Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-24
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LISETTE'S MISTAKE.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
"of course l shall not marry him.

| LSeete was just the KIND Oh girl up
on whom little hauteur sits with no
unbecoming grace; tall, well-developet
and featured like a Greek statue.
Ernestine Grey, blue-eyed and soft
voiced, was as unlike her as possible
as she sat there, her delicate cheeks
flushed and her restless fingers work.
ing nervously at the fringe of her scar
let shawl.
But why not, Lisette?" she asked
timidly. "He is noble, refined, we'll
educated-all that man should be In
this exacting age of the world"
I'm Short laughed Lisette, hooking
ly, "he is a perfect gentleman. Why
don't you say so, Ernestine, and done
with it. l do believe you're in love
with Henry March yourself"
Ernestine's face grew as scarlet as
her shawl.
Il respect and admire him, Lisette,
she said; "a woman may do that with
reference to any man."
80 do I respect and admire him, u
laughed Lsette, mockingly.
AACh why w yOu iClucC nALA
"Ernestine," said Lisette, proudly,
do you think would marry carpen-
ter? Are you mad enough to i'm
agine for a single instant that I would
become the wife of a common me-
chanic? No, indeed! When / marry
1t will be to elevate myself in the So
cial scale, not to sink among the pleb-
Ian herd"
''Lsette," pleaded Ernestine, 81
think you are wrong. 1t is the man
you marry, not his social position or
rank"
They can hardly be ASSOCIATED"
But, Lsette,' went on Ernestine, 81
have not given credence to the report
up to this time, but people say you are
receiving the addresses of Mr.. st. Ar
mand."
well, and supposing that I am
what them"
''Oh, Lsette, he is bold, bad man. !"
Nonsense, child; he's no worse than
other people," said Lisette sharply.
He drinks, and he CANDLES. know
1t, for l have brothers"
Every one takes a social glass now
adays, and as for gambling, why, I've
none of the stiff, starched New Eng
land prejudices against an occasion
al game Of cards. He is a younger
son Of the St. Armands of Worcester
shire, and If his elder brother, Leon
ST. Armand, should die, Hubert sue
ceeds to the property. and"-she added
with a conscious smile, and a slight
deepening of the carmine color on
her cheek-"I shall be Lady st. Ar
mand, Of Armand's Hope"
"Lisette, has it gone SO far as that%
GAS what, you tiresome little lect-
urer?"
Are you really engaged to that sim
lster-faced MANI"
II really am" answered Lisette, de-
murely.
Then 1t is of no use for me to argue
further with you"
"Of mouse in the world. My mind Is
fully made up on the subject, and no
amount of arguing will move me-
have some ambition in the world"
Ernestine Grey went home, sad and
thoughtful True, she had seen but lit
tie of Hubert st. Armand, but in that
little time she disliked him with al
most instinctice antipathy, and the idea
of her lovely, wilful friend casting her
lot with his dark fate was repulsive
to her in the highest degree.
She was sitting alone at her sewing
when Harry March was announced
the young carpenter whom Lisette Nor
man regarded with such inveterate
scorn.
He was tall and handsome, with a
face whose frank, pleasant expression
seemed in itself letter of introduc-
ton to the world around him.
Ernestine's welcoming smile and
blush were an earnest Of her pleas
ure in seeing him. He sat down beside
her work table, and began to play
carelessly with the scissors.
Il suppose you have been to see
your friend, Miss Norman, today?" he
said.
"Yes."
Iaa:sYand1 rlaidHashrd sh etaoseta
You have heard, of course, then,
what fool I've made Of myself" he
said, with slightly contracting brows.
Il have heard that she refused your
offer Of marriage, Harry" she answer.
ed, with gentle remonstrance in her
tone.
81 was fool, Ernestine," he said,
gravely. Il can see 1t now, myself, as
look back over the course of events.
Lisette is lovely and fascinating, but
she would have made no fitting wife for
me- think l must have been under
spell for the last few weeks, and
the glamor has at last passed away.
1t was a severe lesson, but | am thank
full for it. nevertheless. and l shall
profit by it, Ernestine. if you will allow
mo-"
IF l will allow you, Harry"
1T is. all in your power, Ernestine.
Will you accept a secondhand lover?
Lisette has rejected me-will you do
the same?"
But, Harry" began Ernestine, pale
and breathless, do you really love
me?"
Il was fascinated with 1isette Nor
man, but love you, Ernestine. Can
you return the feeling even in the
slightest degree?"
And then Ernestine GREY hurst into