St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-06
COLOR-BLIND.


COLOR-BLIND.
tBut, Rene dear, you don't mean to
say they intend to make you marry the
Professor, whether you wish to or notp"
There was an indignant look on Tom
Nelson's strong, sum burnt face, and an
indignant ring in his deep voice.
Yes,' answered Rene, "that's just
what it amounts to. They mean to
make me marry the Professor, as I'm
not inclined to do it willingly
"But you don't mean to do it?'' said
Tom, savagely.
''No, Tom. I will never marry him, -
said the girl, impetuously. ''Why, Tom,
haven't | been promised to you since we
were babies?'' ts
Yes, Rene; and your parents seemed
pleased enough with me until he came, :"
said Tom, bitterly.
''Neyer mind, dear old Tom" an
swered Rene, as she put up her hand
and caressed his cheek. ~ am pleased
with you, and always shall be. Isn't
that enoughP'' 81. -.
"Quite enough, little one," said Tom,
in an altered tone. I think could get
along if everybody else disliked me, II
you were pleased with me-"
just then voice in the direction of
the house-Rene and Tom were in the
garden-called
Rene, Rene!''
stYes, mother. !" It'd
.sYou must come right in,'' said Mrs.
Alexander. 1.-THE dew is falling and
will take all the stiffness out of your
muslin. And your father says Prof.
Appleton is coming tonight. want
you to be ready to receive him.
Rene gave an impatient stamp of her
little foot, and Tom growled:
ssConfound the Professorr
A moment later he had kissed Rene
and been kissed by her, and was strid-
ing away, while Rene turned and walked
!. A good lookin' lad and honest as
the day Is long, was the homely praise
his neighbors gave Tom Nelson. If
Diogenes had lived in Toms day and
neighborhood he would not have been
obliged to hunt long for an honest man.
As Rene had said, she had been prom
ised to Tom since both were babies.
Words of love for each other were
among their first utterarces, and while
Tom wore roundabouts and Rene very
short-sleeved aprons, they registered a
VOW to marry each other. Unlike most
engagements entered into in childhood,
the compact remained unhroken. Tom
had brains and nerve enough to become
almost anything he might have desired,
but he loved every foot Of the fine old
farm that was one day to be his, and
every room of the comfortable, home
like house where he was born, and he
chose to till the soil Before the APP
pearance in Linwold Of Prof. Appleton,
Rene's parents had smiled on Tom and
encouraged his marked attention to
their daughter. They doubtless thought
that young man who was to become
sole owner OF ten thousand dollar
farm, well stocked, would not be bad
son-in-lawy for q not over-successful doc
tor. But about q year before my story
opens, Prof. Appleton had come to
teach Greek and Latin in s College.
Rene met the Professor q tall, gaunt,
salloW-faced, bald-headed man Of forty,
who was always scrupulously dressed
in the finest Of broadc1oth and most i'm
maculate of linen-at the house Of q
mutual friend in the village, and the
learned gentleman proceeded at once to
fall in love with her. He managed to
become acquainted with DR.. Alexander,
and received an invitation which he was
not slow to accept, TO visit ct his house.
Since the day when that visit was made,
Rene had been really prosecuted by
Prof. Appleton's attentions. She did
not like the man. He bored her ex-
ceedingly with his dry talk about things
she did not understand, or sentimental
speeches about things she did. She
constantly refused to ride or walk with
him. and talked or listened to him as
little as was compatible with the SIM
plest politeness.