The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-07-05

was it not fear lest he be deluded him
self again, lest he might seem to take
too much for granted? Mr.. Lawren e
was hardly thirty; he was merely drift
ing. 1t had once been all the world to
him to breathe in Veras presence.
They was charm about her still, but
had he right to be charmedP He as
sured himself daily that he was not
making love-nobody could mistake
him. In old days he had been so differ
ent, SO full OF enthusiasm, so devoted
this was only platonic affair between
two hearts which understood each 9TH
er. Was it not Lamartine who once
said "a woman could have no such
friend as another woman's lover" or
something of the kindp Besides, Vera
had never loved him, even in the old
times; he had deluded himself for
awhile, but it was she herself who had
delegated him to the bleak region of
friendship when he had poured out his
affections upon her. Why should she
make any mistake nowP
They had been out gathering wild
flowers one afternoon.
"This herbarium," he said, twill be
kind of floral diary to me- can read
the histories of the summer days among
Its leaves; the DAY in which we discov-
cred each favorite specimen will rise up
like 10, ely ghosts before me VIII never 1
open the volume; will see again the
paths we followed, tho little clouds
moving across the sky. l will hear
your voice again; your words will echo
in my
You are becoming poet said
Vera, as Mr.. Lawrence paused, with
his eyes fixed on the veranda.
II know you will be shocked to see
me-" said tie young girl who stood
there smiling and holding out dim
pied hand, "but it is not my fault"
=" A fault that leans to Nirtue's side, if
it were," SAID Lawrence, taking the
hand. and holding it longer than need
full, thought ' era.
"Ah, that hateful old herbarlum
again. How l detest the sight of it!
how it has bored me! But 1 must tell
you: we were driving home from the
mountains, aunty, Harold, and /
aunty You'd come this way--and the
horses took fright, of course they know
she is timid-just half mile away, and
spilled lis out, and bruised her so badly
she is unable to 60 further
"1ts an i'll wind that blows nobody
good, see" said Lawrence, unfeeling-
ly; but now that you have taken breath,
let me introduce you to my old friend
Miss Endicott. Vera, l suppose YOU
have heard that you know-Miss Rose
Allen and | are going to take each
other for better or Worse!"
ON c1,ra II will lo oil g., A.
ter" Vera said.
THAT depends upon whether he burns
the herbanum or not" laughed Rose;
and then they went in to tea and Vera
ate her muffin and drank her chocolate,
and talked and laughed with the rest,
took an inventory OF the charms of Rose,
chided herself for having made the grim
mistake of thinking that he loved her
still. But the world was no longer the
cheerful sphere she had known. The
sun had set and the stars had not aris-
en-.
81 knew he was only making believe
with Miss Endicott,' said Miss Scott.
"She'll be left out in the cod after this
with vengeance, 1t seems a pity,
too, to be disappointed, at her age; but
then she had no business to expect any
thing"
1t seemed to Vera, however, as the
days went by, as if Rose lovrd better to
sit and battle her aunt's bruises or read
novels to her than to float on the stream
in Mr.. Lawrence's wherry, or to drive
behind his ponies over the hill country,
and that this preference ON the part of
his sweetheart in no wise annoyed Mr..
Lawrence.
''They IRE the queerest lovers" said
Miss Hughes. 81 do believe he was
happier before she came.n
One day, when Mr.. Lawrence had
gone up to town on business for few
hours, as Vera was returning from a
lonely walk, passing through little
wood, she heard the murmur of voices.
"But why should you hesitate when
you love me, dearP" said deep tone.
"Recause Aunt Kitty will never for
give Inc for letting Mr.. Lawrence's for
tune go out of the family; she has set
her heart upon it.. And Just then Vera
came face to face with Rose Allen in the
arms of strange young man. "a
thousand pardons, y she said, little
stiffiy.
''Let me tell you-let me explain, -
cried Rose, as Vera hurried away.
''You must think am such hypocrite.
Miss Endicott. Listen. Aunt Hittv
never gave me any rest till | accepted
Mr. Lawrence, and / don't think he
cared much, either. l think she made
him be ieve l was languishing for love
of him. Tom-that is, Mr.. Crebore =
had no money then, neither had |. She
forbade him the house. Since then Tom
I mean Mr.. Crebore-has speculated
or something, and made enough to be.
gin lie with, and now he wants me to
break with Mr.. Lawrence; but it's so
hard to tell lover you have been mis-
taken. or that you knew all the while
you didn't love him, but Just was going
to marry him for his money, isn't itP
You are his friend, Miss Endicott; you
have known him for ages; can't you
break it TO him for meP" pleaded Rose.
81 break it to Mr. LawrenceP" re.
peated Vera, all the color fading from
her face. "How can I? ] would be
glad to help you; but-but it will break
his hearth just then a shadow fell be-
tween them, and Mr.. Lawrence himself
laid a gentle hand on Vera's arm. '.No,
it will not break his heart" he said.
aside al have heard IL all Rosa