St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-12-10
A BROKEN COMPACT.

BY ISAREL HOLMES

~~~--2~ ~-~A~N'
II said l wouldn't be fooled by wo-
man the second time, and I mean to
stand by my resolution" Eric Fleming
said, with emphasis.
He was scrutinizing young woman's
photograph closely, by the lamp-light,
which filtered softly through a pink
globe, filling the room with dreamy
mellow radiance, that inclined a man to
sentiment, in spite of himself.
"She's not exactly pretty" he repeated
musingly, "but she's what is infinitely
more dangerous to mans peace, she's
magnetic. It's these women magnets
who play the deuce with us. Mere
beauty of feature doesn't count for much
in the long run. She looks high princi-
pied. Pshew! Didn't l think Maudc
had principle, and didn't l prove her to
be the veriest double faced creature who
ever wheedled a man into believing in
her p
Eric had known Clara RAYMOND for
six months Or more. He had paid her Il
good deal of attention in the non-com-
initial fashion which men are apt to tiattcr
themselves compromises no oac. "Let
US be good comrades" he hal said to
her, and she had given him her hand
frankly. and consented
The f ce in the picture, as seen in the
mellow light, was rather striking and
pleasing, while it held the unreliable
quality in a large degree There was the
low, broad forehead with wayy hair
combed back from it, the rather strong
nose, and the mouth which puzzled You
by its mixture ofstrength and tenderness.
You were sure it could be kind YOU were
not sure but it could be cruel in its
strength. The laughing eyes were re-
assuring, but the next moment attention
was drawn back to the mouth, and strong.
rounded chin. Here, you felt, was the
keynote of the character.
1t was plain that the face was an inter
csting one to Eric Fleming 1t did not
need very shrewd observer of human
nature to see that he had already passed
the boundaries of good comradeship in
his relations with this woman friend.
The exclamation which begins this story
was an assumption of bravado. He had
begun to feel the ground under him
shaky. The bitterness of his experience
with Maudc was still ranking, and he
felt the need of bracing himself against
the insidious approaches of another pas
sion
Eric was one of those large, good
hearted fellows, who usually begin life
idealizing women, and who are apt to
cut their wisdom teeth rather painfully,
while learning discrimination in regard
to the inconsistent sex. He was clear
headed on most matters, but he was OBJ
fuse in spiritual perception, in common
with a greater number of men than is
commonly suspected. He was, therefore,
incapable of understanding the fine shad-
ings and gradations of feminine char
acter.
Eric was making big blunder at pre-
sent. To use homely saying he was
putting Maude and Clara in the same
peck measure. Maude had been one of
those pretty, bewitching, frivolous crea-
lures. who take mans heart by storm,
and marry him if they will to do SO.
Claro Raymond, on the contrary, was
a strong, womanly character, with many
reserves in store to surprise the man who
should be fortunate enough to win a
place in her regard. Eric was attracted
by her strongly, yet she seemed some
times to repel him. Lately there had
been falling off in her frank friendli-
ness. He advanced in proportion as she
seemed to recede. And yet she had no
intention of feigning indifference in order
to lead him chase. She was merely fol-
lowing tn instinct of self-preservation.
She was guarding herself from crossing
safe boundary. Danger was not likely
to result to either from over precipita-
ton.
AS time wore on, Eric began to find
that his attachment was of an altogether
different nature from that he had felt for
Maude. A singular soothing influence
seemed to float out from Clara when he
was with her, and enfold him like gar
ment Alone and apart from her he
tried to analyze his feelings. He put an
embargo upon himself. His experience
had developed in him stern self-repres-
sion.
One evening after an hours solitary
reflection on the situation, he sat down
and wrote:
"Resolved. I will not speak of
love to Clara Raymond until three years
from my first meeting with her have
elapsed. If at that period we are still
good comrades, will ask her to marry
me-"
He enclosed the paper in an envelope,
sealed it, and wrote across the back:
Compact with myself, to be kept until
Oct. 16, $780,"
Two wears had passed. Clara RAYMOND