Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-24

Sny dS Ilselte was SelI-cOnuueuI anu
naughty.
Miss Norman arched her pretty eye
brooks. when she heard of this marri-
age between her. former lover and her
friend.
Il dare say they'll be happy, how
ever" she said, 'Ernestine Grey hasn't
a particle of ambition about her, but /
should not think even she would have
stopped to marry a common carpen-
ter"
Must be deuced low!" said Mr.. st.
Armand, who was smoking cigarette,
with his heels on Lisette's work table.
1T won't do for us to visit 'em, when
we're married, Lisette."
"Oh, no, of course mott" said Lisette
poutingly. But now, Herbert, tell
me more about Armand Chase, and
Its delicious old towers and splendid
turrets, and the lonely ghost in the
unused wing of the house. It's exact
ly like story"
We'll may it be-" inwardly reflected
Mr.. Herbert st. Elmo ST. Armand,
considering how much of the element
of fiction it contains"
But he was particularly careful to
keep this sentiment to himself, and
went on with fiowery description of
some old chateau he had read of In
some novel, greatly to Lisette's de-
fight.
The courtship progressed most fav-
orably, and one day, about three
months subsequently Mr. ST. Armand
came in, looking flushed and excited.
News. Lisette!' he cried, great
newsi"
"What?"
MY brother Leon has kicked the
buck-I mean, he has departed this
life, and l must start for England at
once.
"At once!"
Yes; but don't look so grieved, my
pet! We must be married Immediately.
or the gov-I would say, Sir Grey-will
be sure to have some high-fiying match
or other picked out for me on the other
side of the Atlantic"
Lisette's face frightened. Here were
disinterested love and devoted affec-
ton.
And can / go with your"
OF course-that's the main ideal Do
you suppose | would go back to the
ancestral halls Of the ST. Armands
without my wife?"
Dearest Herbert! might have
known the generous impulses of your
heart!" cried Lisette, smiling and
blushing, as she thought how soon she
should probably become Lady st. Ar
mand. What would Ernestine Marsh.
the carpenters wife sayi What would
be the curious verdict OF all her little
world! And Isette's heart leaped tri-
umphantly within her at the mere
idea.
YES" said Mr.. st. Armand, "but the
fact is-you see, Lisette, I've had no
remittances of late, and in his dis
tress and confusion at Icons death, Sir
Grey has forgotten to send me his us
ual drafts on the banker. It's very en-
barrassing. but"
"Oh, HUBERT" cried Lsette, generous
by nature, like all women, don't let
that annoy you for a single moment.
have money Of my own that Aunt Pa
thence lent me-a thousand dollars. 1t
is all at your disposal. You can easily
pay 1t at any time after we are mar
ried."
So Mr.. st. Almond pocketed Lisette
Norman's thousand dollars, and bril-
liant wedding followed, to which. by
special favor. Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
March were honored with cards.
The St Almonds took passage for
Europe in the next steamer, and Ernes-
tine said softly to her husband:
We'll, suppose we shall never see
Lisette again. But, Harry, it may all
be an unfounded prejudice, but would
rather have seen Lisette dead than
known she was married to that man."
You see, my love-" said Mr.. March,
you are not ambitious"
Mrs. March was mistaken however.
in her supposition that she had seen
the last of the future Lady St. Ar
mand.
1t was a dull, rainy night in early
April, some two years subsequent to
these events, when a low knock came
to the door. Ernestine, who was sit
ting beside the cradle of her sleeping
babe, ran to open the door, imagin-
ing that 1t was her husband.
But 1t was not the young mechanic,
who was now on the high road to
wealth 1t was a bent, bowed figure in
a shabby jacket and worn silk dress.
"Ernestine, will you let me in?"
"Lisette!"
Eyes, it is 1. / am homeless now,
Ernestine!"
She spoke with a bitter laugh, more
sad by far than the widest burst of
tears would have been.
Ernestine March led her in. exchang-
ed her wet draperies for dry, comfort
able garments, administered food and
drink, and established her in the easy
chair before the cheerful fire, ere she
asked any more questions. and then
Lisette told her melancholy story.
She had been the victim of impos-
ture all through, falling into the gilt
tering trap that was laid by villains
specious representations. The heir of
the St. Armands had proved to be a,
bankrupt liquor-seIler from one of the
small seaport towns, and after squan-
dering poor Lisette's money he had