Tempest and Sunshine

"I presume not," said the lady. "We have never met before, and yet I knew

you instantly."

"Knew me! How?" asked Fanny.

"From description," replied the lady. "You have been so accurately

described to me by our mutual friend Miss Woodburn, of New Orleans, that I

could not mistake you."

"Florence Woodburn! New Orleans!" exclaimed Fanny. "And are you from New

Orleans, and do you know Florence, and have you seen Julia?"

To all these questions the stranger answered "Yes," continuing, "and now

let me introduce myself. I am Lida Gibson, but I might as well be John

Smith for any idea my name will convey. However, I am from New Orleans,

and know Florence and your Uncle William well. Just before I left the

city, I made your sister's acquaintance. When she learned I was coming

this way, she said I might possibly see you, and made me the bearer of

many messages of love."

Fanny had never heard of Lida Gibson, but it was sufficient that she knew

her uncle and Julia, so her hand was immediately offered, and the

remainder of the evening the two young girls promenaded the piazza arm in

arm, talking of their distant homes and absent friends.

"Where did you see Julia?" asked Fanny.

"Your uncle's house was not quite ready, consequently he and Julia were

spending a few days at the residence of Dr. Lacey," answered Lida.

"Dr. Lacey!" said Fanny, in some surprise. "Julia at Dr. Lacey's?"

"Yes, why not?" said Lida, laughing merrily at Fanny's manner. "There is

nothing improper about that, for Dr. Lacey's father was then absent, and

his mother, for the time, stayed with her son. I fancied it was not at all

unpleasant either to Dr. Lacey or Julia, that they were thus thrown

together, and I should not wonder if the doctor should one day call you

sister!"

Lida Gibson, whom our readers will recollect as having met at Mabel

Mortimer's party in New Orleans, was a thoughtless, but kind-hearted girl,

and never felt happier than when employed in canvassing matches. On the

morning when the Cameron party arrived at the Springs, she had sent her

brother to learn the names of the newcomers. On his return he mentioned

Fanny Middleton as being one of the new arrivals, so 'twas not surprising

that Lida should so readily recognize her.

As days passed on Lida too heard of the supposed engagement between Fanny

and Frank Cameron, and for once kept silent upon the subject, at least in

Fanny's presence. Dearly as she loved to discuss such matters, she felt

there was something in the character of her new friend which forbade an

approach to anything like jesting about so personal an affair as one's own

engagement. She, however, fully believed the report, for everything she

saw tended to confirm it, and she was anxious to return home that she

might carry the important news to Julia and Dr. Lacey. Poor Fanny! The

clouds were gathering darkly about her, but she, all unconscious of the

consequence, talked, laughed, rode and sang with Frank, never thinking

that she was thus confirming Lida in a belief which would tend to remove

Dr. Lacey farther and farther from her. Could Lida have heard a

conversation which one evening took place between Mrs. Cameron and Fanny,

different, very different would have been the report which she carried

back.