The Forrest City times., 1895-01-04

long anticipated was cool, crisp, sweet and pearly. The broad balconied old residence on St. Charles street was brilliantly lighted up Many car riage rolled up, rolled of When Ro- sine descended from the barouche of her chnperon, sine felt little nerv- ous, little elated, and conscious that she was looking remarkably well-as, indeed, she was Quite a picture was the pretty young figure, in the cling ing gown of pale yellowish satin, pic- turesquely puffed and quaintly fash toned. The corsage, cut roundly, revealed the firm, full throat Dainty mouse-skin swathed the arms. which, II slender, were also exquisitely. rounded; and the small, olive-tinted face was lit to loveliness by pansy black eyes. A flash of adoration sue ceeded the serene nonchalance of Cyril Rodney's countenance as he caught sight of her. He made his way to her side
 Queen Rosiner he murmured. You're by far the prettiest girl here tonight. Poor Uncle Albert! How complete will be his surrender"
 She swept him a mocking courtesy.
 "Ah.' she said smilingly, If that conviction were but mine" The sentence ended in long, soft sigh.
 "& te pas gagne," he began. Con found 1t, never can get my tongue around your creolisms! The saying is, however, that if there were no signing in the world the world would stitle Now, prepare to face the music." And off he went He soon returned By his side was sturdy old gentle man.
 Rosine's heart beat more rapidly.
 ''The dragon!' she said. Silvery hair had the dragon. A dark mustache had the dragon. forid complexion had the dragon. And a manner that was grave, dignified, courteous.
 "Uncle Albert" explained Cyril, with boyish eagerness, this is Miss Rosine Wilde"
 Wilde" The old gentleman started perceptibly. He looked at the blush ing girl-at tho yellowish gown. He bowed.
 And" avowed young Rodney, send ing his sweetheart swift smile of en- corragement, ''and-the young lady of whom spoke to you"
 'Oh!" exclaimed Albert Ellsworth. Then, interrogatively: Wilde? Was your fathers name Clayton Wilde?"
 Rosine assented.
 l And your mothers maiden name was Magnolia Kingsley?" | "Oh! dear, no. Aunt Magnolia was never married My mothers name was Madeline Kingsley"
 "Eh?" cried the dragon.
 The forid color had faded from his cheeks. He wes tugging nervously at his dark mustache. Heloolxed agitated and perplexed.
 My mother died ten years ago." said Rosine, and since then I have lived with Aunt Magnolia"
 Mir. Ellsworth regarded her grimly.
 ''Is that he asked, abruptly, your aunt's own you have on?"
 The sof. rose fire in the girls cheek deepened.
 How in the world did you know?" she counter-questioned.
 A queer, wavering smile was his only reply.
 A constrained silence ensued Cyril gave his uncle an astonished glance.
 ''So Magnolia is an old maid?" said Mr. Ellsworth, abruptly.
 If she is," cried Rosine, stung to defense by remark she considered rude, it is because she was true to a lover who proved unworthy of her''
 "Eh!" ejaculated Mir. Ellsworth, more sharply than before. And sud- denly he turned and walked away.
 The following day he insisted on ac- companying his nephew to the gaunt, ramshackle, once aristocratic old house in the French quarter. where Rosine lived. Ae they were passing the vault ed entrance to the little Jagged court yard, Albert Ellsworth caught sight of a familiar figure moving among the potted palms and boxes of blooms.
 "Go on. lad!" he said to Cyril. He had paused, and was looking through the brief avenue of gloom to the brightness beyond.
 Cyril was about to question this new vagary, when the thought of peculiar possibility made him catch his breath and do as bidden. He knocked at the barred black door, and was admitted to Rosine's radiant presence. And meanwhile his uncle went into the 1 courtyard. The little old lady stand ing by the banana tree looked at the sound of the step on the stones.
 "Magnoliar' he cried.
 Miss Magnolia gazed at him in a dazed, half-frightened way. Did ghosts ever appear in the daytime? Stouter