St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-05-14

|
land you'll not breathe word t
Helene?"
"Not syllable to Helene, or any liy
ing creature ~
"Ferdy, do know you are the bes
brother in the world. Well, couldn'
withstand the temptation to come her
3 tonight. The idea of girl seventeen
years old being shut up in school
preposterous anyhow. I have quantit
of block lace and | ripped up an oil
black silk skirt for the foundation, ant
made my domino without any trouble
Then as soon as | finished supper to
night plead u headache and went t.
my room. I locked the door on the in
side, climbed out the window to the
veranda roof, and then by tree to the
ground"
She paused for breath.
elbow did you get over the wall9" I
asked.
so, never attempted the wall.
climbed the gate" The gate, though
high, was iron, and had many foot
hold. "Then | walked here"
"Rita Pancita! Did you walk four
miles to this carnival2'
"Certainly did. And I've danced
everything since I've been here, but I'm
about to drop now. l couldn't walk
that four miles back if never got there.
Ferdinand Duval, there are no two ways
about it--you must drive me back.
Il shall be only too glad. But you
can't go without one turn with me.
Come"
The band was just beginning waltz
from Waldteufel, its sad, sweet strains
swelling and dying upon the soft. per-
fume- laden air. With my arm around
that slender waist, the little soft hand in
mine, the ripping masses of her nalr
resting against my shoulder, soon felt
that my heart, my head, myself were
passing into the possession of the seduc-
tive little mass of black lace in MY arms.
And yet l had never seen her face!
"Now, Rita said, with a brave
effort at self possession as the last bars
of the waltz died away, 'you stay here
near the door while l go out and get
carriage. I'll not be gone minute"
Nor was it much longer when, after
many vain attempts, l finally succeeded
in hiring buggy, and returned to the
little figure just inside the door.
~ couldn't get carriage" ex-
planned, as we went out into the moon
street. "They were all
But got one-horse affair
hat I'll drive you in myself"
"No NATTER she replied indifferently.
Anything, so long as I don't have to
walk"
She settled herself in the buggy, as I
gathered up the reins, and began uuty-
ng the ribbon of her masque. Finally
came off and revealed the sweetest face
ny eyes ever rested upon.
"Oh, am so tlred!" she sighed. I
ut my arm around her and drew her
cad down to my breast.
"You can rest better So" remarked ,
4 cool, brotherly fashion; but my 8
cart was beating like a trip-hammer. {
Shall l ever forget that drivel The =
oft brilliance of the moonlight, flooding !
Il thes scene; the gentle breezes from the :
ay, bearing the sweetest perfumes of E
nat 1ower-crowded Southern, city; the
ne cleaning shellrosd, stretching like a
road path of silver; the beautiful girl +
ssting so contentedly in my arms! Surely y
lat memory will be with me till I die. =
1t was all too short. Four miles are n
bon covered, AMI as the dark walls of 81
he school rose in the entrance, a bold "
'hene entered my brain.
We drew up under the shadow Of the !,
all. jumped out and lifted Rita +
own. y
"Ferdy," she said gratefully, "you c
ear good brother, don't know how to "
lank you. You've done me service .
might | can never forget" 81
"Well, give me a good night kiss" l "
severed III tone tried to make light. Ct
"Why, of course. But that masque-" ts
"Never mind the masque." Ii
l was not quite master of nv words. ir
ID [ half lifted the article in question CT
: way of reply. She put up her little la
d mouth, and with one arm around her, So
pressed my lips to hers. l think I tt
ed to give her a cool, brotherIy kiss; pi
It whether did or not, that kiss con-
ned much more fervor than the sup bt
sed relationship warranted-there was h;
thing platonic about it, in
With en- exclamation of establishment la
d Indignation, she instinctively drew iu
'ther from me; and as her angry eyes sa
ed to pierce the masque,I deliberately ca
moved it and stood before her. con,
sed. tn
Poor little girl! She seemed about to wi
op, and the look in her large eyes sa
de me feel like the blackest william un in
ng. of
who are youa' she gasped. bu
miss Pancita," l began, with cere- tt
ny. But her eyes were still dis
ded with terror, and she looked as
ugh she were still meditating flight,
I dropped my dignity and grasped &c
hands instead. fin
Rita" went on hurriedly, "don't int
k at me that way; I'm not an ogre. fac
ur brother in law is one of the best an,
nds | have; we were schoolmates. the
is costume is his, as you know. Ask the
1 about Philip Blackburn. He will co,
you that am a man to be trusted DIN
am gentleman, though I'm afraid ha,
e not acted the part very we'll to- ha,
bit. But it was fierce temptation. Tv
least, believe me, your escapade shall an1
er pass my lips. Won't you try to dol
give me2" tw,
he looked at me in a bewildered hat
al ] !.