The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-02-08

Ill rlgnC- wen Just unlSn THIS dance
| II you please, and then you can fix it TO
me. / mean, you must, because my coat
so tight can't raise nay arm two inches
vanitas vanitatum. ia ra ia, whatever il
is"
The dance was over, and we looked
about for some place where we would be
unseen. Tom knew of little balcony
outside one of the windows, and We
quickly made our way there, passing by
DR.. John as we did so.
Give me pin. Now put your head
way over on the other side. Look here,
keep your hands to yourselfl Now, Tom,
no cheating" The pin bent and had
to get another. The band struck up the
next dance. I put up both hands, and
had almost put the pin securely through
the stiff, starched linen, and we were
laughing softly, when figure darkened
the window and DIR. John stepped out.
For an instant his eyes met mine, and
then the handsome face was distorted
by an expression of the bitterest scorn.
In the semi-darkness he could see that
my arms were appraised to Toms neck
and that our heads were very near.
81 beg pardon. 1t was not my inten-
ton to intrude or interrupt merely
came to claim the next dance. Under
the circumstances, of course, 1 waive all
rights"
Slang the man." burst out Tom, as
soon as DR.. John stepped back into the
room. "What can he mean? He-oh,
ha! ha! ha! that's good JOKE. The
idea of our spooning, Percy-you and l.
He was in dead earnest, too. Well,
come inside. There's one good thing
about it anyway; there'll be some poor
fellow the happier for it."
sNo, Tom, l am little tired, and
think I'll stay here. Tell my next
partner where to find me-"
danced as much as ever, and was very
talkative going homo. / did not cry at
all, but lay quite still and wide awake
all night. The next morning did not
look tired, either. had glorious color,
and my eyes were unusually bright.
Two days later lay unconscious with a
consuming fever. Those were sad times
for mother, and there were days when
she held my hands in hers and breath
lessly counted the beatings of the vacil-
lating pulse. had not been delirious at
all, only one night had sighed contin-
ually, and keptcrepeating; Goodbye,
Percy" in soft, monotonous voice until
day-break. For the rest of the time /
was simply unconscious. When was
getting better, mother told me DIR. John
had been kind, as only such dear heart
could be, and kept her courage up un-
flaggingly with his hopes and reliance
on my strong constitution. She also told
me incidentally that Silver Brooks air
did not seem to be agreeing with him,
he had grown SO pale and thin.
AS for myself was shocked when l
saw the changes disease had made in me.
Every body called me the prettiest girl
in Silver Brooks, and, though far from
being vain, still l found good deal of
satisfaction in the bright, rosy image
reflected in my looking-glass. But now
my skin was of dazzling wilderness,
and my eyes seemed to be all over my
face, while the light played almost mys-
teriously on my yellow hair,
1.-THE purity DEAR" old Mother Gerkins
had said, wiping the tears out of her
eyes with her apron. "The purity dear!
All, but she's like the angel in the pict-
chure in the chur-ruch."
As soon as was out of danger DIR.
Johns visits ceased. Weeks passed be-
for saw him again, and then we only
met and bowed politely and passed on.
And so it happened many times, and the
slow summer dragged on again until
October.
/ was sitting in my room one day,
writing to q distant friend, when saw
the Brownlow man servant coming in at
the gate. How it happened do not
know. In firm, clear hand was written
on fresh sheet Of paper:
''Dr. John, please come to see me-"
And rose, still without thought,
and making my way down stairs, gave it
to the man Che had come on a message
to mother) with the request to deliver
it right away.
In the evening when the sun had set
wandered down into the garden to cut
some roses that were rich and sweet
with the dew of twilight. Mother had
SOho oue W . uciS uDOf % ouu ~ was
lonely in the house.
had stopped down low to train ten
der vine that was straying about for
support, and when rose, DR.. John stood
beside me.
s'You wanted me, so came"
His voice was richer, sweeter than
ever, and came to me like mama in the
desert. had not realized before how
hungry was for the sound of it.
Eyes, yes; that is, II" My hands
CROPPED blindly for my head, and
pressed it firmly between them. A be-
wildering sense of it all came over me-
of all l had suffered, unjustly, yet
through my own fault. Had but told
him that day when l kissed him that he
was all the world to me, that loved
him above my very life, ah, then all
would have been WE'LL
sJohn, oh DR.. John, it has all been a
mistake-right from the very first.