The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-08

| TWO ike lis. MdtCleu HILL duu "oho
further"
The bell tinkled in the hall just as
supper time was over that evening, and
in few moments servant came to
call Miss Dwight.
cts gentleman; he don't know aoho
he wants." she said. 'Some one who
knows all about the place, he told me-"
And Dora went into the parlor, bare
looking room, long, and with white
walls, a panel carpet, library table, a
horse-hair sofa, and six chairs, and the
portrait of the founder of the home
over the mantel-piece. There stood un-
der this portrait with his elbow on the
marble itself, a gentleman. Dark-eyed,
dark-haired, with Il face that was not so
much handsome as delightful
Writers often spend good deal of
time in discussing what it is that men
see in the women who they fall in love
with-when they say:
This is the woman for met
/ believe the woman who meets for
the first time the only man on earth to
whom she would willingly give herself,
has deeper experiences still.
The moment had como to Miss Dwight.
She had waited thirty years for it, and
now she did not know what it meant.
But an unconscious smile came to her
lips, light to her soft blue eyes, a flush
to her smooth cheek. She looked pref
tier than she could have dreamed posi-
BILE of at that moment
The stranger told his business He
had recently come from Paris, where he
had been occupied in certain affairs for
ten years. Meanwhile, his brother had
died, having recently lost his wife. He
understood to his establishment, that
his little nephews were in the Home.
''Of course, | wish to take charge of
| them" he said. 81 am bachelor, but
can arrange for their care. They need
not live on charity"
''It is not rha1ty," said Miss Dwight.
cdr. Ellwood gave largely to the Home
in his lifetime. The children are con-
sidcred little ladies and gentlemen.
They are we'll educated; taught the
usages of good society. They will have
a collegiate course when they leave this
place. Most of the girls become teach
ers, | think. The boys choose their
profession. There would be at least no
need of haste in removing them"
They talked together awhile. She
gathered that he was what might be
called a poor man.
He fingered after the boys had come
and gone. He came on the morrow, and
again and again. The ostensible motive
was to see his nephews, but he also de-
sired to see Miss Dwight.
{ Meanwhile, DR.. Emory called every
afternoon and consulted with Dora as to
the new parlor carpet and the china.
''Buy good things" she said. What
is the use Of getting a carpet that will
fade soon, or china that chips; and
silver makes a table look we'll. Besides,
the things about house belong to the
widow-if l should be left
"She is deuced PRACTICAL said poor
DR.. Emory to himself.
This was after the new matron arrived
and was being drilled in her duties by
Miss Dwight, who calmly said before
| every one:
"You sec I'm to be married shortly"
Once he even demonstrated, saying:
"Do you know, poor Nellie never
talked like that; nor my dear Maria"
. 'Of course not" said Miss Dwight.
"But you remarked in your offer to me
that (of course) you and had done with
romance long ago."
Dr. Emory tried to laugh, but he was
not happy.
That afternoon he took long, long
ride to the Sea-shore, and stabling his
horse at the hotel walked down to the
beach. ''Tho season. was over. The
caterers expected only a little chance
custom. 1t was day when driving
clouds made it cool enough to be pleas
ant. There he sat down behind a big
mound of sand and watched the sea and
thought of Maria, aad how he used so
often to kiss the back of her neck be-
cause the two little curls looked so cum
ming, and how she thought him hand
some; how dear they were to each other.
How long his reverie had lasted he
did not know, when merry voices sound
ed in his ear
A mans tones, those of two little
Boys, and a womans. Surely he knew
the last speaker. He peeped from UNI
der his big Panama hat, and saw Dora.
She had brought the Ellwood boys down
for holiday, at their uncle's request,
and he had come also. DR.. Emory
guessed who the gentleman was, for he
had had the case of these boys laid be-
fore him, and was looking for two
orphans to fill their places when they
should be gone, but the presence of Mr..
Ellwood gave him otrense. SIT has quite
the air of a family party" he said.
The boys played about, dug with their
little spades and filled with white sand
those painted pals which all good
picnickers buy at the seaside. They
took Off their shoes and stockings and
waded along the edge of the water. The
elder people seemed as happy as they,
and how young. At last they sat down
very near to DR.. Emory, with their backs
to his sand burrow, and he saw mans
brown hand drop upon little white one
and hold it tight. Without showing
himself he could not see their faces.
''Do you know why l asked You to
come here?" said the owner of the brown
hand.
ITO mind the children, as Sally saws"
replied the owner of the white hand.
"No, to tell you something" said
Brown Hand. Darling little woman,
prettiest and sweetest of all created