The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1889-03-13
The Girl | Left Behind Me.

made any difference II had known it.
had become Indifferent to women. they inter
ested me only as a trivial study You will
say that woman as a study is too dangerous,
but it had never proved so with me In the
meantime neither sought nor avoided them,
those whom fate threw In my way placed
under my mental microscope, not caring
much for what 1t revealed. My Indifference,
however. did not arise from any lost iliu
sions | had never been In love, and it never
occurred to me that the thing was posi-
bic. had been on friendly terms with blonde
and brunette, with the prude and the coquette,
the clever and the designing; but had forgot
ten their existence half an hour later Nine
Hampton herself never left her room she was
doubtless dying, but she had been so long
about it, and made so little circumstance
about it, that nobody gave it thought. it
would seem. She saw her dodgers, and ar
ranged terms, and sent in the bills; and yet
the house and all its appointments seemed TIC
share the order of the planetary system, The
motive power was madanie's daughter 1 in
voluntarily pictured her, since we. always
picture those who appeal individually to US in
any way, as a coarse featured woman, with
"silver threads among the gold" face more
or less wrinkled, sharp voice, big rough
hands, and a genius for snubbin2 the servants
and haggling with butcher and baker
On entering madame's room one day In
order to settle my account, according to the
custom of the house, behold slender being
before the open fire, with one tiny hand Oh
the mantel, lavender morning gown turned
the knot of yellow hair at the back of heI
head. from which some curls escaped. into
pure gold There was an air Of luxury and
leisure about her which was simply delicious
IN view of the facts.
.sMv daughter" said madame presently
"Estelle this is Mr.. Van Huysam, you have
heard me speak Of him"
Estells turned beautiful, naughty face in
my direction, bowed slightly, smiled vaguely
Indeed might say have heard you speak
of no one else" Plainly the old lady had
been singing my praises. and the young one
did not fancy the tune
dc not know what chord thrilled In my
heart at those words, in that soft minor voice.
capable of all melody, of terse expression. nor
how | got myself out of the room. man
who has received a fatal bullet in the breast
does not recognize the sensation, for the rea
son that he has never experienced it before.
hesdoes not know its import We met often
after this, always by accident, 1t would seem,
ON the staircase, In the hall, and finally one
night made so bold as TO knock at the door
Of her music room She welcomed me with
her naughty cordiality, if haughtiness can be
cordial There were three or four young
men already In possession, but she placed her
seat near my own, and while she anon threw
out iavelins of wit for the general benefit |
received Tie lions share or attention This
was Aatterin2 to my amour propre. But
still, whenever ! repeated my call, 4 had.
always to wrestle With q handful OF
Younger men for the supremacy must
confess that before | reached this point
/ had been obliged to wrestle with
myself to overcome prejudice. Van
Huysarp in love with his landladys daugh
ter was an anomaly What would my family
and friends say to such an affaira With
what eyes would they regard itf What
would Miss Douglass think, for whom ! had
been destined, but who had been hobblede
hoy girl of IL when had last seen here Of
course she could care nothing for me, it
would be wound to her vanity at the most
/ had never intended to marry her had
never consented. in fact, that tony shy
school girl with the big eyes and lAnk
figure, had never appealed to me llah
never been ahis To forgive her for stanliner
ing and blushins besides. there Tad been
ad suffered during their sojourn abroad,
md had lost sight Of them through their
own negligence But kitldladys daughter!
he idea would wither all my acquaintance.
However, love not only laughs at locksmiths,
but at ones relations. When summed myself
in Fstelies presence cared no more for the
Rn.f hat Of