The Opelousas courier., 1889-10-05

inF1Ceu MN 70 JOIN .Lnelf ULtie party In a
walk or ride or to spend an evening in
their private parlor.
"But, by George! I can't stand this"
he muttered to himself one evening as
Kate, leaving her wealthy admirer to en-
terrain her mother, came over to him
where he stood on the little balcony over
looking the garden. ~ shall break that
iron-bound resolution one of these times
and receive her scorn and contempt fer
my reward. No, I must fly from tempta-
ton before / make @ complete dolt and,
idiot of MYSELF
He turned and looked again at that
tall, queenly figure, standing there beside
him, one white hand resting lightly on
the balcony rail. How beautiful she was,
with the soft moonlight falling on her
proud dark face and just the sweet, ten
der shadow of a smile touching the scarlet
lips and softening the large, dusky eyes.
II am going to leave the hotel to-
morrow, Miss Bamforth," he began,
abruptly plunging right into the heart of
the subject before he had time to change
his. resolution.
She wheeled around and looked at him,
O strange whlteness creeping slowly over
the dark loneliness of her face. ;
"To-leave the-hotell" she echoed
blankly, seeming startled out Of her usu-
al proud regal self-possesslon. ,
Eyes. My friend, Charlie Hartney,
has been urging me this long time to visit
him at his mothers cottage; you know
where it is-about a mile from here. He
has some other guests, and he swears
that I am treating him shamefully. So L
am. But first thing in the morning I
shall go over there bag and baggage, and
put an end to his grumbling. hope to.
have the pleasure Of seeing you and your
mother occasionally in spite of that" !:
"oh, certainly, you must; but.
slowly and with keen regret-"what q
barrier this will be to all the little plans
we had formed for our enjoyment during
the next week or so-mamma and l..
Il"
Harold interrupted with a light, forced
laugh.
'There is another barrier" he ex7
claimed, in a voice that seemed utterly
without feeling, so bitter and hard it
sounded. GA barrier far more insur-
mountable than one Of my creatlon-itis
a golden barrier, Miss Katei"
And casting one quick, ieeting glance
npon the beautiful blanched face so near
him-a glance which revealed more than
he dreamed of, ven in that sudden,
reckless Noodle passed from the bal
cony to the parlor without another word;
and, making a brief apology to the lady
and gentleman within, babe them au
revolr and hurried from the rooms.
A week passed and Kate had notaseu
Harold St. Paul since that hour on he
balcony.
There was regret in her proud heart,
but mingled with it was another feel
ng-something that was neither anger
o sorrow.
That last parting glance from his blue,
half-scornful eyes had haunted her day
and night since then. II she had in
terpreted 1t Alright. But, then, she
would probably see him no more.
He would not come near her, and
she-. Oh, mol Her pride was still
too naughty and unyielding to permit
her to obey the impulse which sometimes
throbbed in her heart so strongly that it
sent the hot blood coursing to her olive
cheeks.
One morning she went out to ride
alone, for a wonder.
Being in no mood for company of any
kind, she slipped away from Mr.. WASH
burne, ever ready to be her escort, and
would not even allow the trusty groom
to follow her. -
Over the smooth road fof miles she
on the back of her spirited bay;
then she plunged fearlessly into q thick
grove, where the roads wound like a
pale ribbon among the Pickering lights
and shadows under the dark green trees.
"This is simply delicious" she said to
breathing in the pure, fragrant
air as she cantered smoothly on. It re-
minds me of Maid Marian In the deep
forest, and"
She stopped speaking abruptly, with q
paling face, for close at hand
there had sounded the sharp repcrteaf q |
gun, and with one violent plunge of
fright her horse bounded forward
md went tearing down the white road
with q speed which abe soon found she
could not control.
Kate was . good rider and kept her
seat well. But in q short time her heart
began to throb and her cheek to pale
terror, for just in advance she dis
cerned o steep, rocky cliff, leading to o
stream below-and how far below she
could not guess.
ssThat means danger, perhaps DEATH
muttered, setting her white teeth
hard together. And, taking q f1rmer
seat, she bravely put forth oil her
to cheek the bay In his mad
but all in vain.
But just ct this terrible moment, when
Ill hope sesEsAgone, ss.l Of joy shot
s.sgs fsssdfas6gg eap1pfnSsaeart. A
as from u R0rky seat on the |
of the cliff aud-stood erect,
k1acing, himself firmly, "a II preparing for
shock.
Kate breathed o silent prayer and
closed her eyes in~voluntarily % her horse
forward; and then she was con-
,cious Of q sharp, sudden shock, q voice
from somewhere calling her name, and
Tor many minutes she knew no more than
hat.
When she revived she raw for the first
who IL was that saved her. who il
was that held her 90 firmly yet gently In
ais arn1s until abs was able TO stand upon
;he ground beside him. And then:
aHarold,n she whispered, with O shy