St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-10-11
THE LOST LETTER.

They are standing on the verand
he is bidding her good night.
Il am going away. Miss Lerrappe.
ne says, looking earnestly into her fac
as he speaks
Indeed. for longe" There is n
tremulousness of tone nor heightene
color.
He is disappointed; he has hone
that she would show some reluctan
to part with him. '.Six months or
year, perhaps forever" he adds, a it'll
bitterly. - ''''
she Is startled, but she is calm an
quiet when she answers: I'VE will all /,
sorry to lose YOU"
Will you be sorry. Miss Rose??'' h
Questions, directly.
"Why, of course; have we not bee,
good friends2''
"Friends.yes; but-well, good night
May l call again and say cood-bve5
do not start until Monday"
Something seems TO fill her throa
and choke her; she does not answer
but turns suddenly and runs down the
steps. She pauses before white rose
bush, growing beside the walk. ant
picks one; when she returns to him she
> has gained her self-control.
''Here is rose for your buttonhole
what was it you said ? shall YOU come
and bid us good-bye?' We should feel
very much hurt if you did not She
says ali this in an easy running tone,
perfectly free from emotion.
As She gives him the rose. he takes
the hand that holds it, and kisses it
twice, then hurries away.
Fool that was to suppose that she
cared for me, he mutters, as he strides
down the street. "What am to do
now?" he asks himself as he unlocks
his door and enters his bachelor quar-
tiers ''Will she, or will she not consent
to become Mrs. Lawrence? that is the
question" He filings himself into a
chair and puts his boots on the table.
My scheme has worked far from salts
factorily; nevertheless, if l fail, will
60 away. anyway; l can take vaca-
ton and go and see mother"
He gets up discontentedly and PAGES
the room. ..By Jove! have it! I'll
write to her."
MISS LEGRANGE: cannot see you again
,r.u Mitnout telling you all that is ineiny heart
~ ais useless Tor me to say goodbye without
saving more. Useless? Nay. Impossible, You
can guess what l mean. If you wish me TO
caii again. send me one word Come" and |
VIII vii he with You Saturday night. If you can
not say more than good-bye. do not reply 10
TINS, and you will never be troubled again by
f.. LAWRENCE.
''There, that will settle it. I'll 90
and put it in the Office tonight"
Saturday comes and goes, but brinps
no answer to Eugene Lawrence, wait
ing and watching for one word. He
builds high hopes in the morning, and
feels sure of success. But is with an
exceedingly heavy heart that he secs
the sun 60 down: still he does not re-
linquish all hope for there NAV be some
delay. So he waits as patiently as he
can until Monday, which wears itself
INTO night, without bringing him the
welcome message He waits one more |
day, hoping against hope, but to no |!
purpose. Then he YEARLY packs his |
belongings and leaves towu.
And Rose? Longingly she waits for
the goodbye visit, and wonders much
when he comes not.
lime passes, and in the early sum-
ner Mrs. Lagrange, Roses mother,
1:es, leaving Rose and her little brother
Harry to the care of an uncle, in dis
ant city. After the funeral Rose starts
or her uncle's. not knowing what else
o do, but feeling sure that She will not
ong remain dependent. Her father
las been dead many years. and it is his
'rother to whom she is going.
Mr.. Lagrange receives them coldly,
md very soon makes them feel their
dependence. Roses is a sensitive,
igh-strung temperament, and she
links she could endure anything bet
er than the petty Sights and sneers to
1hlch she is daily sub, ,ected in her
ncie's house. She takes small room
nd obtains some sewing; the remuner-
ton is very slight, but as nothing else
hers she is glad to get anything, by
Inch she can earn enough to get .
bod for herself and Harry. But soon
er rent falls due and she has no means
meet it. She is wondering what she
hall do; she has Just finished some
wing for Mrs. Lawrence, but it is
night and nine O'Clock, too q
'te Tor her to take it home, SO she t
oandons the thought of dinner to- \
lorrow. and thinks Monday morning
le will give all her earnings to the III
ndlord, which will fall short of what 5
le owes, but may perhaps give her a S
spite As she takes up Harry's little b
IN trowsers to mend. her eyes tall 9
BON . neatly tied package, marked a
Mrs. Lawrence" and that name sends i,
# thoughts adrift, away back to an i,
her Saturday night when she had u
atched and waited in vain. for the Y
ming of one of that name. f,
Presently she hears mans step COM D
g up stairs; her heart beats faster 5,
d she holds her breath as it pauses 81
fore the door; second passes and n
en- comes knock; she is timid about u
ening the door. She half rises, then Z