St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-08-29

that hour for little musicale or ,
game Of cards.
She came to meet me, looking rs fai
as q dream IL . shimmering robe o
silver-gray silk. A bunch of som,
tiny. sweet-scented flowers nestled il
her corsage, and her golden hair wa.
confined in . ribbon Of pale blue. II.
silky meshes fell to her waist in wave.
Of brightness.
Something in the hue Of the dres.
and the fair odor of violets that
chung to its folds reminded me Of my
mother.
My greeting was rather cool. Should
I place this, perhaps low.born girl
in my honored mothers home as it.
mistress?
AS if divining my thoughts, she
took q seat at some distance from
me. and taking up . book, asked
softly:
''Shall I read to you? My father
used to enjoy having me. and it has
been the dream of my life to become q
fine elocutionist Papa was so fond OF
Tennyson: but oh! how I did dread
reading Shakespeare to him"
Her father, then, was an educated
man of refined tastes. I was glad "a
learn it. l requested her to make her
own selection.
Her selection was ''Morte d'Arthur:''
and. as she read. every word fell clear
and pure like the soft chime of silver
bells.
A long silence fell ON us rs the last
words of the poem fell from her lips:
not broken until she arose an d glided
across the room with her peculiar. un.
dulating motion, to adjust ''auntie's"
cap. Aunty, who. rs usual, was asleep
in her armchair; as she bent over her
the cOarseness of the elder lady's dress
contrastcd sharply with Nellie's silkcn
robe.
She came back and sank down on q
low divan near me.
! passed my hand over her bright
head. the nearest approach TO q lovers
carcss that had ever made.
Tell ne, Nellie, how is it that you
can wear such-toilets? This" feeling
the stuff, lis like one my mother uscG
to wear
A passionate burst Of tears was her
answer. could not check her.
'fou know it is your mothers
thought to show you how well such
costly robes become me. q poor girl! J
know you despisc me; You always did.
1t is no use for me to try to pleasc-you
-I-wish-I had never-seen-yon.
Sob. sob. sob.
What could do but dry those dark
eyes with my own hands and siler:e
her words with kisses, she was such =
foolish child, because through petui-
ance she disclosed q strong desire to
please me.
desperately fond of alteration. Yet I
did not speak Of my love, some unseen
power held me back.
Twas shocked at her for wearing my
dead mothers garments, so sacred to
me.
must have been in love or bereft Of
my senses. for was seriously meditat-
ing offering my heart and hand to this
girl of whom l knew positively moth
ing. when an unforeseen meeting pre-
vented this lifelong mistake.
1t always took me Q long time to
make up my mind to do anything of
but when I once decided !
was quick to act.
One hazy evening I started to GO
over to see Nellie and decide my fate.
Mr.. Lee had just returned from A.
with the startling news that the bank |
had been operated ON by burglars and
they had got OF safely with their
spoilA
The only store in Farleigh was
broken into the previous night and |
ZONE money besides many articles of |
valuc were taken.
took my revolver in my pocket and
was calculating the propriety of Nellie
md her aunt's remaining in that house
llone nights any longer. fool that !
vas!
went across the fields intending to
20 into the ground by little gateway,
It the end of a path running up from
he river. This path was now hidden
y tangle of bushes; and, as I up
i -
he gate. It was Nellie.
She saw me before could speak.
''Slim Jim, is it your" she asked.
Eyes" my voice was husky with
motion. the lie rose almost uncon-
ciously to my lips.
I drew near to be certain it was my
arling speaking. and she threw her
oft arms round my neck, pressing
rarm kisses on my check.
II heard you cracked the crib last
light, and got away with the doodle,
ut I've been 60 worried all day for
ear the nibs would get you"
l thanked God, in that brief moment. y,
nat I rescmbled Slim Jim as much in
foggy. mo0nless night rs anyone else,
nd vaulted lightly over the gate.
..Tell me about yourself. my daisy"
said with IN encou raging pat on her
lump cheek, flor can't stay only q
lOment"
Cant! I'll hide you where no one
In find you. Pop is here; he broke
ito store the other night I helped
i'm. Where are the rest of the boys?" 4
'All safe. Ia! ta-' and l retreatcd
. breakneck speed. heard her cx-
aim:
81 believe Jim's been drinking too
uch. or the cops are after him."
Now that knew that Nellie Blaine
.longed to . gang Of burglars, I longed
arrest them, although dreasiing the E
,blicity. II Slim Jim was expected.
would be there to receive him with
arrant.
At midnight the officers of the law,
by myself. entered my