The Opelousas courier., 1891-08-29

convenience, c~ontiguity, or of being, as
| my father rather sneeringly remarked,
'sthe only Christian within hail of each
other" Mary showed me all her dresses
and told me her secrets, and I returned
the compliment, mindful of Burns's ad-
vice to still "keep something to myself
| wadna tell to ony."
Life settled down into an unexciting
but endurable routine. Mary and WIS.,
tied each other and arranged our next
winters campaign, for [ had invited her
to pass the cold weather with me in New
York. One day, in the middle of one of
these pleasant chats, a servant came in
and handed me a card. The name on it
reused at once all the antagonism in my
nature. It was, "Geoffrey Gardiner"
Now it SO happened that the existence
of this gentleman was the one thing I
had kept back in my condolences with
Mary. Sol had now to explain who and
what he was. WANTED her to come into
the parlor with me; but no, she would
go home first and dress; but she prom
ised to be back to tea.
dlsllked Godfrey, yet | was glad to
began to like Godfrey just as soon as he
began to like Mary. I called up pride
to the rescue, but it did not help me
much, and / suffered a good deal in
watching Geoffrey's attentions to Mary,
and listening to her prattle about him.
thought her supremely silly, and I told
her 80. She was astonished at NV
~petulance, but I don't think she sus-
pected the truth. Only father did that,
and he locked SO: "serve you right,
miss" that | longed for him to be a
woman for an hour or so, that I might
talk back to him.
One day, after Godfrey had been a
month with us, a riding party was pro-
posed to the top of the mountain.
Father and /, Godfrey and Mary-that
would be the order, of course; and I was
prepared for that; but there is a last
straw in every burden, and my last straw
was this incident; They were mounted
and waiting for me, when Mary dropped
her glove. From my window I saw
Godfrey pick it up, put it on the hand
laid SO confidingly in his, and then kiss
it. After that | was not going to ride
for King nor Kaiser. I sent a positive
refusal to all entreaties, and as soon as
they were out of sight INDUCED in a
good refreshing cry. | cried myself to
sleep, and woke about dusk with a new
born purpose in my heart which COM
forted me wonderfully, the keynote Of
which was: "She stoops to conquer"
Yet I did not dress again. knew they
were to take tea at Mr.. Lacelles's; so
see him. My mental faculties were rust
ing for want Of attrition, Father would
not quarrel with me, AMI Mary was my
only face card. l could E9ot throw her
away. Besides, | rather liked to see his
great, handsome figure in the room. He
was SO full of life that he seemed to
~vitalize even the chairs and stools; they
tumbled about and got out of the way in
the strangest manner. l told him about
Mary Lacelles, and warned him that he
would lose his heart. He gravely told
me he had none to lose.
Imagine six feet two inches of man
hood without a hearti
We waited tea for Mary, but she did
not come till quite dark, and we had our
tea. She said she had been detained by
company, but I knew better than that.
She was dressed with reference to candle
light effect, and would not lose its in
fuence on her first appearance. I never
saw her look SO lovely, her r~ose-colored
dress, with its broad shimmering bands
of white silk, wonderfully enhanced her
charms. Geofrey looked delighted, and
she gave him the full benefit of both her
upward and doy-Sard chances.
When tea was over, I left the a
few minutes, and when I came back,
found Godfrey and Mary sitting opposite
each other, with the chess-board be-
tween them as an excuse for Irritation.
The move had been SO rapid that I was
astonished, and a little angry, too; and
father did not improve matters by
whispering, as / passed his chair:
ssCheckmated, Oliye!"
1t was not a pleasant evening for me,
and il. was the beginning of many un-
pleasant ones.
"How it came le(adoctors tell" but I
1 threw my dressing-gown around me,
and taking a novel in my hand, / ordered
a cup of strong tea and went into the
sitting-room. As / walked in at n
door, Geofrey walked in at the other.
81 came to take you to MIR. Lacelles's,
Olive he said.
allow do you propose doing 1t, sir2
For unless you bind me hand and foot,
and get a couple of men to tote me there,
I really don't think you will succeed"
al could carry you myself
stCould you3 Iden't think you would
enjoy the journey
aWill you dare me to do it2"
tsNot tonight. I should like to insure
my life first.
s'Oive, you have been crying"
81 have not, sir" i~ndiqesntly. "And
il | have, what is that tdieu3a" reproach-
fully.
"a greal deal. Oh, Olive, you teas
ing, provoking, bewitohing little mortall
How often must / tell you I love youa
How often must I ask you to marry
me2n
at is not six months since the last
time, Geofrey.a
81 cont care; it seems like six years.
And, oh, Olive, you know that you love
nae.n
81 do mott
"you have loved me ever since you
were EIGHT years old