The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-12-31
HgygYI. BlOSSiT, Business Manage

ment occur to ner. Grace, however. was
utterly forgotten, and, crouching in the
corner like stray cat, afraid to move
or SPEAK, her presence was indeed I'M
known.
''Oh, yes" exclaimed the belle, with
light laugh, this is from Walter
Fletcher" at the same time extending
for inspection glove.box of magniti-
cent workmanship with her monogram
incrusted on the lid in diamonds SO
bright that they made Grace shade her
eyes lest their light should pierce them.
"He has proposed, girls, and is COM
ing tonight for his answer; now, just
want you to see what dance | am
going to lead him. He is so awfully
absurd with his straight-faced SINGER
ity; do you know that think man
very laughable who is so terribly in
earnest2 You shall see his present
carelessly neglected in some odd COR
ner and the place of honor given to
Frank Rand's, yonder. Do you know,
he is positively jealous of Frank? in
tend to refuse him; it is always better
to refuse {; man at first, YOU know; he
| appreciates one more afterwards OF
course, intend to marry Walter event
ually; he is 50 awfully rich and not
| half bad-looking." .ss
/, Grace, feeling indignant at such
sentiments and guilty at having over
heard them, came forward, forming
sorry contrast to the dainti ly-attired
butterflies of fashion, and startled the
girls, who each gave frightened little
shrek as though an apparition had APP
peared among them. Collecting herself
and commanding her voice as best
she could she explained her bust
ness, while the wrathful beauty, irri-
tated at the intrusion, hastily tore the
bundle and shook the folds of the skirt
so that the light from the chandelier
shone remorselessly on the tell-tale
blood stain.
An ugly and malicious look crossed
the face of Ethel Winter. She.tiXed her
angry, cruel eyes on poor Grace, who
shrank with fear, and whose lips were
vainly endeavoring to form words of ex
| PLANTATION.
'Why have you dared to present your
self here at such an hour and on such {
day." came harshly from the mouth
that looked made only for kisses, ''anC
why have you returned my work spoiled
utterly and absolutely spoiled? Mon
ely? Did any one ever hear of such in
science! No, indeed, not one penny
rather do you owe me for my ruined
linen. And let this he the last tim,
that you apply to my maid for work
Here, Adele. show this person down thu
servants stairway"
Grace felt suffocated. She reached
the stairway somehow, and, staggering
forward, would have fallen had not the
prosp erous-looking maid Ito whom
Christmas was evidently gala day, 81
far as generous tips were concerned)
detained her with gentle hand, and
with tear of compassion in her eye
thrust something into Grace's hand
which, when she reached her humble
quarters, she found to be money.
That simple act of kindness melted
the pent-up sorrows and emotions of thu
| young girls heart, and, throwing her
self across her couch, she wept as If he
heart would break.
Grace Tremaine was a dreamer. AL
day long, as she sat and sewed, sh
would weave strange fancies and almos
/ unconsciously form them into verse o
prose. On stray bits Of paper, on tn
backs Of boxes, on the fly leaves OF oil
books, the singings of her soul foun
outlet as freely and as easily as a Dir
trills its note simply because the must
| | is in his soul and must break forth.
l When the story of her grief. ha
, passed, she threw open her low windo
: and leaned far out into the sharp frost
air The streets were ablaze wit
. lights distant music and happy voice
| | reached her ears, and she contraste
r with bitter feelings her own sad fat
: with that of the joyous circle assemble
Q in the magnificent residence from whic
: she had been SO harshly elected.
t AS she thought, she wrote; and whe
j, she had finished her writing, by SUI
: den impulse, she signed her nam
Some strange fatality surely must hay
t guided her hand: for as her head fe
: back, overcome by sleep, unconscious
; the biting air, o gust of wind snatche
t the sheet from her loosened finger
i and, passing it from one gale to a
Y other, waited it--who knows whittier?
d Almost at the time when Graz
= Tremaine's sorrows were forgotten
@ sleep, young man was to be seen Ia
y Keeling down the steps of brow
!; 5 ): j Nh x 81.