The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-31

unpleasant thoughts which for some
time past had constantly kept him COM
pany. Try as he would. however, he
could not force his mind into new
channels Of thought. The wrinkles in
his forehead grew deeper and deeper.
Disguised at his failure, he closed his
eyes and went over the events of his
past life again and again, trying to find
some reason why fate had denied him
the happiness he craved. At last,
throwing the book on the table at his
side, he rose and walked restlessly
across the room to little mahogany
cabinet, and taking out a photograph
which was set in neat little pocket
case, he looked at the smiling pictured
face earnestly and long, then, with a
deep sigh, he went to the fireplace
and dropped the treasure into the glow
ing flames, muttering as he did so:
ut is better so. Time will not heal
the wound and to keep such reminder
would only aggravate it.
NO." he continued, pacing the room
in his excitement, 81 can not under
stand why fate has decreed me so little
real happiness while it has showered
upon me what men commonly surren-
der almost every good thing to obtain!
"ls this the way man should feel
on the eve of his wedding? Oh! how
shall | hide my aching heart from my
wife all the years to Gomez lido not love
her now, and l know l never shall.
The sweet face of her sister will always
come between us to taunt me with my
foolish love and still more foolish mar
riage. | could not keep her from my
mind even in the presence of my first
wife, how then can | hope to do more
with a second? o, that were out of
it about of myself"
Again his mind reverted to the past.
Five years ago. he thought, l was
married to as good a woman as ever
lived; but did not love her, for then
rs now | loved Gertrude May bury with
all my heart and soul. Three years
after our marriage my wife died. do
not think she ever knew-but what
living lie! And how UNNECESSARILY
harder it would have been had l not
been convinced that | was doing it to
save her life.
What evil genius has been shaping
my destiny that / should become en-
tangled in a second alliance in the very
presence of the woman | love and be
utterly unable to win her or to resist
the influence which is soon to place her
forever beyond my reach? 1t is as if
were being carried along by the re-
sistless current of a mighty river so
swiftly that it is impossible for me to
turn to the right or left, with certain
destruction staring me in the face.
Oh! Gertrude, Gertrude, you are as
far beyond my reach as the stars. To-
morrow | am to become the husband
OF your sister Bertha; and thenceforth
be compelled to wear mask of pleas
ant smiles. Why did l attempt to for
get by engaging myselfto Bertha when
l knew, or should have known as well
then as now, that never can forgeti
i was beside myself, frenzied. mad,
any thing but in my right mind!
With an exclamation of despair he
threw himself face downward on sofa
1t was long past midnight and Mr.
had spentless than three hours
out of the previous thirty-six in bed. It
was no wonder, therefore, that with his
mind so exhausted by constant worry
he soon fell into a troubled sleep. At
first he felt himself borne, against his
will, By some invisible power up the
steep side of mountain. the summit
,f which stretched far above the clouds. |
Over clefts and precipices and huge |
,oulders he was carried by his mys-
erlQus eaptor, expecting every mo |