The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-07-11

At the door he turned and called
back:
..Shall see you at the Leonards' to-
morrow night?'
"Yes, / shall be there"
"All right; good night" and, whistlng |
softly to himself, he passed out OF the |
Merrick house, where Laurence Weston
had his bachelor quarters
After he had gone his friend finished |
his cigar and then, with smile on his |
lips, retired for the night.
Laurence Weston was handsome
man, and he knew it and made use OF
the knowledge whenever he could.
He was o great favorite with the
weaker sex-handsome men always are
and had he desired to, he might have
countel his conquests by the score.
He was not wealthy. His income
barely sufficed for his own luxurious
living, and when he married he could
by no means afford to despise that dross
for which men have, before now, sold
their souls.
Surely it was no harm for him to part
| with that insignificant organ in his anat-
omy, which he called a heart, in return
for a fair amount of loneliness and gold.
The next night found him faultlessly
attired, at Mrs. Leonard's reception.
A simmer of peach. bloom satin, in
the moving mass of humanity. attracted
him, and taking pair of sparkling
brown eyes as guiding stars, he made
| his way to the side of Blanche Sturte-
want
As she made room for him beside her,
she said:
81 thought you didn't like recep-
tons"
81 do not, as general thing" he re-
piled, "but this had a peculiar attrac-
ton for me-"
The meaning he threw into the glance
he bestowed on her sent the delicate
rose bloom to her cheeks, and she
looked ten times as lovely to his fastidi-
Gus eyes.
But suddenly, while he gazed at her
pretty, flushed face, queer sensation
seized him. He felt actually timid
about asking this beautiful girl to be
his wife-even though he had been Tor
i, years a man OF the world. Somehow
he felt as though she could read his
very thoughts with those bright eyes.
"Do look very badly?"
Her musical voice recalled him to his
senses.
81 beg your pardon. Was / staring
|. at you? Your dress is beautifui-and
lyou"
t THANK you," she said, hurriedly.
II fancied from the intentness o.
your gaze you had not quite decided
. whether would do or not" and sht
laughed softly.
, II was in brown study" he re
turned.
The crowd surged around them, and
two or three men looked anxiously a
the seat occupied by Weston.
Some music was playing in anothe
room, and when the strain had ende'
he spoke again.
miss Sturtevant," he said, II wante'
to ask you question tonight, but tn
crowd is SO great that there is not mucl
opportunity for confidential talks. It
will write to you tomorrow. will 20
favor me with q reply?".
81 Certainly" and the brown eye
. smiled sweetly, and perhaps uncor
sciously, at him, as he rose to relir
quish his seat to another admirer.
Il "There-that was neatly DONE" wa
his mental comment. mo fuss. no love
n making to undergo-nothing disagree
: able, and, if the fates are kind, sha
l. have one of the finest looking and on
of the richest women in c. for m
r. WIFE"
He threaded his way carefully anon
a the crowd, replying to a kindly greet
II ing here and there, and presently foun
II himself in the conservatory.
But it was occupied.
+ Standing under tall palm, radiar
vision in blue and gold, stood Blanch
re Wellington.
His face frightened as he approache
N her, for anything beautiful always 81
he pealed strongly to the artistic side
his nature, and what could be mol
mr. beautiful than this tall, queenly woma
with a crown of golden hair, and Il
deep blue of violet lurking in the Co
depths of her eyes!
:" What an opportunity there was
n win for his own this lovely girl!
sy His conversation with Miss Sturt
ne want, few moments ago, crossed b
of mind, but he dismissed it with
an thought.
d. He could easily explain to her b
he request. Thank Heaven, he had n
n, committed himself!
X Miss Wellington turned to him wi
ey smile.
lr- $50 you are here this evening.
you enjoy it?"
"I have not-untn now"
IT, What did it matter If that swe
!" speech was false, it was very neat. !
any rate it brought beautiful color
the soft cheek of the maiden befo
him.
" 'Is 1t not beautiful in here?" s
said.
oe "Yes," fervently. lit is a fit setti
y