St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-10-11
COVlNGTON ST. TAMMANY PARISH, OCTOBER II. 1884,

sinks back into her seat. The knoc
Is repeated. Shall she omen the door
Who can it be? The landlord, per
maps. With this thought she rises ius
as the knock is again repeated Win
Trembling hand and scared face sh
opens the door.
Tier nerves are unstrung, and she al
most screams aloud as she beholds En-
gene Lawrence, but not quite.
II have come for some sewing of m,
mothers" he begins. stepping acros:
, the thresholds; the light is i'm his face
and he has not recognized her.
She closes the door without turning
around. trying to keep her face from
hlm, but As she has eaten nothing since
the day before, her step is rather un.
certain, and she staggers forward as he,
hand leaves the knob; he springs toward
her and catches her arm.
"kose Lagrange! Is it possible:?" he
eNclalmS, in CONSERVATION.
''At your SERVICE" she returns. tryino
to speak lightly, but sinking YEARLY in
a chair.
Has it come to thise" he asks, look
inc around the room.
Il am not ashamed to work." she
says. proudly.
| NO. no. not ashamed to, o. but
that you should he obliged. Will YOU
tell me about yourself and how YOU
came here2''
''Be seated. please. If YOU care to
hear. | will tell you,' and she resumes
her mend!ng involuntarily. ..There is
not much to tell" she begins: she has
been sewing button on Harry's pants;
something drops out of the pocket and
falls on the floor. and as she discovers
hole in the pocket she empties it in
or,.er to mend it. She takes out some
twine, marbles, an old key, nails and
many other old traps. and at the very
bottom bit Of crumpled, dirty paper:
she lays them on the table and resumes
her sewing and her story.
He picks it up mechanically and alb
sently Smooths it out. 1t is letter,
sealed and stamped. Suddenly he be-
comes aware that he is reading the
name of Miss Rose Lagrange" in his
own handwriting. He hastily tears it
open and reads his own letter to her
written over 4 year ago.
She is surprised at his behavior.
'Mr. Lawrence, you forget YOURSELF"
she saws.
''Will you be kind enough to read
that letter." he eXclaims, excitedly, sit
Is evident 1T never reached YOU"
She takes it wonderingly. reads it
slowly, then looks inquiringly into his
eager face.
''Do You understand" he asks, i'm
plcringly.
Hardly" she returns; then reads it
over; light seems to break upon her,
for the tell-tale color rushes into her
face and betrays her.
''Iad You received it when it was
due, what would you have said?"
Come" she whispers.
'.My darling. my darling.' he ex-
claims, folding her in his arms.
She falls limp upon his breast.
"What have done. have killed
ler?' he cries in alarm.
NO. she answers family. 81 am
,nly faint and weak, it will pass pres
,ntly."
''What is it? what is the matter?"
Nothing, nothing! l have had
lothing to eat since yesterday, and
lave been working all day. and am a
ittle uiLZy. tn:tt Is all.
''Great heavens. that is enough, You
hall 60 to my mother tonight. l will
lot leave you again alone. o, that
'ou should have come to this through
ne. Fool that [ was not to have spoken
ghen | saw you, not to have trusted to
uck."
She smiled at his vehemence.
'.Do you know, darling. it was all a ,
use, my going away? | just told you
hat to see if you cared, and thought
on didn't.
..Did you think 1 would let you sec,
did care?''
''And you missed me?''
''lt almost broke my heart"
80. what an idiot l have BEEN"
II am strong now." she says. releas.
lg herself from his embrace.
"And you will go with me?" he ques-
ons.
YES" she answers, confidinrly.
But wait, l will wake Harry. we must
Ike him."
Il suppose So" he returns, laughing;
the little heather, keeping that letter
dden away in his pocket for over q
ear"
When they are going home they ques-
on Harry about the letter, but he re- /,
embers nothing of it. After much ,
linking he does recall one morning
hen the postman gave him letter to
Ike into the house, and he put it into
5 pocket and forgot it.
elf we had not been so poor" saws :
ose. laughingly," those old clothes :,
ould have been thrown away long ago
I'd the letter with them.-Arkansaw