was young, and
if she felt reciprocal sentiment for a
young man who besieged her at every
available opportunity with fierce love, who
could blame her. She knew not her own
heart to tell the truth, and vascillated be-
tween the taciturn p! Ofessor at the medl-
cal college and the handsome grain buyer.
Sometimes she thought for long days how
happy she would be IL Arthur Denver
would smile and cast his brown eyes on
her Away. And then Dascar would come
into her mind and all his windy signs and
protestations of how he certainly should
die unless she would love him in return
At this stage in her reflections she would
look at herself in the glass and wonder
what any one could see in her to love SO
desperately-all of which showed that Das-
cars flattery had not fallen on stony
ground.
That same gray morning, after the
stormy night, Dascar came down to his
office with unusually light step. Tho Office
boy was surprised at not being kicked.
The dog caught his masters good humor.
as dogs will, and tied himself into beau,
knots on the floor as an evidence thereof.
Poor Alice" muttered Dascar to him.
self, as he picked up his morning paper and
adjusted himself to scrutinize it's contents.
1,ol tuI
should have wanted her to live, had 1t not
been for that miserable secret. On the
whole, she acted very we'll about it. Though
she always opposed my paying attention to
Annie, yet she mover did any thing to in
jure my prospects. Now she is dead, and
the last mouth is closed that could blab
any thing of that cursed business. wish
the memory OF it had died with Alice.
Well bars and bolts OF certain institutions
are as strong as the grave and keep secrets
as we'll"
He read his paper. He threw it down and
sauntered out along the street to sec ir he
could get sight OF Annie. He had often
passed her house before at even more un-
reasonable hours than this to catch a
glimpse Of her. This time he was success
full. She was on the porch just starting to
town.
MIR. Dascar, of all men!"
And why not Mr.. Dascar?" Offering his
arm and closing the gate for her.
"Who would have thought of seeing you
at this time of day? ] should have i'm
agined you immersed in business and to-
bacco smoke by this time. Papa always is
And here you are, without the scent of 0
cigar, actually! What will happen next
when"
She would have chartered on, for she was
in happy, talkative mood, but he inter,
rupted.
II told you would not smoke if you dis
liked it. would do any thing for you.
came by on purpose to see-if not you, al
least the house that sheltered you last
night in the dreadful storm. envy it."
He spoke softly, yet with peculiar
abandon and incoherence that was pretty
simulat on of emotion.
} 30 DEAR" said Annie, innocently enough
George Dascar's brain worked fast Out
of the many thoughts that rushed through
it came this conclusions: Tell her now, be
J fore that other fool does. You're all safe
The only witness is dead"
"Miss Morse-Annie, will say it. Have
you not seen it? must marry you 70,
know love you to my death. Do not tel
me nay. know this is queer time anc
place for proposal can not help it. Ny
: feelings overpower me. l dare not lool
you in the face. I shall call this evening
/ and learn my fate. 1 leave you and TURF
here. No, do not answer" And he wa
gone.
} Annie stopped a moment gazing at hi
|
, was dizzy. 1t was only for moment, how
ever, for she hurried on her errand,
bright flame burning in each cheek
That forenoon there was terrific battle
The arena was Annie Morse's heart; tn
: combatants, George Dascar and Arthu.
Denver Not a literal hand to-hand com
bat, as in the days of chiyary, but Ami
would now think of one and then of the
other in dazed way that bespoke her tn
subject OF cross mesmeric influences.
Arthur Denver was to come that after
noon and take her to see the new cit
, library He would have a chance to i'm
prove his prospect Would he do it? II h
didn't we'll, she didn't know what, if b
: didn't
The afternoon passed, but no Arthu
Denver came, Notwithstanding he ha,
pleaded with her to make the engagement
and to do SO she had broken several others
She was piqued.
When George Dascar came he had tina
+ much in his favor that he knew not OF. H
, improved his chances well, and when h
< left her house that evening it was with tn
promise of her hand
, Things went ON smoothly. The weddin
, was at hand. Arthur Denver did not sho,
himself.
Ill