The Opelousas courier., 1891-03-07

- AA~S'
left the dancers and two kind girl friends
were trying to screen her unhappiness
and fearful eyes.
The gay visitor to whom he had beer
all devotion was laughing still in hard.
strained tones, and looking about with
wondering eyes; youth is hard and re-
morseless, ! felt nc pang. I enjoyed my
triumph.
This was the beginning. When I was
not present John Temple repaired hiE
omissions and paid court right and left.
But when I was present I was all in all
We sat out dances and paced the side.
walks, wandering up and down the
block with that freedom which village
life allows.
"He can't propose to her, because hes
engaged to Edith" / heard a voice say
one evening.
tsThat wouldn't be a straw in his
way" was the reply.
I heard both indifferentlv.
I saw Edith grow paler and thinner,
and Hnhappiness settle on her face like
disease. pitied her, only her preten-
sions to John Temple seemed absurd.
He was mine-if I cared to have him.
One evening I was late at a dance.
When I came in John Temple was the
center of a group of girls. There was
a laughing dispute among them.
s.But I have documents" he said, and
pulled from his pocket a time stained
card. "Years ago I knew there was a
time coming when you would deny your
ages SO / took precautions to get them
then. I guess I'm equal to the arithmetic"
There was a cry and hands flung up
to seize the card which he quickly re-
stored to his pocket.
"Who would have thought you could
have been so sly" n cried.
"What a base advantage of innocent
confidence" exclaimed another.
Well as / knew him, that he could so
long and secretly cherish such a little
scheme was a revelation.
He disentaugled himself from them
and came to me. After a few languid
whirls he said, s.tLet us leave this" And
as usual we went out on the gallery
where we sat down on a bench beneath;
the vines.
John Temple had never made love to
me. He treated me with an air of pro-
prietorship as n might care for a rare
vase, OF something too delicate and
precious for common use. 1t was so
different from the free and easy relations
of young people even when they are in
love, that it had an unique and most
agreeable value.
"You will always be young to me,
Kitty" he said, as we sat down. "In
my thoughts you are still a fiery little
care you going away tomorrow" he
asked after a silence.
"Yes.n
"You must not go. / cannot let you
go. You always stay SO long. All
Kitty, you won't go9n
"There are Others"
"There is only you, Kitty. Did you
ever know that years ago I made a bet
about .you9"
Eyes, Iheard of it."
"The time is up, Kitty, the gage was
a ring. have it here. But | want you
to wear it. Where is your dear little
hand. Yoursa Mine. / can't remem-
Der the day when I did not claim it,
| began nervously to pull off nv.
glove, warm and clinging from his strong
grasp. !
"Where is the ring2 / put it here"
He began to probe the traditional waist j,
coat pockets. / turned over the long.
glove stripping it from my hand now
half revealed. Eye GODS" he laughed
81 had forgotten. Laura
wears that ring. 1t is Laura's
hand that is mime"
She was the Southern girl.
How, I know not, but a diamond bau-
Die that / had borrowed from my aunt
its place and then I tore off my
glove
The ring danced in the moonlight,
,ut my heart stood still, stunned by the
blow.
"You never wore that ring BEFORE"
lie challenged.
III only got it to-day"
"What does it mean2a
"That there is som one al home want
ng me back
"You said you were going to Mays
ille."
II am for q few days only"
"You have outwitted me-"
My heart had grown steadier. Icould
ow ask as well as answer.
ssNow tell me why you have taken the
during all these years to play this
tile game9"
"When you were a little girl you
umiliated me. / said then I would be
svenged and I new relinquished my
urpose."
My inability to understand such vim
ictiveness brought my head to the aid
{ my heart. do you feel satisfeda" I
sked, not without malice.
"You have outwitted me, / said be-
ire" he answered sullenly. and I could
ave told him but for an instant's mis-
alculation, he had the reward of his
ears of effort.
Enough of this, II said. "You have
I'D your little game and / mine. Let
} go in"
kitty, you are not going, you can
ot." He bent upon me all the feryor of
Is eloquent eyes.
stoh, can't n" / got up.
s'There is that between us which has
been said
ssThe rest is silence" / answered,
"a nnr nsrrr rn-a nls--aI AL.A. L