Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-19

Wy7@NI%#NE&ES guitar comin q
U'Q oOVV W. from an indef-
mite distance. No street cars were
running and but few strollers-t these
mostly creoles in high-heelel shoes
tapping lightly on the banquettes
went up and down the narrow way.
Boyle Harding leaned back in on
easy chair on the iron-railed balcony,
or gallery, which overhung the side
walk, and smoked slowly, with half
closed eyes. He was awaiting the mr.
rival of his young friend, Francois
Rapin, who had lately interested him
to singular degree.
Even at the moment, up the uncar-
peted stairway came the active creole's
feet. two steps at time, along with a
lively tune sung almost breathlessly
through o curving black mustache.
"Ah, but here I ami" he cried, is
suing through the doorway and trip
ping gay step along the floor towards
Harding.
"Well, and what is it?" demanded
the New Yorker. "What have you
found out?"
"Bah!" He produced q cigarette
and asked ior light by an inimitable
pantomime with head and shoulders.
'NIaybe she went to the French opera.
Go with me; I have box; come"
"But haven't you yet seen her."
s'Seen her-how should 1 know?
Monsieur Harding forgets the condi-
tons" he laughed in his atrociously
frivolous French way.
II beg pardon" said Harding,
quickly; 'I had, indeed, forgotten
that I did not know her name, her
place of residence, nor yet even the
color of her eyes. Yes, I will go with
you to the opcra. Everybody goes,
eh?"
"Not everybody, but everybody OF
the best. 1t is the distinction; we
draw the line in front of the boxes.
stNot the dead line, I hope"
"Even that sometimes, yes. have
known O glance of sweet eyes to cost
man his best blood under the oaks.
Are you good fencer?"
Boyle Harding made no answer, but
flung his cigar stump over the iron
filagree down into the street, where it
coruscated on the cobble-stones, and
then he rose and shook himself light
" as one does who forms On imperfect
plan or feels vaguely impatient over
delayed expectations.
The sky above New Orleans was as
blue as sapphire, and the irregular
old houses along Royal street caught
many stray CLINT from the splendid
moon. Harding was in mood to feel
all the force of such scene. He had
como South fortnight past with let
tiers Of introduction to influential peo-
pie, but lie was not seeking society:
quiet sojourn IN New Orleans with his
eyes and ears opened suited him bet
ter. he was young, however, brimful
OF blood and surcharged with q poets
imagination.
What was, perhaps, just the thing
he would have most desired came to
him unexpectedly one day. 1t was o
twinkle Of romance in the gloom of
Royal street. He suddenly met a
beautiful young woman face to face
Mt the door of Garcin's old book store,
dingy hole where you find the con-
tents OF French libraries that have
been sold at successive sales or pickel
up at auction. Warm eyes exchanged
an involuntary look which seemed to
have glow of inquiry struck out of
iris points. Harding was electrified,
and impulsively lifted his hat. She
passed him with half smile, leaving
breath of violets and the rustic of
gown quietly elegant in the air round
about.
The color OF her hair, her height,
the tint of her eyes, her complexion
he could not fix one of these in his
mind, but he knew that she was the
loveliest, the most enchanting girl
that ever breathed. The impression
entered his consciousness so Suddenly
and set itself so deep and with such q
thrill of romantic pleasure, that he
stopped short in Tie Ioor, and stood
there, hat in hand, smiling reminis-
Gently and listening to the purr of his
own blood sweotly quickening along
his veins.
A lover is great fool; but he is
the only man who knows what song it
was that the stars sang; and to him
you must 60 it you would learn the
secret of heavenly happiness and tho
value of dreams as nutriment for the
imagination. A lovers soul will treble
its stature by feeding ono moment on
smile.
in fact, Boyle Harding had felt this
sudden growth within; it had quick
ened, broadeued and sweetened his
spiritual vision, while affording n fjuc
and richly mysterious increment to his
enjoyment OF bis new surroundings.
This was midway in the tifties, when
New Orleans had reached the splendid
zenith of her wealth, and when the
peculiar color OF her social life was
most dazzling and romantic. AS on
American city she stood apart, hot,
almost tropical heart of passion. lSx'
ury, pleasure and abounding hospi-
tality. And with it all went the old
freedom of chivalric personal courage
and the love of spectacular results IL
matters Of honor.