St. Landry democrat., 1883-04-14
MY LOVE STORY.

:" Are there no underwriters for human
hopes? for the most precious OF interests is
there no insurance.
had been tempted all day, tempted
by fate and the devil. All summerlong
I had been trying to clasp hands for a
life journey with man did not love;
a man noble of soul and born to the
purple, who set up high lineage against
my poor gifts of beauty and song. He
threw some love into the scales, too, but /,
God help me, had none to give in return.
I had bartered erewhile my whole pos
sessions for few glances Of a dark,
dark eye, and my note had gone topro-
test.
Could I, could Ip 1t kept following
me about with fateful persistency, for
tonight | was to give my answer to my
high-born lover.
/ tried to look things in the face, to
count the cost.
Money was good thing; it insured
one warmth in winter and delicious cool
ness in summer, and prettiness and
daintiness, and the entrance into good
society. Yes, money was good thing,
and position and power, and houses
and lands. So far, good; but my soul
hungered and thirsted for love COM
mensurate with my own, which this
man, who offered me purple and gold,
had it not in his power to give, or, let
me qualify that, had it not in his nature
to give.
The stars came out golden and soft,
and the fragrant summer dusk crept
around me where I sat inhaling the scent
of the roses. Ambition and love tore
my heart by turn, and WEAKNESS, too,
put ID poor pitiful plea, for was so
tired, so tired.
1t was brilliant future that Reginald
Dacre offered me, wherein toll and
WEAKNESS could never come. Thought
of the purple and fine linen; the lux
urious rest; the emoluments! Then my
daily life passed In review before me
that of companion to a naughty, fine
lady, and a singer in fashionable
church, among fashionable saints and
sinners. I began to Groom over the old
satire: 81 #s ess Is s., S
:. In a church which Is garnished with mullion
and gable,
With altar and reredos with gargeyle and
The penitents' dresses are sealsl1in and sable,
Inc DOOR SaHCGILy eau Qe cologne.
But surely il Lucifer flying from Hades,
Could gaze at this crowd, with its paniers
and paints,
He would say, looking round at the lords and
% where Is All Sinners, If this is All
SaintSg
I had entered upon this life from an
unloved and unloving home, home
doled out to me by the tardy justice Of
a grand-uncle who had robbed me of my
Inheritance. I thought at first / might
find the sangreal somewhere in this
new country, which seemed 50 fair, but
alas! had not even heard the swish
of wings.
thought Of it all-the fever and the
fret; the petty jars; the misund erstand-
ings; the pain Of incomprehension; the
unguerdoned toll; the tagging hours;
the awful pauses.
This Oh marriage; this or marriage.
It seemed written ike q placard on
earth and sky. It seemed bound like
phylactery upon the brows Of the peo-
pie as they passed to and fro; and soon
the word marriage lost all it's signifi-
canoe for me, as words do after oft re-
peatina. Did it mean misery or happi-
ness. bliss OF woep This marriage
that rung its changes through my brain
was it God-appointed? Did it mean
God' blessing or His curseP
You know I did not love this man
who offered me rest from my labors.
He had not power to evoke one thrill at