Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-23

trodden forest; it was dimcult for the imagination of the poet. or tho painter, to picture aught so beautiful.
 ''Is she not lovely?" repeated Gilbert Margrave.
 Tho young South American put his head critically on one side, with the cal culating glance with which oonnoisseur in tho fino arts regards Q valuable pie ture. The used-up Mortimer Percy made it rule never to commit himself by ad- mirins anything or anybody.
 'Hum-ha p he muttered thoughtfully i; ''yes, she's by no means bad-looking."
 By no means bad-looking" cried Gill bert Margrave, impatiently; ''you cold hearted automaton, how dare you speak of womanly perfection in such a manner. She's an angel, 8 goddess-a siren
 You'll have an attack of apoplexy, Margrave, If you go on in this way" said Mortimer, laughing.
 "Can you tell me who she is?'
 'No. But 1 can do more. I can tell you what she Is.
 "What do you mean?"
 II mean that your angel, your nymph, your goddess, your siren, is-a slave"
 "A slave?" exclaimed Gilbert.
 "Yes. The African blood runs in those purple veins. The hereditary curse of slavery hovers over that graceful and
 
 But her skin Is fairer than the lily"
 "What of thnt? Had you been a planter. Gilbert, you would have been abie to discover. as did. when just now l stood close to that lovely girl. the fatal signs of her birth. At the extreme cor ner of the eye. and at the root of the finger nails, the South American can though but ono drop of the blood of tho despiscd race tainted the object upon whom he looked"
 "But this girl seems an intimate friend of your cousin, Adelaide; who can she be7" asked Gilbert.
 "Yes. that is tiie very thing that pug zles mo. Adelaide must be utterly igno- rant of her origin, or she would never treat as 0 friend one who, on the other sidc of tho Atlantic, would be her lady E. maid. But, hush, hero comes my aunt, shc will be able to tell us all about her beautiful guest"
 Mrs. Montresor was still 8 handsome woman. 6he bore a family likeness to her nephew, Mortimer. who was the only son Of her sister, while Adelaide and Augustus Horton We're the children of her brother. Her fair ringlets had. as yet, escaped tho hand of Time. No tell tale strcaks of gray had stolen amid the showering locks. Her blue eyes were as bright as those of girl, and shone with the light of good humor and benovolence. She was not only handsome woman, she was lovable one. The young instine- lively chung to her, and felt that within that ample bosom beat kindly heart. which a long summer of prosperity had never rendered callous to the woes of others.
 "Come, gentlemenr' she said gayly, as she approached tho two friends :; ''this Is really too bad! Here are you lolling on sofa. wasting your sweet ness on the desert air. while have, at for eligible partners for the next waltz As for you, Mortimer" she added, shak- ing her perfumed fan. threateningly, at her nephew; you are really inc orrigi- ble; poor Adelaide does not even know you arc here."
 Il came in late, my dear aunt, and | saw that both you and my cousin were So surrounded by admirers, 1t was quite impo >siple to approach you"
 IA pretty excuse, sir, which neither I nor Adelaide will accept" said Mrs. Montresor, laughing. And then, again, 1 wanted to have 8 chat with Gilbert"
 ''Out upon your gallantry, sir; you preferred talking to NJ. Margra ve to | bride!"
 II am not very good dancer; am apt to tread upon the ladies' lace | tlaunees, and get my heels ontangled in | tho spurs of young dragons. 1 really thought my cousin would rather be ex- cused."
 Indeed, str," exclaimed Mrs. Mon- l tresor, evidently rather annoyed by her | nephew's indifference; II should not be surprised if Adelaide should one day ask | to be excused from marrying you." "Good gracioust' cried Mortimer, | playing with his watch chain; "do you ihlnk lny cousin is not very violently in love with me?'
 "Violently in love with you? coxcomb But. joking apart. really, Mortimer, you are the coldest. most unpoetical, soul 1 less creature ever met" My dear aunt" said Mortimer, apolo- | getically. II will freely own that am not very sentimental person. But What of that2 My intended marriage l with my cousin. Adelaide. Is by no 1 means 2 romantic affair. In the first | place, Augustus Horton and I are part ners. My marriage with his sister is therefore advisable, on the ground o1 commercial interests. That is reason | number one. not very romantic to begin with. Reason number two Is this you 1 have two nephews and one niece you wish your favorite nephew (meaning me, l to marry your niece, 1a order that one ol these days, having no children of youl own, you may leave them the bulk o1 | your fortune. There's nothing particularly romantic in this. You say to the two l young people, Marry, and the two young 1 people say. Very well, we're agreeable l! l and behold the business Is settled Very advisable. and very proper, nc doubt, but not subject for romance my dear aunt"
 "Bah, Mortimer, you're incorrigible but know that st the hottom of you, heart you're -cry much in love witt | your pretty cousin, notwithstanding l your pretending indifference"
 "Come, then, my best of aunts. For, l givo your most peryerse of nephews, ane answer me one question. for the benefit of Gilbert Margrave here, who has been bewitched by ono of the lilies of you ballroom"
 "In deed, and pray who is the lady?"
 "That is the very question we want you to answer replied Mortimer, lead ing his aunt to the curtaiped doorway O the ballroom. See, there she Is, tha1 dark-eyed girl talking to my cousin Ado laide
 ''That Is Miss Leslie."
 "What Miss 1es!ie7"
 "The daughter of Mir. Gerald Lesli, of New Orleans"
 Indeed 1" exclaimed Mortimer. | Dot