Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-18

! Walkeu 10 Tue oduk, saying, ! nope
there is no law prohibiting people from
quafRng draught at the springY
"At that moment heard the chatter
of our little cavalcade. oh, gracious,
here's Ceciler We thought you were
dead and buriedr What have you been
doing with yourself, Cecile? Turning
nun, suppose, to expiate for the sin of
breaking hearts, What have you done
with your loversY fWhere is poor Cousin
Victor? And the gallant captain?
These were some of the questions which
fell upon her like hail storm.
'I pitied the girl and rushed to her
rescue. Girls cried, at the same time
struggling up the rugged steps in the
embankment, come on-the water is de-
iciously COOL
But my invitation was unheeded;
Cecile stood in the midst of her torment
ors, more beautiful than l had ever seen
her before. Notwithstanding her in
creasing anger there was in her eyes an
expression which aroused my compass
sion. It was evident that the girl had
suffered, and that she was anxious to
hide the fact from us. Her struggles to
control her emotions were vain; the color
fled from her cheeks and her lips quiver-
ed. The conduct of her friends was rude
and ungenerous, and she considered her
self affronted.
elbow does that concern you? Imust
say I consider you most unmannerly,'
were the words which fell upon us like a
clap of Thunder. Our astonishment knew
no bounds, and without further cere-
mony we hastened from the scene where
our pride had met so shocking blow.
"This little incident happened about q
month after Cecile's quarrel with her
cousin Victor. No one had received It'd
ings of him since his disappearance
"We afterward heard that few weeks
after Capt. Lymon's departure Cecile had
been the recipient of document which
proved beyond doubt the duplicity of the
man for whose sake she had forfeited the
love of worthy man. Imagine her
humiliation, her vain regrets and the
remorse which must have gnawed at her
heart like worm. The evening we sur
prised her under the trees we were igno-
rant of this important state Of affairs.
Her incivility toward us proved that she
misconstrued our motives in stopping;
she supposed we had heard of her trou-
bles, and to tease her we had purposely
intruded upon her.
"This was the end of our association
with her. The war was now ended and
returned to the convent to complete
my education. One by one the soldiers
came struggling home. Many were miss
ing, but they were all accounted for;
some had fallen in battle and others had
succumbed to the hardships of war. But
Victor, the handsome creole. never more
gladdened with his presence the hearts
of his friends.
eat first Cecile awaited his return with
patience pitiful to see, but when month
after month went by and no tidings came
of him, she gave vent to her despair in
violent and uncomfortable grief. To this
day no one has ascertained his fate.
Some believed that the unfortunate youth
was killed in an encounter with Capt.
Lymon. It is certain that he never re-
Joined his company after he left the
parish.
"And Cecile, during all these years,
has been brooding over her secret sorrow.
She is now a wreck, on the borders OF
insanity. They tell me that there is in
her face awistful, longing look which
appeals to the heart. Sometimes it is
wild and despairing and overshadows her
once beautiful eyes. She has lost all in
terest in life, and passes her time wan
dering over the premises, or else she sits
where you have often seen her, apparent
ly watching for somebody. Mr.. Jacob,
ever kind and faithful, has been her
guardian.
"Soon after the close of the war he
withdrew from the society of his friends
and consecrated his life to the service of
his beloved Cecile, once the pride Of his
heart"
On our homeward ride we passed the
old house in the dusk Of evening.
"Look!' exclaimed my friend, sudden
ly checking the horse. "There is Mr..
Jacob now, walking toward the banks
with his daughter"
scanned the couple with curiosity.
The old man was barefooted, and
walked in stooping posture like one
carrying a heavy burden. His shabby
clothes hung loosely about him, and the
brim of his old hat partially concealed
his long struggling locks.
Just as we passed them Cecile turned
her face in our direction and silently
beckoned to her father.
shall never forget that weird figure
silhouetted in the light Of dying day
Epsilon in New Orleans sTimes-Democrat
FIRE FANCtES.