The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-04-04

Miss Green laughed.
81 see. Well, it went Just about
twenty minutes ago. Miss Gibson's SIS
ter came and got it,
''Oh.' said Harlan, with several emo
tiOns distinct in his voice.
lie went stitiiy back to his buggy.
SO Katie had tramrcd away up here
and got it, without giving him a ghost
of chance 70 do it himself, rs she
ought to have known he would If she
let it alone!
What nonsense to take four mile
tramp for nothing when she knew he was
always ready and willing! What was he
thinking of, though: He had been ready
and willing, but he remembered that all
that was changed. She had been wont
to command him prcttily. Would she
ever again!
A plague on Joe Martin and his imper.
tlnence, anyhow, to have interfcred in
the happiest affair the sun had ever
shone ont Without doubt that had been
his object exactly-to undermine things
by sly degrees and win for himself the
girl he had once sued to vainly.
Harlan's heart bounded at that. Yes,
vainly. Joe Martin had done his humble
level best, and failed, and he had won
the dear prize he had sought.
And she was prize. The sweetest
girl in town, and the brightest and the
handsomcst. Always with a daintily
proud little manner of her own toward
people in general-never to him. A girl
with rare mind and a warm heart, and
a face like fair flower. A girl any man
could be proud to marry. And she had
given herself to him, unhesitatingly,
trustingly.
BY JOve. what if she had gone out
walking with Joe Martin! Perhaps she
hadn't been able to get out of it. Per-
haps-- Oh, he was ready and anxious
to forgive her-to take her back! He
never could get along without her. He
had been "a.
What he had been, he did not then
specify. Altar down the road before him
he saw a sight which made him spring
up and crack his whip over the horses
ears.
That he might overtake her had not
occurred to him, but there she was. big
bundle and all. Oh, how glad he was!
1t was fortunate that Miss Gibson was
just then passing long stretch of empty
fields, for anything more obscrvant than
birds and woodchucks might have been
to see young man jump from
his buggy, stride to the side of a pretty
pedestrian. and seize her two hands in q
tenderly vise-likc grip.
Selina's trousseau tumblcd to the
ground.
Harley" Katy faltered, gasping.
"Yes, Harley" he echoed, delighted
that she used his familiar pet name.
''Our engagement isn't off, Katy. Do
you hear? Not bit of it. was a
suspicious fool and a jealous bear, but
you've got to forgive me. won't ask
you another word about it. and that'll
prove that Pm sorry. won't pry into
that or anything else. I'll believe that
you love me. Why. l know you do, and
that will be enough"
But Katy did the inevitable thing
she burst out crying.
1T was my fault" she sobbed. IL
was angry when shouldn't have been.
You did have a right to ask, Harley, and
it kept me from saying a word"
~ didn't give you a chance"
81 should have taken it," said Katy.
81 shouldn't have been so stiff and hate.
ful. I'll tell you now. Harley, you'll
augh-you can't help it. 1t so ridicul-
after such tragic time
about it. Why, Harley, We were finish
ng up the frosting on the fruit-cakes
md got out of powdered sugar, and /
aid I'd just run down to Paine's and
get some. Selma wanted to put those
lakes away last night; so I went. And,
If course, when happened to meet Joo
Martin, he offered to go along, in the
lark so, and that's how you saw US. Oh,
Harley, never would have gone walk
ng with him-never! You might have
Known that"
81 did know it," Harlan avowed. 81
vas jealous and stupid"
"And about Joe, IIarley-if you'll
lear just this about him"
Anything" said Harlan. happily.
md feeling as though jealousy of Joe
Martin or anybody else was too ridicul.
JUS to think of.
'Hc liked me, of COURSE" said KATY.
"but Pm sure he's getting ov-
# it. l think he's getting to like Fan
~ Henshel. sew them driving once,
md last night he spoke of her. Therel"
you're darling!" said Harlan, in .
pecies of happy growl.
''Selina's trousseau! Katy shrieked,
'icking it up.
But it was entirely unhurt.
"Our trousseau, will be in order next"
aid Harlan january is rather distant,
sn't itI Let's call it November"
"Oh, Harley!" Katy gasped. as she
'laced Selina's trousseau tenderly in the
Waiting buggy. Saturday Night.