St. Landry democrat., 1886-12-25

her whose young life he bad blighted
whose loving heart he had we'll mig
| broken May watched and cOmforted hi1
as best she could, with few tender word
OF hope for the future, and tried to lure hin
away from the tempting presence of his en-
chantreSs. But he turned from her witt
an angry shrug Of the shoulders
they are calling you Below he said. a
| the voices of the girls came up to the organ
loft. II suppose they're afraid to come up
ha ha! This is Christmas eve, isn't it
What was | to do? let me think O, there
was the festival music. have it now, al
but those lost chords. And there was
wedding march. Who was to be married 2
with sudden touch of suspicion in his
manner-'you, was it May, to Hiram
Wright"
''Oh no. nor cried the poor girl, cover
| ing her face with MS hands In mercy
| non
| " He has no music III his soul. but he is
rich, and he has always loved YOU, NAV
You know | can never marry YOU. The
eagle does not mate with the dove Yes,
May, marry Your black browed lover. and he
| can blow the organ bellows while | play
divine SYM hOnics for the world to hear
and applaud. Muslc-lnad, do they say. Oh,
1t is sweet madness! are you CRYING: |
can play tears and signs. love tkcnl--ha !
ha!'
Then she left him and went downstairs
With heavy, heavy heart. There were
the girls and the young men who had ca lied
for their sisters and sWecthearts. Among
them was Hiram Wright. who had neither
sister nor sweetheart there.
He's waiting for YOU" said Kate Bios
III L.
POCKET. Il wouldn't lose it for any
thing" she admitted in Mays ear. "because
George Simpson sent it to me from Paris.
aai it has our initials on the band There's
Hiram Wright waiting to see YOU home"
Don't leave me, Kate, dear" said May.
eagerly, walk that way with me. | can
not bear his company just now
The church was prottilv trimmed with its
arches and Iyreaths Of evergreen, and the
star that was to be illuminated by q lamp
at the evening service. The girls hurried
about getting their wraps and hoods on
for the air was cold-and chatting alto
gcthar as they did so
Il hope old Michel Will have it good and
warm this evening" said one, as she shiv-
cred about.
''Thcre's Maurice upstairs, girls; he
mustn't stay there" suggested Alice Baker.
con, he goes home when he gets ready
another, fearful that May would
oyerhear her Poor fellow they say he's as
poor as a church mouse since he's given up
his business, and gone to studying music |
May did hear and smiled to herself at the |
congrulty Of the statement. What if he |
were, she had enough for both, if only that |
were needed. But an unbalanced mind , |
" no could restore the treasure Of intellect |
hat he had SO nearly lost?
On their way home, Hiram Wright man
aged to walk by Mays side, and whenever
here was an opportunity poured into her
AT his lnSidiOus words. At last stung by
Ter silent contempt, he asked her taunting-
y what she had done with her mad loyer.n
He must indeed have believed that all |
vas lost, when he could 50 far forget him.
elf, but he was not prepared for the superb
niger of the woman he loved and who now
penly scOrned him.
= Mad he may be- as you say she retort-
i, in a loud, firm voice, ''but | call Heaven
0 witness that | would rather die with him
han live with yOu.n
The young man persisted as if she had not
p0ken.
why do you refuse the love of a man
no can give you every thing, for one who
an give you nothing? What comparison is
here between us?"
None; or if you insist there is one. that
can give you. You are in love with your
elf, but Maurice is in love with me. 1t is
to him to even speak his name to
oun
And yet, " he sneercd, she leaves YOU to
ome home in my company, while he fol-
Tvs the prOmpting5 of whim, and makes
idol OF an idea, a chimera of the BRAIN
" We will not discuss him further, and
ter this L do not wish your further &C l
iamtance, Mr.. Wright said May, with
gnity I
. Do you mean what .fou say May
HEM" $
g do; you have proved any thing but $
lend to Maurice Dawson since calamity "A
ertook him. You knew that I was his |
omised wfe-that this very Christmas eve , !,
? We're to have been married: but for this
happy visitation. Yet you force your
welcome attentions upon me, when you II
ould not dare to address me if Maurice n
ere himself"
ung man, in a husky voice, abe u
use if you have l will go, and o
L can help it-never see your face II
ain. And, as for your mad musi- h
n, you may think less of him when he s.
IS to a mad-house, where he is certain to
l his career" 81
POOR May She walked into her home Il
tn dilated eyes, and such an expression %
despair on her face, that her mother rose te
m her chair by the open fire, and de- u
nded in frightened voice: 81
What is it! What has happened. Nav, Ut
make you look like that?' "
md May sobbed it out on her mothers pl
ulders, ending with the despairing re ~
in: y
And this is Christmas eve, when every III
ought to be 50 happyr'
May,N said Mrs. Allen. gently, eve arc pc