St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-08-01

bright danger signal famed on either
cheek.
ooh, Grace, how can you say so?
You know am only true to my con-
victions and my country
"Well, dear me! wish we had never
come South at all, and l wish that
had never seen you, Rolln Richie!"
There, Grace, don't cry! 1t can do
! no good, now You are determined
to annul our engagement because lam
a rebel, as your father terms HE. l
may be a rebel in his eyes, but not in
my own. He and your brother are hur-
rying north to array themselves
against a section whose hospitality
they have long enjoyed. l am stay
ing here to defend my home, my moth
er, my property, and my country. If
YOU could only love me little, Grace,
in spite OF this unhappy difference III
convictions, | could endure everything
else and wait patiently until the strug-
lie is ended and we are once again
united
Looking up through her tears into
his lace, Grace Grantly forgot all but
that she did love him better than all
else III life.
IL will be faithful Rollin," she said,
all sign OF her former passion subsld-
ing.
Thus Rollin Richie and Grace Grant
Nv renewed their broken troth, and
spent the few remaining days OF their
stay together in hopeful anticipation
| OF their future.
lido not really think this unpleas-
antness will amount to anything serl-
GUS" Rollin said and Grace believed
it. She was the daughter OF a north
ern clergyman, and together they had
been boarding in the South for year
past on account of the latter'p failing
health. Here in this lovely country,
she met and had learned to love Rol-
lin Richie, wealthy young planter.
Theyoung man, with his mother, was
strongly in sympathy with the South,
while the Grantlys naturally made
preparations at once to return to more
politically -congenial surroundings.
In her first surprise and Indignation
at her lovers avowed intention to
fight against the old flag, Grace had
annulled their engagement; but Rolin
had been very gentle with her, and
now at the last shefound her affection
for him rising superior to all other
emotions. The final parting was very
bitter; bitter for her because, in all the
eighteen years of her life, she had
never known wish unqualified; bitter
for him because dimly he foresaw that
turbulent times would yet be known
before peace was restored; bitter for
both, because the chances OF their ever
meeting again were few.
| Their last drive was over the vast
plantation that had been in the Richie
family for generations. There were
marks of thrift and improvement
everywhere, not commonin the South
at this time: even the negro quarters
were in good condition and the slaves
seemed contented and happy.
"When next you see this place, Grace,
it may be laid waste and the dear
old home there, where have dreamed
of seeing you mistress, burned to
ashes" he sadly commented; and
then she had gone into the house to
bid his mother and cousin farewell:
They were very gracious to her and
she could scarcely realize that soon
her brother and lover would face each
other in deadly combat.
| NOM CloaSnp the o0nSln watched
the young couple out OF sight, then re-
marked that Grace was d nice little
thing, but not fit choice for Rollin.
"If she pleases my boy, she pleases
me-" responded the fond mother:
Mona gave a suggestive shrug, and
changed the subject. She was wholly
dissimilar to Grace. The latter was
petite blonde, with pretty, childlike
WAYS; Mona was tall and dark, with a
woman's carriage and repose, and the
ambition of her life had been to win
Rollin Richie, but mere child had
carried off the prize.
"How changed from K-!' Grace said
YEARLY, to her father On the first eve
ming OF their return home, after listen
ing to the excited talk OF their friends.
II guess have grown bit OF reb-
ell" she added, laughing little.
"You broke your engagement with
Richie?' Mr.. GRAVITY asked suddenly.
.I-yes-that is, l broke it, then
then renewed it again. Oh, papa"
and she flung herself in his arms to
sob out her grief as she always had.
She had never known another SYM
pathy. -,
Of course he tried to comfort her
and did not scold q bit. How could
he? Nor could he blame Richie. In
deed, he felt that if he had to decide
between Grace and his country, he
would take the former.
When Fred GRAVITY marched away,
his sisters parting injunction rang IN
his ear: "If ever you meet Rollin
Richie, spare him for my sake"
"Confound it! it isn't pleasant to be
obliged to turn every reb around and
study his phiz before you shoot or
bayonet him, to see if he looks like
vour sisters lover; but I'd hate to hurt
Oracle"
Fred had met Richie once and re-
membered his face well. A year pass
ed, dreadful year to Oracle GRAVITY,
for while others were spending their
svmpathies on the Union cause, her
feelings were divided and she could
not helpit; her sympathy might be with
the Union cause but her heart was
with her lover. Once in a while she
received letter, but at the end Of
the year even these ceased and in their
stead there now came one from Mona
Gleason. 1t was brief, too, just said
that Rollin was dead and the old
home burned.
She had never permitted herself to