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

4
that he well knew. Barbara Esmond's
face.
"Hello," calculated our hero. Fer
nelli, who the deuce is that young
lady, and how came she here?"
That young lady. signor, with the
brown dress, and the beautiful neck.
and the head like the goddess Diana?"
yes"
'It is the music mistress of Paul
inc Delatour, upstairs; she comes
twice of the week, and sings, my
word, like a nightingale"
who is Pauline Delatour?"
"A poor girl, signor, who sews on
dresses; but one day she will come
out on the stage-she will sing at
the opera"
Harry Hilbrook stared at Signor
! Fernelli like one demented.
(Which size did you say, sir?"
I'll don't think I'll make a selec-
ton today I will call tomorrow"
And Mr.. Milbrook rushed headlong
downstairs, greatly to the surprise II
Signor Fernelli.
"The deuce!" he calculated to him
self, as he strobe along the narrow
street, with difficulty restraining him
self from tumbling over the babies
who swarmed on the sidewalk. "a
music mistress? Giving lessons in
such hole as that. Upon my word,
I've come previously near being taken
in and done for! So it's all show
and pretense, that wealth of hers,
and she was going to entrap hus-
band on the strength of it. My starsi
it's enough to make the hair stand
straight up on fellows head. What
lucky thing it was saw through
the strategem before / was Melted
past escape"
He lifted his hat and wiped the
beads of perspiration from his fore
head.
mo, you don't, Miss Barbara Es-
mond,' he muttered to himself with
a bitter, sarcastic smile unwreathing
his lips. Il am not quite such a
fool as that, thank goodness"
Barbara Esmond had fluttered
lightly up the narrow staircase, all
unconscious of the eyes that were
roting her, through Signor Fernelli's
partially opened door, and entered
small room in the story above. A
pale young girl, with a sweet, spir-
ituelle face, sat at her sewing by
the window. She frightened up as
the delicate figure came in.
miss Esmond, 1t is 80 kind of you
to remember me so punctually."
mot at all kind. l am a genius
worshiper, Pauline, and / have dis
covered the divine spark In you"
How shall l ever pay you, Miss
Esmond?"
by cultivating the talent Heaven
has bestowed upon you. Nay, nay,
Pauline, am but following out
pet whim"
"And the piano, too, that you sent
here. oh, Miss Esmond, one of Heav-
ems angels could hardly be more gen.
e-ous!"
Hush, hush, Pauline! begin your
lessen. / never thought, when first
/ heard you singing at your work.
and paused to listen to the flute-like
notes, that you would be halfway
through the exercise book in less than
six months. When you sing at the
opera l shall be the first to throw
bouquets at your feet"
Pauline looked with shy brightness
at her benefactor. Would that time
ever come?
The lesson was longer than usual
that day. Pauline and Miss Esmond
were both deeply interested, and it
was nearly twilight before Barbara
emerged from the house. closely
yelled and walked swiftly through the
darkening streets.
There's a note for you, Miss Bar.
bara," said her housekeeper, as she
went down to rest a minute or two
In the reception-room of her own
mansion before she laid OF her things.
"A note? Let me see 1t. When
did 1t Gomez"
About fifteen minutes ago, miss.
A little boy brought it."
Light the gas, please, Mrs. Moore, 4
and take these wrappings upstairs"
A soft rose-tint flushed over Bar
bara's cheek as she recognized Harry
Milbrook's handwriting She broke
the seal and glanced eagerly at its
contents; but as she read, the soft,
crimson flush died away into pallor.
1t was very, very brief, but cruel
as blow.
Miss Esmond," 1t read, commenc-
ing CURLY and sternly, instead of the
Dearest Barbara" she had expected,
"allow me to claim back the troth
have plighted to you. / had sup
posed. when / engaged myself to
you that / was about to ally myself
to a lady, not music-mistress in
Grove Street. 1t will scarcely be
worth while for you to reply to this
letter, as / can never, under any cir
cumstances, forgive the deceit that
has been practiced on me- Therefore.
shall take it for granted that all
relations are ended between your
self and
Yours very respectfully,
II. MILLBROOK."
Barbara dropped the insulting let
A. T. 10