St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-01-26

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She rsse to her feet. and their eyes
met There was. . ysaspine. Nistful
1cok in hers that he ha&AUk.seen
there helorp. an WTy
"de cares little for Wilderznar. and
lee for nae" She thought a. she, left
the library. her lips quiverins. 4 throb
Of pain at her heart. -
All. she didn't know! It was hard to
John Grant to leave WildermAr, with
it's extensive grounds. its lordly man.
sicn and its Observation-Disclosures
rooms, and It was harder still to leave
the sweet. bright young girl whom he
loved with a fervor that had some
thing Of idolatry in it.
II offended her in some way" he
thought. his brows Knit, the lines
around his mouth growing stern. "Sho
does not seem very cxuberant. now
that she l. in possession of Wildermar.
The sense of prOprietors hip does not
Overwhelm her. / never saw such q
dissatisfied look on her face. don't
understand her. and I'm afraid Mr..
Delisle doesn't She tempted me fear.
fully. but l can not stay! No. I can
not stayl Unjust 60 where / can for
Ret!''
That night he was awakened by the
sound Of wheels upon the drive. He
looked out OF his bedroom window.
It was moonlight. and he saw. much to
his establishment. the family carrriage
standing under the treeA
The horses were paving restlessly,
the stableman was talking to them
now and then in an undertone. while
another male servant staggered into
sight with q lage trunk which John
Grant recognized as his wards.
why, what does this Mean?" he
asked himself, puzzled and alarmed.
and hurriedly dressing himself.
As he stepped into the wide hall he
saw the dim outline Of a5shrinking
form. and heard repressed breathing.
..Is that you. valeria?" he demand
ed. in an authoritative tone.
YES" she answered. in dismay. her
voice scarcely louder than whisper.
John Grant struck . match and lit
the chandelier. There stood his ward
equipped for travel. Aurried in her man
ner. her face expressing vexation and
chagrin.
This is strange proceeding" John
Grant said. fixedly regarding her.
Goodness, you were not going to run
away with Mr.. Delisle?"
NO" she simply said. swift pallor
crossing her face.
Nor can you possibly be running
from him?"
mo-" she said. with an appealing
gesture. one hand pressed against her
heart Il am running away from my
SELF ! am running from you. John
Grant That is the truth. however
much it humiliates me to say it."
She shrank closer to the wall. Her
lips were tightly drawn. Her hands
were clenched in a spasm. There was
q movement in her throat like the
struggle Of imprisoned words. A
CLEAN of intense yearning shOne in her
eyes, and then the lids fell mOdestly
over them.
John Grant was dazed. He rubbed
his temples, as II to aid himself 10
think with clearnesA The light that
broke across his face was like the play
OF light upon dusky cloud. He took
her hand and led her TO one Of the easy
chairs in the hall.
-.''Valeria," he chokingly said as no
stood over her. his gaunt frame trem-
bling. do your words admit Of more
than one interpretation"
For reply she buried her face in her
hands aud burst into tears.
Don't, DEAR" he gently said. cit
distresses me very much. Can it be
possible that have been SO blind?
Valeria, have loved you for years
devotedly. passionately. wildly; l was
afraid to tell you-afraid even TO
have you suspect it l supposed
the knowledge would have made
you miserable, you are SO sympa-
thetic in you nature. The difference
in our years, your wealth. and all that.
scaled my lips. And now that l know
that my love is returned, my joy robs
nv speech of its huency. blurt out
just what comes first to my mind. And
are you not fond OF Mr.. Delisle?"
.Mr. Delisle?" she repeated. be-
tween her sobs. ''Fond OF him! Mr..
Grant. l love you . thousand times
more than l do him! You never
would have known it only you-you--
drove me into admitting it."
He could not tell whether she was
laughing or crying. He smoothed her
hair, and impressed kiss Of betrothal
on her cheek.
"I'll tell Amos to bring in your
trunk. he said.
''Yes. please"
..And I'll stay to manage Wilder
mar"
"And me-" added Valeria, her face
suffused with bushes, her eyes radiant.
LIES, my precious" he said. ''or no.
il you like that better. Frdnk h.
Stou6sr. in Detroit Free Press.
In q Boston Restaurant.