Evening star., 1886-10-02

| courtesies.
Will you take a cigar, sir9" drawing a case o
| davanas from mis- breast pocket
pleasant smile, al do no; smoke"
,, "A pleasant morning for travelling through
.Yes, hni I am rather tired of travelling now
| "Ah, then, you have come from a distance"
| II have come from the North and walked 9
good good part @ OF the way, but am nearly home
Mr.. Desseauts interest increased. "You are
| q Louisianian, then"
"Yes. my home is near Marion, have not seer
| taking in every familiar land mark of the
| country. 81 have had rather a tough expert
ence' slfi was desperately w6unoea our ana .eil
| picked me up, and sent me away with other
| prisoners. Alter the surrender started home,
| penniless, and with only this old uniform to
ciothe me. have worked part Of my way, and
walked part, and now am Within few miles
| OF home"
He smiled, and his worn grave face looked
wonderfully handsome.
Mr.. De>seaut ielt an uncomfortable little chill
| creeping over him. He knocked the ashes from
his cigar with slightly tremuIons fingers.
| Your people expecting you?
| "No, shall be as one coming from the dead u
| One question Mr. Desseaut felt that ne could
no longer delay asking.
II beg your pardon, but would like to know
your name"
jeff Ennis"
| Had he been expecting, dreading to hear
that? He could not tell; he felt stunned, and
ness; then he recovered himself, and glanced
| furtiveiy at his companion. Ennis sat calmly
uncu unscious oi the effect of his words, absorbed
| in anticipation of his welcome home. Des-
! seaut studied his face, lividly white, curious
glitter in his eyes. The conve ersatiOn Jagged for
| a little while, both men Withdrawing into
their own Thoughts Not until they arrived at
| Marion did they make iurtner progress toward
| acquaintance with one another. They stopped
| AT the hotel and though several lOungerS stared
curIously at Ennis no one recognized him. His
| old friends were all gone away, and he had
himsei changed almost beyond recognition.
MIR. Desseaut insisted that they should dine
together.
Il know you are very impatient, but If they
| do mol know an hour will make little differ.
ence. Come, 1 have business out that way my
sell, and ii you will dine with me we can go
| part of the way together Brush up and refresh
yourself a little. l know Mrs. Ennis, aud it
will he sad as well as painful surprise TO her ii
she sees you nOw.
"You know Dawkis, my wife?' said the
poor ieiiOw eagerly, his face flushing, his eyes
81 no, said Mr.. Desseaut with a calm, smile.
What seI-contrOl it required, land she is we'll"
II am greatly changed. dare say ii Will be
a sad shock To ner to see me- said Ennis with u
sign. NO one here seems 10 recognize me.''
NO, Lut let tneun mud you best they
can. 1t will create q sensation wnen tney hear
you have returned, ana are 1T home"
So they dined together in IL private rOOm-Mr.
Desseauts orders-and ;tIter the rest and re-
Iresnment Jen Ennis leit more like his old seif
lie Was OF IA frank, unsuspicious nature, and
talked freely tu tnis new friend, speaking vi hIs
ola none-iI &c anu DLwkis win great tenderness
And feiix Dcsse;sut listened with uucnan. .,ng
face, though his eyes gathered strange, sleeiy
MS wine glass.
Il mus. go now," said the wanderer, no
longer aDie TO restrain his impatient sing ior
D,wnis and nome.
"les, am Very glad that we have met, Mr.
Eunis, saiu his entertainer easily, as he also
rUse.
"You have been very kind. Mr.. Desseaut.
hope to see you-make you welcome In my own
home"
anE hut
road lies with yours short distance.
$50 much the Uetter ior me, saio Ennis, with
genia smile.
50 tney left the town together and walked
across the wide waste feeds lyirg between
Marion and the Ennis plantation. The soldier
iookeu around wI,h neiguiening eyes, ana un-
CONSCIOUSLY quIckened his steps drew
nearer home, answering his companions re-
marks sometimes AT randUm.
iney had a Wide mOssy meadow to cross, the
road paved with round poles. A thick rank
vegetation grew ill this nlatrsh, wild sly birds
innao.ied IL, aud brilliant cOlored mowers
Dlooneu around black stagnanl pools OF water.
