The Opelousas courier., 1889-03-02

know, you ought ttas if I were ffty!"
"Iwentyilntade this Tremendous as
ana She fitted from a French win
ISs65w and down the balcony steps like a
child of ten.
1t was April when old Mr.. Reed died,
and in September his grandchildren
were to be married. There was only
| Aunt Jane to care for the details OF
Elsie's trousseau, for the young girl
was an orphan, and her fathers mar
riage had been displeasing to her
grandfather. But for the kindness OF
Aunt Jane and Frank, she would have
had scant welcome at L. during the
old mans lifetime.
But Aunt Jane was equal to the
emergency, and the profusion of Elsie's
bridal wardrobe was a good earnest of
the luxuries to come after her mar
riage.
II wonder, now" Elsie thought,
after the rapid flight into the garden
already described, "what is Franks
opinion of all this. Four blessed
months have I been in this house, and
he has not once spoken a word of love
to me. He is all courtesy, g~entleness,
and-I will say it once-stuptdtty, but
as much like a lover as a walking cane.
I suppose he don't like having his wife
willed to him, like a teapot or a cake
basket Why couldn't my grand
father have left me a tiny, tiny little
fortune all my own? I can't wear
more than one dress at a time, after
all, and nobody can eat more than n
dinner, if they order enough for fifty.
Oh, dear! There is Frank now, in the
summer-house, looking like-h'm, let
meaee! Downcast face, brooding eyes,
hands clenched fast! Not like happi-
ness-grief is too mild n word-he
looks like despair! Whyf I believe
I'll have it out with him now"
In pursuance of which design Elsie
presented herself before her betrothed,
rousing him from his gloomy abstrac-
ton to his usual gentle courtesy.
"What were you thinking of as l
came down the Walk" she asked alb
ruptly.
For moment he looked confused, but
answered, very gently:
"a mans thoughts are not always
ready for dress parade, Elsie"
Were you thinking of me?"
'.No.n
al am glad of that. I should expect
to find a dose of arsenic in my next
cup of tea, if you had BEEN"
"Did I really look SO murderousP"
he said, smiling as old people smile at
the vagaries of their children.
"You looked" then she paused,
and came nearer to him upon the rus
tic seat. Frank, she said softly, and
with eyes of womanly tenderness.
giving a new beauty to her winsome
face, twill you answer me one ques-
tion truthfully? Only one
For a moment he hesitated, then
with a long deep breath, he braced
himself as if to meet o blow, and said:
81 wilt"
did you love somebody else when
grandfather died?"
Somebody elseP"
Besides mel Are you keeping the
terms of the will because you will
not thrust ma out of a share of grand
fathers will? Are you breaking your
own heart"
.Stop, Elsie! There are many
questions"
ANSWER my first one, then. Do
yoa love somebody else better than
your little cousinpn
"Yes!n was TIE murmured answer.
"Oh, SO do II SO do /! II is all a
wretched mistake! Oh, Frankw in q
passion of tears.
Never had he been SO lover-like
as now, when he had renowned her.
He took her in his arms, soothed her,
kissed her, called her pet names.
Don't Elsie. don't sob SO. My dear
child, there she'll be no compulsion.
| thought you VSere heart whole"
$50 / ought 20 be. / treated him
shamsfully. + told him / wanted
money, money, lots of money. I was
hateful!n
Then there was a sobbing confession,
and a cousinly confidence; and Aunt
Jane, seeing the pair coming arm in
arm, thought:
why dear me, the dear children
have come to an understanding, and
Frank will forget Agnes, after all. I
am SO glad"
.
The summer had been a long to
6Herbert. He worked, studied in the
evenings, wearied himself in many
ways, having much of the same rest
l~essness that had tormented Elsie. he
tried to think he had had a wonderful
escape in losing his dream of love.
..She would have been always dis
contented and unhappy" he thought.
"and she is hard, selfish and mercen-
airy by her own confession. But / love
her! I love her! How I would have
worked for heri In time ] might have
conquered fortune, and given her the
riches she coveted. MY little love!
So patient, SO Industrious, SO tender,
until this will came to part MS
Unhappy thoughts do not tend to
improve health, and in July, Herbert
looked haggard and pale. He was en-
titled to a holiday of two weeks, and
took il at L.. Elsie did not dream
that, he was near her. but he saw her