Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-10-11
A SHOWER OF RAIN.


ciless shower.
At one crossing a miniature lake had
formed several feet in length and
breadth, and three or four inches deep; |
Its shores on every side were mud-black,
slippery mud.
1t was amusing to see the hurrying |
people drcnched, chilled, uncomfortable,
inpatient to be home come to a dead
stop at this one crossing and hesitate,
with faces expressive Of disgust and dis
may.
What chance had Ethel Thornton's
poor little weary feet, so small, so mis-
erably clad. in such q slough as this?
She glanced around desparingly.
And the next moment she found herself
lifted in Il pair of strong arms, carried
high and dry over the mud and mire,
| and set down on the other side, while
the resci,er, raising his dripping hat,
with Il pleasant bow and smile, passed
quickly on his way.
She stood where he had placed her as
if turned to stone, following his fast dis
appearing figure with her dark eyes; her
hands were clasped convnlsively, the
color was flaming in her checks under
her wet black veil.
"It was Frank ", she gasped. at
was Frank himself, and he held me in his
arms and never knew me.'
A quick sob burst from her lips. O
hard hard fate to meet thus-so close
and part without a word!
| Her lover her promised husband of
one year ago.
just then her foot struck against
, something hard,
She stopped and picked it up-a large
pocketbook.
"Frank's"' she said, quietly and hope
lessy; then she wiped it tenderly with
her handkerchief, pressed it to her lips,
and slipryl it into her bosom.
: As she did this, she threw her Vc'
aside for the tears and rain together
Il nearly blinded her.
- doubt if Frank would have recognlz
ed her. even if he had seen her tacc--l
was $50 worn and weary looking, ant
Il stained by the wet black veil.
T Not much resemblance there to tn
pretty, piquant blooming girl whose low
r he had sought So eagerly year aso
not much in her appearance now 10 'e"'i L
any man to WOO her.
So thought Mrs Benton, the landiadA
d ,s she let her in, and stared aghast at IL
n utterly drenched condition.. =,
Glad indeed was Ethel to reach I'll
lc ou;e1 of her own room-glad OF the GU
of tea her mother gave hcr-Ssiad 10 L
down and rest.
She CROPPED bindly to her lite des
IT, and put the pockctbook away.
..Tomorrow," she whispered TO herse
~ -ahis address will be inside-lll senu
ur back morrow"
Then sinking wearily OH the Ded' 81
- murmurcd:
..Mother. 1 feel so strangely. WISH
" now-that | had taken-your ao''e
and stayed home, to-day-"
III The words came family, i'll low oi
II ken oosps. from her parched lips
She Law there without speaking
IT. some time, and then articulated:
81 failed aeain--no work-no nope
ar no"
Her eyes closed, her voice ceaseo' =, .
IS fell back, burning and shiverlnS'
,,s noor child had contracted serious
ness in that merciless shower OF ram
ar Meantime Frank Merriticld was al
thematizing his ill luck in losing ii val
Gov b,c nocketlook with bills, recelpts' III
ey-all sorts Of important mao'els 49,
ain 1T must have been when o',' !,
that oirI over the muddy crossing.
'|A f. the minute before, and hllsse'
CHI sbortlv afterwards. Contound my ~
ot;c folly! Why conidn't l m'h"
own business and let her alone
little thing, she looked wet anu 'n'S a'
ose bic. and something about her 'o'h'
reminds me Of"
n"n He paused and leaned his he'el "
ear his hands in painful thought
4.Why can't ever forget her
LITTLE fail, false heart, why can
o"' her 90? Why does her sweet lace La
sed mo evcrwhere-not bright and sl'arh
as used to know it, but Palo ''"''
hall nroachful looking! Reproachiis
.,, All Ethel. how much loved you!
bappy we might have been to-oaS'
YOU only been true"
* kw He arose with an inpatient ges'"i
wn- of one who, by an effort of wiN p"'s
ung regrets aside. o,,o+,,
'rof elbow to recover the Poon P,
, re- Tbot's the present question. lheio
so money in it; the finder is welcon ,
my that; the bills and papers are W. w.
For want, and-her portrait. hes.' =
so S. no use in dencying it to myself !
Goo, cnourh 20 care for that. Ill a'