Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-03-12

All through their drive the touch OF her
arm still thrilled him, until, when they
had returned and he lifted her down
gently to the ground, an irresistible i'm
pulse caused him to whisper:
"I am coming over this evening. !
want to speak with you."
Foolish boy" she said to herself, as
she drew off the dainty gloves within
her room. "My visit is but half done,
and already he wants to bring matters
TO climax. 1t must not be. Ineed
him yet little longer"
Therefore, when, true to his promise,
he returned and begged her TO go out
with him for little walk in the moon
light, she refused. and petulantly shook
her head. She was tired, she said, but
ratified on gayly on every theme. until
lie could not speak the words he had
meant to utter. That night he went
away with a strange, new pain In his
heart, yet loving her more madly than
ever.
She had gone out for a stroll the next
morning, when she suddenly encoun-
tered him. He had scarcely slept since
he had left her the night previous. She
read his purpose in his eyes. and strove
to divert it. As well attempt to stem
Niagara.
"Miss Armon," he began, 81 love
you I should not have had the cour-
age, perhaps. to tell you, but that have
dared hope my love might not be unwel-
come to you. 1 know how bright aud
beautiful You are, and how lack in all
that you possess. But, oh, my darling!
my darling what have not the courage
for is to live out my life without you.
Will you share it, Adelaide, and mold it
as you will?"
The words were out now. She might
no longer hope to avert them. 1t re-
manned for her but to punish his pre-
sumption.
Sir" she said, "you forget yourself,
and presume greatly upon my having
been thrown upon your society,"
| The mans face paled with n sudden
pallor. A hauteur and dignity equal
to her own robbed him of the humility
moment before apparent.
did 1 understand you to use the
word presume. Miss Armon? % he ques-
toned. MAY 1 ask You in what lay
presumption ?"
Silently he awaited her reply. 1t was
her turn to be embarrassed and i'll at
ease. She had meant to play with a
harmless tool. Already she discovered
her mistake.
| "The difference in our stations" she
began, hesitatingly.
He stopped her halting sentence with
uplifted hand.
II understand" he interrupted, a sort
of white, repressed wrath shining in his
eyes. because am not one of fash
ions fops you gauged the gulf between
us. At least, Miss Armon, offered you
an honest mans honest love. 1t wa!
yours to reject or accept-there was ne
need to insult it."
And, turning on his heel, he left her
Was it only the humiliation she ha'
meant to infict, but which had reacte'
I upon herself. which caused the hot bloo
to dye her face, and the smarting tear
to rush to her eyes? She watched hin
out of sight, holding himself proud,
erect, and the sunlight falling full on hi
far hair CLOSELY cropped) as he held hi
straw hat in his hand, to let the summe
breeze play about his bare temples
.. Could it be that something was goin
out of her life she would fain have keI
there? Once she started forward, HI
name upon her lips, but she did NJ
utter it. The man was mad WIS
destiny did he offer her? Only . farm
er's wife! Then she sobbed, br
checked it, wondering why she wep
j.. In q weeks time she had gone back
her home and the old gay life awaitin
her. She had not recovered her rose
her friends said. She thought to amu
! them by relating her rustic fiirtatiol
> but somehow they never heard the stor.
8 Her lips were dumb.
n She had gone back to her old lf
!, and, of course, the old amusement
. playing with hearts, but it had lost
o zest. OF all the men who had Aock'
L about her standard (and, as she was ri
n and young and beautiful, there We
o many, there was not one, held up
o silent and unacknowledged comparis'
|. with that other, but failed in the tes
e How grandly he had rebuked her-ho
d scathing had been his scorn Was
y for this he lived 30 constantly in b
70 thought that neither by night nor d.
n could she drive him out? Pshaw 8
J. hated herself for her pitiful weakness.
n When October came she determine
It she would 60 abroad, but, one momin
r. when September had not hall sped. q