The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-09
A LOUISIANA ROMANCE
BY Gavin Lodge Payne.

When Madame DuemOnt sueu Tue Top
pish Garcia. people laughed at the grounds
abe set out in her complaint. She who was
40 beautiful and fascinating. bringing her
self so prominently before the gossiping
pp bile, even while the cement on her crab
bed old husbands tomb. in ST. Louis. was
still damp Would not q jury vote that
the death Of the Madame's husband was a
matter of benefits. and not a matter OF
damages. as Madame insisted IN her
dema nd that Garcia pay her thou
sands of doIlars9 IL Madame were
not so serious in her suit. her
notion would be droll rather than ridicu-
loue. She said that Garcia. by depriving
her OF O husband, caused her great distress
of mind, not TO mention the physicaI IN
convenience brought about by successive
neutrality-suspicious. OF grief at that
Yet everybody knew that Garcia loved the
madame madly before she became the
wife of Duemont; that she would have
married Garcia had 1t not been for an OBJ
durate papa: further. that Duemont had
not been possessed Of wealth for several
years preceding his unfortunais end. The
developed complication worried the curl
Ou5 nclk0DOE5 hlfuOeb W u 1IcnLJ
To say the madame was unsophisticated
once npon q time not many years previous
90 her husbands death 10 not TO imply that
she was In the closest couch with the world
after Duemont died. The neighbors were
IN doubt themselves on this point. Naive
masks are not among these
charming girls from the uppercoast piansa-
tions. They are masks that wear we'll,
too. A strolllng artist who had painted O
miniature of madame while she yet
lived on the plantation. frightened
the plain porcelain with an OK
ouisite face. lacking . tritle in
contour. perhaps. ct expressive of decided
wItchery. The portrait might speak of
latent threatening ire IN those eyes. or it
might express intense faith. At the least
IN itiperant painter Is apt to sacrifice a
true expression for q happy effect. and it
may be that the eyes of the portrait were
q pair merely borrowed from his ideals.
The painter. it would seem from Madsme's
after life. painted better than he knew. or
else he was the first TO find the delicate
poise of her character. her life. her very
being itself. In such characters the weight
of trifles is ponderous.
Duemont came TO the plantation the first
time on business. He MADE sscrifices to
visit the place o second time. and after
that there was no Disgusting the object of
his trips. Amelie found the monotony or
plantation life agreeably broken. The
man from New Orleans told Of balls. gay
Mosques, the festivities of carnival season.
and the hundreds of delights that make
life sensuous In the old creole capital.
A man who moved among - these
things was Q god to her. vEe had
heard her pious mother ndemn these
affairs at the gay city. m IL was well.
thought the mother. not to educate the
daughter within sounds of the revelries. So
Anlelie had been sent 10 q convent I'D the
river. Whom Dnemont came to the risata-
tioD there was no mother to forestall these
stories that he poured into the girls ears.
Papa was indifferent to everything save
his cups. He supposed after q while Due
vents. would ask for the hand D.
AmeIic; there would DO q grand
wedding. Ameiie would 60 to New Orleans,
and he. the morose planter, would be left
alone TO his lnduIgences and excuses. So
&c all came about eventually, but not until
after Felix Garcia had disputed unsuccess-
fully for the same honor that Duemont
sought. Felix. TOO. came TO the plantation
for the first time on business. He was in
terested In III shipments from the neigh.
bOrhood and reported wealthy. Much
younger was he than Duemont, more friv-
olous and much more dangerous TO
the peace and welfare of so young
aud ingenious q girl as AmelIe.
Perhaps Amelie wss moved by the ardent
protestations which he coupled with his
declarations of love, but quite wisely, as
the world thought. she obeyed papa and
nnarried Mons. Duemont.
After the fashion of q certain type of
hot-hesded lovers TO be found in warm
lands, Garcia continued his i'm portunities
after the grand wedding. He guarreled
With the groom. angered the
posed to Ameiie that she eiope
with him to some distant land. He was on
the boat to the city-the same boat tina /;
the bridal couple were aboard. The rage
of the husband was smothered: il would
not 90 to have q scene so soon after the
ceremony. Amelie WINS discreet, avoiding
Garcia. At one meeting on the boat she
begged him TO keep apart. to cease max
ing her honeymoon wretched. to forget
her and TO remember that she was she wife
ices were as far from his
selfish. impetuous nature as q dead
saint from deep sin. AT the age of
thirty Garcia was disgustinely bosstful.
. WtthaA ~ u
woman. He was one of those incongruous
types. where nature has bestowed graees
of manner as n foil for the sharp foibles of
an eccentric moral temperament. Talking
10 a III he could by a fclicate drOop-
ing of the lids and q slight inclination of
the head make her conscious that he was
all attention and showing her the greatest
Difference. To do this without studious
effort ~ both an art aud an accomplishments.
His gaze moved with a subtle sympathy.
let when crossed, he did not immediately
become vengeful. nor hide bis time like a
steslthy enemy. He responded with a per.
sIstent buster that was silenced only by q
healthy rebuke. Temporizing with him
only added fuel to f1ames- such n nature
would be- dubbed a despicable one by his
nobler enemies.
If Duemont had met Garcia face to face
and quite properly branded him as he Justly
deserved. this story would have no sub
stance IS a story. The littleness of his OWL
nature suggested that he AVOID the rash
young man and trust to the effects of time
10 perfectly establish his peace and happi
ness IN the family relation. Rather than
furnish gossip for their acquaintance on
the boat. DuemOnt met and talked TO Gar.
cl8 with a semblance of cordialIty., IL II
human nature Co conceal wounded pride.
AZ the New Orleans levee Duemont bads
Garcia goodbye with q smile. but he did
not invite the younger man TO call at the
beautiful home that he had provided fol-
his bride.
Those who visit Louisiana for the first
time admire the grand old live oaks with
their funereal drapiDg of moss, but TO The
young bride of Duemont they were like
mighty sentinels TO keep away from the
DnemOnt place all that nightmare life an.