The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-09-01

/ ClSLOtE. l. NUMBER Oh OiQ lIleDuS mac
arrived while they were at dinner, anC
they were abou; her, and while SD,
gave him (Ncd) smile from the dis
tar &C no found it quite difficult to get
near her. Then a slight tap on his arm
informed him that Miss Lowell was ask
ing him why he was so preoccupied,
and, as Mollie and Stone went circlinG
by, joining the walters, be followed them
with Miss Lovel.
~ rather pronounced flrtation,"
Lee laughed, later, when he and Mollie
stood on the hotel terrace, watching the
moonlight on the sea and strand, and
one solitary couple pacing slowly along
beside the waters. Both knew who
they were, for a few minutes before
they had seen Ned Tremaine place that
pale pink scarf about the shoulders of
Miss Laura Lovel as he led her across
the terrace, too muth engrossed in his
task, it would seem, to notice Mollie or
her companion.
"Oh, everybody flirts more or less at
seaside hotel; one has nothing else to
do, you know Mollie answered Lee
with little nipple Of laughter, and be
looked on the pretty face to which the
moonlight was SO tender, his voice sink
ing almost to whisper as he spoke to
her.
1T is q cowardly pastime for a man."
he said softly, land for woman it is q
cruel one"
Again she auyhed, while arrau ging
tie bracelet on her arm; touch of
mockery was in the ripping voice.
"And yoU-is 1t pleasant to know
that you arc cruel and cowardlyl" she |
questioned. zone is tempted to be-
come personal when such remarks come
from one who is said to count his con.
quests with cruel pride, and to whom
the world gives no higher aim than to
fasciaate-lud remaia careless Ami
too plain3 Forgive me-"
81 forgive you frcely-as 1 would
forgive you all things, Miss Anness: but
neither you nor the world fully under
stands me. / may seem a trifer; but
we're the woman l love to love me in
return no smile would be to so sweet as
hers, no presence half so dear"
Mollc had been watching the couple
"a the sands going slowly back and
orth, back and forth in the moonligh
low she lifted her sweet young face
md looked at him with a sort of won
lering pity.
do we all wrong you, then?" she
sked, gently. Have you failed in
our wooing? Can you not win where
on love"
His face fushel little at her words.
nd she, watching it. was struck by its
trength and beauty. How did it
nance that she had never noticed it
'efore2
Il am not left the chance to WOO or
Tin her. he said, slowly; 'she is
nother's promised wife," :,
"Ab," she said, pityingly; and she :
ave him her hand in aswect, womanly
never for an instant connect
IS his words with herself. He liftci
ne small hand reverently to his lips, :.
cd drawing i: through his arm turned
wards the beach. As he did so he
'und himself facing Ned Tremaine and
aura Lovcl, who were coming 10 from :,
&c moonlight, and he noticed that the
oung mans face was quite white, while !,
lerc was half scornful smile on the
ps Of the fair belle OF the seaside. But
&c two couples passed each other in :
lence, the one going down to the :,
Itch of tho glittering sand, the other :.
'ing IN to the dancers :.
A week later, and Mollie had lust
'me In from long hour, peaceful and 6,
I'm, spent with Lee in q quiet nook
nong the rocks that overhuug the
'ean. lie had been reading to her
.cro some Of the sweetest poems given
the world by genius. Her heart had o.
rilled as he read. and new, strange h.
eiings had stirred it. When he closed ~
e book he had looked up and found d,
II eyes filed with tears. And now in ar
r own room she was asking herself II
wv 1t was that what she had com On
'nced but for the purpose of annoy &C
g Ned had in one brief week slain all co
Y OH