The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-06-10
"You are? My dear fellow, so an

oy llpdLulZt VIII NE. L nave come here
expressly to see her, and have the day
fixed for the wedding"
Il haven't got quite SO far as that,'
said Forrest, smiling
But, Charley, she is the loveliest
creature that the sun ever shone on
an angel, a divinity
Hold on, Ralph-not quite the lowell
est, trust; for the lady whom l worship
is alone entitled to that superlative de-
| gree of praise!!'
You're in love, too. my dear boy, so
I'll excuse any little symptoms of insan-
ity." rejoined Thornby, laughing; but
really, if you could see Ella-hold on. |
believe I've got her picture somewhere
about me-"
He searched eagerly in his pockets,
while Forrest repeated the soft name
over.
ELLA? Why that is the name of the
young lady whom | admire so much.
and by Jove," he added, as Thornby I'M
clasped a little velvet miniature case,
and held it toward him, that is the very
face! You don't mean to say you are
engaged to that girlo'
TO be sure / am-what do you
mean? Surely there is some mistake.
| can show you her last letter.
He drew out a very sentimental epis-
tie. Forrest glanced over it with be-
wildered eyes, and then, biting his
white lip until the blood started, took
from his w pocketbook a prettily
| yynr6n6 rNfo fror I'll, r-L.oL L. III
received that morning.
The handwriting is precisely SINH
lar. Ralph, we are the dupes of an art
full, u~nprincipled woman. This same
Ella Wardlaw, while she is correspond
ing with you in this impassioned strain,
is doing her best to lure me on to a pro-
posal.."
1T cannot be-" gasped Ralph, feeling
as ii he were in a dream.
But | know it to be SOL Heavens,
what a narrow escape l have had! And
You, also, Thornby, should rejoice at
your escape from the wilcs of a false
hearted coquette!!"
Still Ralph Thornby repeated, be-
tween his clenched teeth:
Il will not believe it-Ella is truth
itself"
Shall we put it to the test?" asked
Forrest. rather indignantly.
do what you please. l will stake
my life on her single-mindedness."
Thornby took out pencil and dashed
off a hurried proposal in form.
THERE will send this tomorrow
morning, with a request for an immedi-
ate answer. When that answer comes,
will you believe its testimony"
Thornby nodded; but the hand which
lay upon Charles Forests was cold as
marble.
Good night, then, my poor fellow
said Forrest, as he rose to take leave.
Il am sorry for you from the very bot
tom of my heart, for you feel this more
deeply than I can do"
But Thornby did not answ,r-he was
gazing absently into the fire.
Head and heart both ached sadly
that night; but the WEAKNESS of travel
was nothing to the sick sensation of
distrust and apprehension hat had
taken possession of his mind. There
fore, it happened that he was still
lounging over his almost untasted
breakfast when Charles Forrest was an
nounced by a waiter.
WELL was his greeting. Forrest
replied: II have dispatched my missive
and here is the answer. See, the seal
is yet unbroken-we will peruse it to-
gether."
1t was a skillfully written note of
glad acceptance. Ella wrote that ''she
had long loved Mr.. Forrest-that her
greatest happiness through life would
be to secure his contentment," with a
variety of charming little addenda.
such as, yesterday, would have filled
Charles Forests heart with rapture.
Now, they were false. idle r~hapsodies!
Are you convinced?' was Forests
simple question. as the letter dropped
from his companions trembling hand.
II am. It has been a pleasant dream;
but l am effectually aroused at last.
Charley, / have beer a fool-a dupe,,'
and SO have /, Ralph; just give me
that enthusiastic love letter You showed
me last night"
What for?"
Charles made no reply; but he took
the letter from T~hornby's unresisting
hand, and folding it with the note of
acceptance he had just received, wrote
one pencil line on the margin: 1.-The
compliments of Messrs. Thornby and
Forrest" and inclosed both in one en-
velope, directed to Miss Wardlaw.
Ella Wardlaw was practicing a diff
cult Italian sonata as the ~eventful tote
was handed her. She tore it hurriedly
open, and gazed with wide-open, be-
wildering eyes upon the Enclosures.
The next instant they fell from her
nerveless fingers.