St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-08-18

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"There, Matte; don't get riled. O.
course it's nobody's business if you're
going to leave yourself an old maid
but take my advice and don't spend
your time fretting and worrying over
Bob Preston, for he amt worth it, no
how"
She shook her head wisely and was
off before [ had time to recover from
the cruel thrust that had opened the
old wound-Robert Preston and the
past. ....
[ had tried to guard my heart, to
trarnple under foot the old love. ]
could have laughed at my girlish folly
as If it were dream until a thoughtless
word had brought back the past, like
the dead risen to life again, or a
smouldering fire that needed but a
| gentle breeze to make it burning
flame. One by one the roses dropped
from my hands. One by one the blind
ing tears fell. I was only weak wo-
man, after all, as, covering my face
with my hands, I sobbed
Robert, oh, Robert! Why were
you false?"
1t all came back to me-that visit to
Aunt Martha, where first met Robert
Preston, a young student just returned
from college. I can not tell you all
those bright, happy day dreams; how
| loved him and waited for the happy
day when he would ask me for that
love. He read my answer in my tell
tell face before my lips uttered it.
So engrossed with Roberts society, I
took little heed of other matters,
scarcely giving thought to the fact that
a young lady, the daughter of adeceas-
ed friend of my aunt's, was going to
make her home with us. She came
From the moment looked upon her
lovely face my happiness was gone. I
was pretty girl, fair and fragile, yet
one might as well compare a simple lit
tie daisy to a full-blown poppy orrich
red rose as my frail beauty to this girls
exquisite loneliness.
For a time his love was unchanged.
laughed in my foolish heart at my
doubts and fears. At times I would find
his serious eyes wandering from me
and resting admirably on the beautiful
face of Kathleen Lee. No man could
resist that wondrous, fascinating face.
She never encouraged him, but the
dropping lids, the faint flush, the trem-
bling of the little hands, all told plainly
that she, too, loved him.
How suffered! In my mad jealousy
grew almost to hate the child He
loved me before she came, with her |
beautiful fiower-Eke face, to rob me of |
that love. Was she blind that she did |
not see that we were betrothed? I |
prayed that she might 60 away and !
cave us to ourselves once more, and |
Robert would go back to his old fond |
ways. His caresses were growing cold
sr, his kisses lighter. spoke of his
seeming neglect. He answered lightly,
;aking both my hands in his and look
ng fondly at me.
Nonsense, Matte! Do you know,
ny little girl, that you are growing
nearer and dearer to me every day?"
For a time / was satisfied, trying
% be content with but share of his
owe.
We were seated in the garden, one
afternoon in the early autumn, Robert,
Kathleen and ]. She was looking I'M
Usually handsome in a dress of soft In
liam null. My lover had just paid her
] well-merited compliment, for which
he was about to make a gracious reply
vhen Aunt Martha came to US.
Robert" she said, placing her hand
ondly on his shoulder as she spoke,
will you gather some grapes for me?
find that some of the punches hang too
Ugh. The girls will go with you and
old the basket"
He rose to comply with her request.
lathleen was at his side in moment,
yhile I refused to join them, feigning
svere headache.
''They do not want me,'' I reasoned
'ithin myself.
! watched them as they walk away
,gether, he carrying the little wicker
asket and she tossing her bright curls [
it'll that coquettish air that came SO
atural to her. II
| can not tell you what tempted me to
,llow them. 1t must have been some \
vi genius. Slowly I followed down {
le pathway, taking every precaution,
owever, not to be observed. Seated {
pom little rustic bench, I could see I
yery movement of my lover and Kath-
en-. I
How lovely she looked standing in the {
'chard, the sunlight falling athwart '
Ie lovely upturned face, on which a t
nile rested! Never was seen fairer
sion. Her sleeve of soft texture fall y
G back showed the shapely out
retched arm. v
Sometimes peal of merry laughter r
ould fall upon my ear. They did not
ISIS me not even Robert, he was con- S
Mt with Kathleen. u
The basket was full to overlooking, v
a still they fingered. One bunch of g
cions grapes, the last gathered, was b
Roberts hand. He stoeped~.a place a