The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23

ab1tlNupt6d ulS U6TCGtys
look here, Mr.. Westcott; I know ]
ever did you any harm that you should
try and drive me away; and I can't go,
can ., l can'tl I should die II
Couldn't never see his face nor hear
him speak"
In the frensy OF passion and excite
ment That possessed her, Lal had fallen
on her knees and clutched my coat with
both her hands, looking up with an
agony OF supplication, as Ii could de-
eide her fate. Here was pretty situa-
stand inl
''Lai, my dear, don't be q fool" T
uttered disjointedly. "What nosense ia
this2 You shan't go away unless YOU
like, but for Heavens sake get up and
behave yourself! There, that's better, y
I said, as she dragged herself up on to
her feet, and stretched out her hand
mechanically for her milk can, which
had rolled off the varanda. Nov,
Lal, be good girl, and go home, and
make up your mind never to talk such
nonsense again. You know Mr.. Clint
is a gentleu an, and will be very rich
one when his father dies, end how could
you for one moment suppose"
I4al put up her hand with pathetic
gesture to stop me.
Lord" she cried. with her bitter
little laugh, which always made me
angry; tits you as Is talking nonsense
nowi Don't you think 1 know he's set
above us like the stars and as If he
could ever look at the likes OF I. But
that don't make no difference to me
that I know Of" she added, dropping
all at once into low tone OF indescrib-
able despair, and turning away. At
this moment We both saw Clint return
ing with the dogs from bath in the
river. He stopped moment to pick a
peach as he passed through old Reuben
the Maori's garden, but we heard his
clear voice singing: "Then tell me how
to woo thee, love; then tell me how to
WOO thee" as ii in unconscious mockerY
at Lal's misery and pain. For once I
felt really out of patience with Clint's
beamfng good humor.
$50 home, child" cried, sharply,
and Lal vanished without another word.
| walked over the fence to meet FAIR
fax.
Ralph, nay boy, you look very glum?
How delicious these peaches are," he
added, feastipg on another.
Should / tell him Lal's secret, and
beg him to show the wretched girl less
kindness In the future?
Whether wisely or not, | spoke.
Fairfax, / have been talking to that
poor girl Lal. She Is nearly grown up
now, and l want her to go out to SER
vice."
"Whewl my prize pupill" cried Clint,
making long face. "Well, my dear
patriarch, aud what will Miss Mahaffy
say to your kind proposal?'
.Well, really, Clint, it's too absurd,
and yet it's q pity for the poor little soul
too. The fact Is that she has such a
profound alteration for you that nothing
will induce her to consent to it,"
Clint looked amazed and then an
noyed.
'sAlas alack is this to be the end OF
my philanthropic efforts?" he cried. al
last. "You don't really mean, Ralph,
that she won't go becanse-because-
Upon my word, it's too preposterors
Well. Ralph" he went on, pettishly
after pause, during which / lit my
pipe and tried to look more comfortable
than felt, whats a fellow to do now
learn and get on. Perhaps you misun-
derstood her."
shook my head.
81 don't pretend to understand these
things, Clint, but it il a very real thing
with her. How would it be for yoU
to go on that visit to the Vernons you
are always intending to pay? Stay a
week or two, aud I'll undertake to talk
to Lal, and make her take place at
Dorald's farm, at Tere- weni. [ know
they want a dairy hand"
SO Clint agreed, and, as the boat was
going across next day for stores. we
had no time to discuss and unsettle the
matter. Lal, OF course, saw the boat
ctr ~ Far M braf
always moving before any one else or
the run; and Clint waved his hand to
her, and called out in his CHEEKY way,
"Good-by. young 'uus. Stick to your
books, and I'll bring over some nice
new ones when I come buck" Ted
hallooed out, "Good-by!" and no one
but | noticed that Lal said nothing,
but gazed with straining eyes after the
boat till 1t had disappeared round the
point, and the level rays Of sunrise
turned the gray sea to gold.
For my own part. / turned in te
breakfast with weight off my mind
for Lal certainly was pretty girl, and
though / believed Clint to be an homes
young fellow enough, still there il
something pleasant Ia being worshipec
by the only girl about the station. So
altogether, / was glad to get Fairfax
safely off on q visit to neighboIinl
station, where l knew the dashine
Miss Vernous would soon give his
thougnSs a new direction.
Some weeks went by, very busy weeks
and had begun to get used to being
alone again, when [ received message
frem Clint that the next time the whale
boat went over to Nelson he would re-
turn by her, as letter from his father
had recalled him to England sooner
than he had expected.
All the time OF his absence had seer
little OF Lal. She had given up coming
to the station, always sending Ted in
stead and | had really almost forgot
ten our scene in the veranda.
The day after got Clint's message,
however, [ CHANGED to meet her as ]
rode home over the mudlat. 1t had
been a dull, foggy day, but as evening
closed in the wind began to rise fitfully,
make little sudden stir and moan and
then die away into an ominous silence.
As / hurried Sprightly along overlook
Lal, walking home slowly under load
L. L \ r.