Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-26

Il
and sprang toward the opening in the
stone wall As she did SO some one
threw an arm about her like band of
steel and drew her back with such swift
ness that the sky and the meadow, the
trees and the earth seemed to rock and
reel around her.
"Would you be tr,unpled to death by
those terrified brutes 7" said q voice so
masterful and so assuring somehow that
she became calm instantly.
The Same moment tho untamed and
mettlesome young beasts, snorting and
curveting, half in fright and half in
frolic, plunged through the opening and
galloped onward across the fields.
sisly shuddcred and utte fed cry.
She knew that only tor hin, who had
drawn her back 50 opporfunely she
would be lying there among the butter
cups and clover, trampled, crushed and
perhaps dying or dead.
"Those wild creatures would not have
gone out of their way to llarm. YOU"
said the gentleman, "but if You had
taken one step forward you would have
been killed." And then before he could
speak he added quietly: 81 am glad
was here. was sitting undcr the big
tree reading when You came, and should
have gone away, only
He stopped abruptly, 4uizzical smile
on his bearded lips, and quite as much
amusement as a( (miraton in the dark,
handsome eyes that were fixed upon her
fantastic adornment of buttcrcups.
"You would have gone away, only it
amused you to see me making child
of myself" Sisley faltered, her cheeks as
crimson as the daisies, tears Of nervous
ness and vexatibn in her blue eyes.
Frankly, was amused, " he ackpowl-
edged, but he had so suddenly become
so serious that sho knew he had not
thought her altogether silly; "but your
pretty face pleased me. When l saw
you there, sitting on the long grass in
the sun adorning yourself with butter
cups and singing so joyously, l almost
forgot that | was no longera child"
That this stranger was quite gentle
man was entirely evident, and Sisley
found him so sopleasing that she was glad
to think that the incident of tho day
might make them friends.
sTo whom am ind debted?0 she asked
timidly, as they stoo@ together at the
garden gate.
"And whom have had the honor of
serving" he returned, giving hera card
inscribed with the name "Guy Bar
dolph."
For one instant the young lady was
mute with surprise,
"you serve one who is more grateful
than she can say" 1slcy finally faltered.
"And shall l newer see you again ?"
he asked, looking rather hurt.
"Perhaps," she returned with a smile,
that puzzled him, and then with
glance that was certainly not discourag-
ing, she bowed and wakgonc.
But they met again, and often, and
not always accidentally. Indeed, Mr..
Guy Bardolph seemed ubiquitous.
I One day when the great ascension
lilies by the garden gate were blooming
white and tall, Sisley found him waiting
there for her.
81 have come to say goodbye" he
informed her.
wndecd," she observed family, feeling
as if cloud had gone over the sun.
eyes; I am going to visit a friend who
lives up the river" he ratified on, strik-
ing with his cane a branch of roses ab-
sently but so forcibly that q shower of
golden petals fell at their feet. "Green-
lawn is a fine old place, and Jack Ger
shom is the jolliest host living. But for
all that should not 90 if could find
an excuse for staying away"
"Tell me Why" said Sislcy, her face
avertcd.
81 am afraid l ought not tell YOU" he
answered.
"Perhaps you do not like your friends
wife," ventured the young lady de-
murely.
81 should like her much better if she
did not wish to choose q wife for me-"
smiled Mr.. Bardolph.
"She might choose wisely" suggested
Sisley.
81 prefer to choose for myself" per-
sisted the gentleman, "and my choice
cannot be Jack GershOm's sister. |
hope | shall not meet her; | suppose she
has been instructed to make herself as
fascinating as possible, and no doubt l
shall be expected to be devoted at once
and forever"
Perhaps your friends sister may
avoid meeting you," said Sisley; "she
may be as avcrsc to an interference of
this kind as you are"
She spoke very earnestly and had
grown rather pale. %
'Is that what you would do-the way
you would think :" he asked, regarding
her thoughtfully.
eyes," she asserted, simply; and then
suddenly--she could not help it-she
covered her face with her hands and ut
tered hysterical sob.
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