The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-03-08

pleadingly toward her at the advent o.
the post-bag.
Johnny and Alicia still adore ond
renounce each other on alternate days,
taking small notice OF Bingo and Efie,
too wrapt up in themselves to notice
the feverish intensity which burrows
Bingo's face, and lends unnatural
brilliancy to his eyes. And the seven
small MacTavishes still skirmish round
their elders, eat. drink. sleep and hght
from sunrise to sunrise.
At last there comes a glorious Octo.
Der afternoon, the air crisp and bright.
the sunshine flashing through the
crimson leaves, and across the meadows
steps Bingo. his good-tempered mouth
set firmly, and with a resolution in his
gait that shows itself even In the car
riage of his shoulders.
"Chivalry's pearl is going a-wooing, "
says Tammy in an awed tone. Five OF
the children are perched on rail in
the sunlight, four OF them are eating
sugar monsters with red and yellow
wings and tails. while Tammy is nib
bling meditatively at a chocolate tor
toise. HE has got on his best nat.
and I heard nurse say to cook this
morning that Miss Vivian might go
down on her Bonded knees every day
of her life to think that she had got
such nice young man."
''Nurse is vulgar" says Joe. tersely.
Aud again silence falls on the quin-
tet as they continue to enjoy the sugar
monsters.
Then suddenly the Ave children sit
very still. and forget to go on eating.
for three figures appear in sight upon
the ridge against the horizon-a girl
in dark serge dress clinging to the
arm of tall. thin young fellow. her
golden hair flying In confusion over
his shoulder-the tall, thin young man
and gesticulating wildly
with his unencumbered arm, and few
feet of them shorter, squarer figure
with bent head, standing listening.
motionless as a statue, against the
evening sky-just standing, listening.
For moment the tableau is accent
uated by the dull glow in the West.
Then the warm flush fades. The short,
square figure moves slowly away across
the darkening meadow, still with bent
head and resolute. logged shoulders.
hut NTH N o,,r,~,,o ,,uoyocroce - ..~sx
and then fanny bursts out crying.
and clinching her fist shakes it furi-
ously at the distant, gold-haired girl.
''She has broken my heart" the bad,
false girl!' she sobs wildly. "She
has broken our Bingo's hearth And
by Joe's boyish instinc-
tive mind your own business!'' she
rushes after the big brother for whom
her little loyal heart is hotly burning.
"Bingo! Bingor' she cries, '.Bingo!
Bingo! wait for mer'
But still he strides on with bent head,
sometimes stumbling slightly, but
never raising his eyes, and uncon-
'ciously obeying the instinct of all
wounded creatures by following the
rack which leads in long undulations
across the meadows and homeward.
''Bingo! Bingot' sounds the pas
donate wailing cry behind him. At
asst it strikes upon his ear. He turns
Ind stops short. But though his lips
move, no sound escapes from them.
20. Bingo, / do love you so muchl
And l am so tiredr' Silently he lifts
Ter in his strong arms and stumbles
inward again. with her arms clasped
around his neck. and the childish sob
ling iteration, "Bingo! Bingor' in his
'ars. And at last they reach the stile
'eneath the haystack.
He pauses for a moment. But she
livines his thought. and begins to cry
gain from sheer misery and sympathy.
''Never mind Tammie. Never mind,
title Tammie," he says at last, in an
i'd, broken tone.
And then they 20 indoors. and he |
ocks himself into the study. It is all |
ver-the dream, the delight. tho rough |
The summer is ended, the |
airy castle lies in ruins at his feet
nd now
Outside in the darkening garden |
here is the soft rustic Of girls dress,
nd Alicia's voice rings out in amused |
aughter as deeper voice exclaims |
dmiringly, 20, Alicia!'
The study is cold. very cold. Bingo
shivers, and the chocolate
ortoise which Tammy had left on his
nee as an Offering of consolation falls
the floor. A slight wind springs up
inside and shower of withered leaves |
re whirled against the window. Then
lddenly Biugo lays his head down
pom his arms and breaks out into the
ing, low sobs Of a man in pain.-Bel-
ravia.
Tho han~~~~ss GA~~~