The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-21

S%AN\" full, in a dark, gilt
I\,~ tering style of beau
fy, and in that elegant room sh'
might have reminded IL of q pearl il
it's satin casket. Black-eyed ant
haired, with q creamy skin, fine
grained as velvet, and straight, deli
cately chiseled features, hers was al
uncommon beauty, yet strangely fas
cinating.
Eighteen years old, and engaged Il
be married! It was q new leaf in tn
book Of life for Barbara Esmond;
sensation as novel as it was delightful,
"I wish I had a mother to go to, o
q loving, tender, elder sister," muset
Barbara, restlessly. 81 scarcely I'M
derstand my own feelings. I wonder
if I do love him as I should love the
man I intend to make my husband
Husband!" she added, with o little
tremulous sort of shudder. "Tht
word implies a great deal. And Har>
ry Milbrook is to be my husband3'
Barbara was like O newly-caged
bird, restless, futtering against the
invisible bars Of her prisoned exis-
tence; captured with her own tolls, YET
half disposed to break away into the
solitude and independence once more.
Mr.. Henry Milbrook, however, was
troubled with no such vague ideas. He
had won the heart of Miss Esmond,
the h~eiress, and what was of rather
more consequence to him, he had WOE
the right to share her wealth.
"I'm a fellow Of talent, " unused Mr..
Milbrook, s'and fellows Of talent never
could endure to work like common
cart-horses. Therefore it follows thai
! must have money, and, possessing
none of my own, I must marry the art.
icle. And although I object to red hair
and a.crooked spine, I am quite willing
to accept the incumbrance of q beauti-
full girl along with said cash !"
That was the decidedly practical and
unromantic manner in which Mi. Mil
brook contemplated his approaching
felicity. He kept his %rhapsodies OF
romance and soft poetic w~hisperings
for Barbara's ear alone, and she, like
any enthusiastic girl of eighteen, be-
lieved in him.
She told no one of the precious Sc
cret enshrined in her heart; it would
have seemed almost like Dissertation ;
but her lover was by no means SO deli
cate.
$50 you're to be married, Hal!'
said Mr.. Joseph Percy, ct the club.
eyes, I'm going to be married; to a
cool hundred thousand, too" answered
Mr.. Milbrook, rubbing his hands.
"Who is it,"
ooh, the lady, you mean?"
"Yes, ! mean the lady"
s'It's old Esmond's daughter"
"What, the star-eyed Barbara"
EXACTLY co."
81 congratulate you, old fellow"
"Much obliged" answered Mr.. Mil.
brook, indiferently pulling his mus,
tache. 81 1atter myself it's q pretty
good speculation for q fellow thai
travels on his good looks alone"
81 wish she had a sister for me-" oh.
served Mr.. Percy.
II don't. Ican't afford to go halves
In the cash."
There was o general laugh among
the youths of fashion in the club room
at this scintillation of wit, and Mr..
Milbrook sauntered leisurely out.
IT promised she should have my
picture" thought Mr.. Harry, stand I
suppose the cheapest place / can have
1t done is at the establishment of thai
poor devil of On artist in Grove street.
! guess I'll go round there"
IL was hard for so exquisitely gotten
up a youth as Nh. Milbrook to be COM
PEELED to hide his light under the
bushel of SO obscure a street as that
toward which he now bent his foot
steps, but economy was Just ct present
something Of On object with this mod
ern Apollo of ours.
Signor Fernelli, the artist, was at
home, a dark, courteous little Italian,
with q wife and seven small children,
and very glad he wac to receive Mr..
Milbrook's order.
ION ivory, Isuppose, sira"
"Yes, / suppose SO. It's dreadfully
expensive" thought Harry, with a
grimace; tsbut engaged girls must have
their own way, Of course"
As he sat waiting for Signor Fernelh
TO bring out someJspecimens of his art.
to select the most appropriate size and
style, he saw through the open door a
dark silk dress brush by, and the pure,
clear profile of o face that he well
knew, Barbara Esmond's face.
HHelloi" CALCULATED our hero.
"Fernelli, who the duse is that young
lady, and how came she here?"
THAT young lady, signor, with the
brown dress and She long throat, and
the head Like the goddess Diana?"
eyes"
1T is the music mistress of Pauline
Delatour upstairs she comes twice OF
q week, and sings, my word, Like q
nightingale.