St. Landry democrat., 1888-12-08
}. lie is altogether too-too-wor.

! me. lie is altogether too--too-wor.
snipful."
"Ah!" calculated John Grant, trying
to catch her meaning, II didn't think
lover could be too worshipful,
though l can understand how he might
be too impetuous. You are in a. Queer
mood this morning, valeria.n
cit is breaking away, then" she
said, laughingly softly again. "Mr
Dellsle, too, charged me with mood
ness. L am certain / die not yawn.
But am not moody when I am with
you, gardy. At least, I don't want to
be. Can't you leave this work for a
little while? There is still time for
you to become famous, Get out the
ponies and drive me over to the de-
serted fort I want to gather some
moses, and the change will do YOU
good"
81 saw Mr.. Delisle's team among the
trees" remarked John Grant.
YES" assented she.
Didn't he ask you to take a driven
ooh, yes. He is very thoughtful"
"And you declined?"
eyes, gardy."
'But-why?"
Out OF pure contrariness, may be.
Perhaps, because | preferred to 90
with you. Please don't question me
so persistently.
The color came aud went In her face,
and girlish pout hung to her red lips
for q moment.
"Ail right" John Grant said, as he
put aside his books. II appreciate the
preference"
The reply would have delighted her
had his tone been less even and his air
less serene.
The drive was q pleasant one, and
the ramble about the old fort and it's
enTirons more pleasant still.
She charmed him with her smiles,
her gurgling laughter, her sallies OF
wit, her confessions of ignorance, her
thorough abandonment to the enioy-
ment of the hour. He said to himself.
as he sat alone in his room that even
ing:
81 live in two atmospheres. One is
evolved from my books, musty, abb
struse, circumscribing, yet satisfactory
and restful. The ether comes from
the compapicnship of my ward, is
bright, healthful sympathetic, yet
leaves me dissatisfied, miserable;
wretched. Ah-it Is because the books
are mine, while she Is not
A year went by. Valeria grew more
lovely, Mr.. Delisle grew more per-
sistent, John Grant grew more morose.
'Valeria, you are of age to-day"
the latter said,
He had asked for business inter-
view and she was seated opposite his
desk. She abhora'ed business details,
but she knew that the occasion de-
manded her attention.
The afternoon was dying away. The
red sunset shone against the windows.
Some of the rays fell upon Valeria,
heightening the sheen of her dress, re-
vealing the transparency of her COM
plexion and adding shade of burnt
gold to her beautiful hair.
''My stewardship is closed" John
Grant continued, faint regretfulness
in his tone. 1.-The court has approved
my accounts. You are in sole possess
sion of this vast estate. Wildemar is
yours"
She watched him covertly, her hands
olded in her lap, her face strangely
sober.
Il tried my best to discharge my
duty faithfully he added.
'sYes," answered she, with little |
gasp. "You found me selfish and will |
full"
''No, Valeria," promptly protested |
he. Rarely willful, and never self
ssh.
A painful silence eusued. Her eyes
we're bent to the floor in intense, half
painful thoughtfulness. She was re-
viewing the past-she was thinking Of
he future.
"You will leave Wildermar?" she
aintly asked
why, yes" he asked, passing his
land over his mouth to hide the witch
ng muscles. "My work here is done.
must seek new fields, new home.
I'm not apprehensive.
1T seems not she said, little dis
Neither about yourself
Tor about me. But | am not COM
,etent to manage the estate, nor have
the inclination. The responsibility
S too great Care is irlSsome to me
Or. Grant. why can you not stay?
Why can you not continue to manage?
Whatever compensation"
mo, Valeria," he interrupted, al
most with sternness.
ooh, since it isn't agreeable to you
will not insist, she said, in a strident
one. a look of vexation on her face.
"Valeria, that wasn't kind in YOU"
le reproachfully said. 1T has been
,graeable to me, and it still would be.
,ut, for reasons best known to myself,
must decline to oblige you.
always remember" she rejoined,
Ier tears very near. ''that / have been
rateful for all you ever did for me-
s.Why, to be sure, child" he said.
The word '.child'' brought an angry
o,.lxlo IN bar eyeS He saw IL Init |