The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-01-25

have poets soul"
| 81 know it," he replied, touch of bit.
terness in his voice; "but 1 cannot pu.
my thoughts Oh paper. Ihave tried Inza,
but cannot express hundrcdth part OF
what there is within me. 1t is my luck
to be thus unfortunate"
For long time after this they did not
speak, but Toasted their eyes on the scene
before them. Finally Denny took Inza's
hand, and gazing into her dark eyes, said
earnestly:
''Inza, l love you. You know this
already. We have grown up together,
and our affection for each other has been
no secret, yet now wish to tell you that
it is not merely as a friend that I love
you, but want you for my wife. Will
you marry me?"
Inza was startled.
Denny" cried she, "you surprise me
have not dreamed of hearing such
words from you, and yet IL have" she
confessed, falteringly-''I have not al
lowed myself to think of such things,
for it seemed that when you spoke such
words you would tear US asunder for
ever"
"Why" he asked, hoarsely. "Why
tear us asunder2 If you become my wife
that will simply bind us closer together.
Denny" she spoke softly, "can you
support wife? We have been together
from childhood and l acknowledge that
love you, yet would not be burden
on your hands9 You have nothing with
which to begin life, and you say luck has
always been against you. Would not
your situation be still worse were you
married2"
For fer moments his head fell upon
his breast. They sat there in silence.
From pasture far away came the mellow
sound of cow bell and the crow that
was still circling over the woods uttered
few harsh cries.
Suddenly Denny started to his feet and
stretched his hand toward the Implanted
west.
"There is gold there!" he cried. "Gold
in the western land! You can see il re-
nected against the skyI INA, I am going
there to make my fortune. From this
hour I am going to be a man, and, Dem
mis- Lowry's luck shall change. I will
come back rich to claim you, INA. You
will wait for me, darlinga"
Words were not needed for his answer;
one look into her dark eyes was enough.
He clasped her in his arms, and for the
first time their lips met in kiss of true
love.
A week later Denny started on his
journey.
Soon she received letters from Denny
hopeful, encouraging letters. She an
swered them all, trying to cheer him who
was working for fortune-and her. He
was in the mines, toiling, sweating, hop
ing. Others were making big strikes and
securing fortunes; it would be his turn
soon. But slowlya year dragged by and |
still Denny was as far from fortune as
ever. His old luck hung by him like a |
spectre.
Finally he cased to write. Inza was
tortured by hope and fear. Had he made |
a fortunate strike and was coming home.
or was he sick, perhaps deadi She could |
not tell.
Another year wore away and then
INA was married. 1t was match of her
parents making, and she consented, to
please them. Her husband was a we'll
TODD young farmer, and he was really
fond of her. INA found him kind and
affectionate, and she surrendered her life
into bis care, feeling that perhaps it was
best that she should do so.
One evening just at sunset, eight years
after 1nzas marriage to Joel Gray, a be-
whiskered, footsore, weary-appearing
ramp turned into Mr.. Gray's dooryard.
His clothes were ragged and his entire
APPEARANCE was that of n man who had |
'een hard times, indeed. He came along
he path with a slow, tired step. Near