Ii wits dark and still, scarcely ray OF sunlight
Penetrating the uense foliage, scarcely breeze
stirlln-. Beyond lay anotner nelu, covered
Win Drown seuSe-pdTt vi the Ennis land, aud
beyond that lay the nome .tead.
Jeu Ennis eyes were nNeu upon the opening
and the pain wound through the IealEery
waving bruuIn, his in u glow, his heart
beating herceiy, when his conp npaniOn aruptiy
ssliDI:
..oIop minute"
he ps,a,eu reluctantly.
1t IS nard L" ask man 10 stop even one
nioiheut VINO is So near the home has not
oeeu III over TWO years, he said with slight
sIuiie
bat / must speak with you a little.o
Pardon Inc, Mr.. Desseaut, but will not some
other time dO, l an-"
NO, il mus be now" said Desseaut huskily.
Enhis leaned against d slender tree, looking
ratier cufIou>ly at INN, struck by change III
ills appearance. Ills right hand Wa, iuru,t
into IIie breast of bis coat, his lace had taken
on a dull, sailow hue
IL desire beiore we go any further to tell you
a little story. think ii wnl probably interest
you l came up here in February 10 look alter
some property, iutendIug TO hasten through
business anu return 10 w Orleans as quickly
as possible, but as late would nave IL, 1 met !.
Woinan WHO put all thous nts OF departure out
oI my hedu. Sue was young and fair, but Very
sal anu dressed in deepest inournin. Her
husband hau been killed in battle. Al first
met my advances very coidiy, but patience
coii.bined win tne influence OF her aunt wuo
desired To- see ner nappy once more, Won tolerst-
Ton al urst, and ineu hiadiy regard. Four days
aeo ASKED ner 10 pe my wiie, and she sen.
away to rcturn this evening TOR my answer.
Sac does not love Ine, Dut in time She may
''ies, IT," said JEFF Ennis standing erect with
dry lips, aud uarkeued ewes, He Ieft
beWiidered with the snock of tins mans story.
II 10 not permit you 10 go to her. said
reiiA Dessedut stepping back pace two.
ihefe - but one way 10 prevent IL Think he
pocket.
JET Ennis had faced death a good many
times, aud even now he Draced him self to meet
III like brave man, tnougu nome anu wife and
Happiness mad seemed a moment before 20 be in
his srasp. he Was ueienseies,, and at Desseaut's
mercy, ana hot even for the sake O Uawkis
would he plead for lie.
"Ies, there Is but one way" he said firmly 'If
you ieei Ike, 80 black, cowardly deed. You
understand your advantages. am unarlned
anu wedkened by Illness, and constant travel"
"No one recognized you In the town." said
DeSseaut.
Quite true"
You are entirely in my power. One of
these BLACK pOOis would make a secure grave"
Yes, uiificningiy.
Lave You no entreaty to make?" he said
iereeiy.
A little space of absolute dead silence. and
then WITH sudden multered curse DesSeaut
nun9 the pistol lar out into tine rank vegets,-
tion oi the marsh.
Il cannot do il. 1t is too vile too base deed.
came out here with you, but l overrated my
own wickedness. G',! your lie is your own 10
do what you will with. nave been utterly
hlau, anu possessed with devils" Great drops
oi perspiration stOod ou! upon his lace, u con-
Su'siHe shudder passed over him, tut when
Ennis In his great relief aud com passion would
nave approached him with paruOuinx words
he waved him back.
Nc; leave me at once. This matter lies now
between NE anu my Conscience"
And so they parted abruptly and without fur.
ther wo ds, eacn one going his way out into the
sunshine, Ennis ~ seek Dawkis and home Des.
seaut 10 start Immediately 10 the city our.
oeneo with ieeiing of guilt it would take years
10 wear away.
DawKis Ennis had spent those four days very
miserabiy. Mr.. Desseaut scarcely passed from
her sight before sne repented not having refused
him AL once.
81 never, never can marry him Amt InS
tine, she cried pdssiOnaIeIy, when Questioned
As to the result oi hi, proposal.