The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-17

aptly to surround her; bat still, he is
relieved to think her days are not all
spent in this baroness.
And then his gaze goes back to her.
While he looked into her face. he was
not able to heed her dress or her sur
but now he sees that the
deep mourning she wears is of the very
cheapest, although fresh as If recently
put on. His heart is stirred within him
at the sight, He says in low voice; (
"Your fatherN' 49,
.sDied three weeks ago."
This she answers, not uncovering her
face. ,s.,s t.s-fsv
He says, after another pause:
s.And removed here afterward?
"No. Long, long ago. When first
we left the dear old home. The room
in there was his; he was never able to
leave it after first brought him here,
until he left it for his grave"
ssAnd this was your room. BessyP'
She understands him. She looks up
with faint, wan smile. "What mat
tiers? He never knew what it was
like; and could cushions and carpets
and sofas make life any easier to meg'
my love could have made it easier
can make it, if you will have it."
She has tried to interrupt him with
hurried gesture; but he will not be IN
terrupted. The he adds: -
Il came tonight to say it. l would
have said it years ago if you had not
lost yourself to me-" 'Nf 's
"Lost--yes; but not /. John Hes
keith, you do not know There, why
should say more? 1t is SO long ago
since was lost to you. you cannot care
much now. So we will part to-
night" 60
Eve will not, Bessy." He says it
resolutely, drawing her hands away
now, holding them fast in his own. For
he cannot be mistaken; there is look
in her eyes that tells him how hard to
her would be the parting-as hard,
perhaps. as to himself. I'VE will not
part" hNh
She Yields to him in so far that she
does not free herself when he draws her
to him. But then she turns her sad eyes
on him. 9.a
.sJohn, will you make it harder for
me? Let me go in silence-l have kept
it all these years"
"You should not, if I had known
where to find you, my darling"
81 do. not know. / think should
have kept it. even if I had not heard of
your marriage Just before"
keep silence still then, Bessy. You
are speaking in riddles; but it is not
their answers have come for. have
come for the answer to just one ques-
ton: Bessy. do you love me?
A faint smile crosses her face, but
does not tighten its sadness. She says.
softly: -, a4 .a $3.50
III you care to hear it-yes. Stay"
her sudden movement disengages her
from him. ii love you, and will moi
marry you. / would rather you would
not ask me why" s
ssYou require too much of me-" he
interrupts her hoarsely. "You tell me
that you mean to spoil my life and
yours, and that / am to take it on faith
that you are right. l will not take i
on faith. i tell you plainly. you mus
4 prove to me that you are right, or
will never give you up" 80. q
II Again that wan smile crosses he
Hips, but does not touch the shadow il
her eyes. So
II will prove it to you. then. It il
easily done now. If you had come ,
month ago I might not have spoken
But now, that he rests in the grave,
may tell you that am Richard Lestre
the swindler's daughter. 1t has beef
q long time since he was convicted
and served out his term of punishment
but. perhaps, rot so long, that in you
boyhood you have not heard his name.
He has; she sees it in his face Sh
, goes on: II heard it for the first tim
when the paralytic stroke came, whicl
impaired his memory; so that he wen
back to the years before he came to thi
country, under the name you know hin
by. When heard it, you will under
, stand my one aim and end in life wa
! to pay back the people be had RUNE
in the old life-to pay them back out G
! the fortune he had amassed In the new
I'll l know ha meant to do it. So much
have gathered from his rambling speec
t from time to time. The sum is nearl
t cleared off now, and my poor father
but l will not speak of him; l cannc
expect you to feel with me there"
a ssDo not?'f He has come to her.
I he has drawn both her hands in hi!
Q ssAnd this is what you would have pal
{ us, BessyP cannot bear your burden
t l-you must suffer aloner
!, She raises her head quickly.
II do not refuse your pity. John;
take it gratefully. But win not hay
9 it in the stead OF love. And that yc
should love my fathers daughter
!. Il, who loved your father, BessyF
a ssJohn-John-'
!. He draws the sobbing woman clos
It to him.
I'VE will not make light of the ST
n my dear one. but neither win we of Il
I; repentance. And, Bessy, rememb'
p this; If you withhold yourself from n
g you withhold the one thing l ha'
looked for and longed and waited 4
7, every day of all these years since '
II twr norfod ~