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


cherishes an ideal OF womanhood
which he tends and honors with chival-
rous devotion. Does he perhaps fear
that contact with society may shatter
this ideal? Certain il is that once in
bygone years. when Alicia, carried
away by excitement, had been indulg-
ing in noisy repartee. he had been
| overheard to mutter to himself: 81
Gamma bide to hear the lassie daffin."
And now on this blazing July after
noon. when the air is heavy with the
scent of new-mown hay, Bingo is dis
covered conyersing with Ellie Vivian.
whose golden hair and orphaned con-
dition appeal SO strongly to his eyes
and heart, that forgetful of time or
place he lays himself open to the
raillery of Tammy and Joe Chat night
the two small culprits repent their in
discretion in the solitary Punishment
to which they are sent at an hour
while the sun is still bright in the sky).
For days after this interview Bingo
goes about his work in blissful dream,
and Alicia captures stray page from
his pocket book, on which are penciled
the words lem on the old sty," words
which her quick fancy construe into
Poem on the Old Stile," until. on
turning the page, she reads '.sell the
three black Berkshires," when she
unwilhDgly comes to the conclusion
that the mutilated words are. MEM.
on the old sty;" whereupon in fit of
disgust she pronounces her brother to
be utterly uninteresting and heartless.
Miss Vivian's aunt Mrs. Maitland,
remains apparently blind to the con-
slant meetings in meadow and glen and
pursues her daily round of self-praise
and self-glorifcation with vigor and
energy that cause her to be the mingled
terror and delight of all the young
people in the neighborhood. while
Bingo lives in fairyland-and Miss
Vivian?
Miss Vivian is shy and sweet and
seventeen. King Midas touched her
hair when she was born, and turned
its luxuriant wealth to FURNISHED gold.
and the Eli of the roses famed her
cheeks as she slept, until the snowy
surface blushed. Very dainty and
sweet she looks in her white dress with
its black and white ribbons, and with
the great bunch of white roses at her
throat. Very dainty and demure. very
fair and bright and girlish; but. ali!
Bingo! Ringo! are your eyes blinded by
the intensity of your love that you fail
to miss one charm of budding woman.
hoodp-that you fail to note that to
Effie's cheek comes neither paleness
nor color when you address her? She
is sweet. Bingo, and very gentle; but
her sweetness is not to be your portion.
Many miles away there is a certain
Prussian officer who won the girls
heart while she was still at school In
Germany, and If Fife were not such a
pitifui little coward she would tell you
quietly one day, in her half-frightened
tone, that that long-legged Uhlan's
photograph is stitched inside her dress
and worn there from morn till night.
But Effie is a rare coward, ard like all |
such, she temporizes. She draws out |
the photograph at night when she is
alone and talks to it and cries over it, |
tells it with piteous CULVER of her un-
derlip that she is so. so unhappy. and |
oh, why does he not come here at once
and tell her for the hundredth time
that he loves herr She is sure that ii |
only he gets a chance OF tackling Aunt |
that lady will be worsted. |
and will flee away before the all-con-
quering invader.
Il can not tell Mr.. Bingo," she con-
lesses to the photograph with many |
sobs> He is so nice, but if tell him
about you, Wolfrath. he will go away,
and will never walk again in the
meadow with me. And then Aunt
Maitland will find out at once that
have sent him away. Oh! Wolfrath
lear, she would be so dreadful! She
has never seen you, so she can not be-
ieve how noble and perfect you are
7ou always admired me, always-and
70 she says that she will never let me
marry foreigner. She drags me about
With her from place to place, and she
ays that If / ever mention your name
gain to her she will make me marry
hat horrid Mr.. Trelawney. whom I
AN not endure. She has left me in
'eace the last month because she thinks
hat Mr.. Bingo likes me. And l do
eel 80 unhappy about it all. Wolfrath.
ome to me! do come to me!'' L
This is all very we'll, Miss Effie! All
he world knows that when two young
'eople determine that in spite of all
opposition they will marry each other.
hey are sure to obtain their hearts
esire. Therefore, in spite OF all your
resent woes, Isay that's all very well