St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-06-11
to 90 to Greystone.

Rachel offered to accompany me to
my new residence and remain with
me there. I was delighted at the
prospect Of her company, but hesitat-
ed to accept what I could not but
regard as a sacrifice on her part
She smiled when I put it in this way
to her.
"All places are alike to me, my
dear Helen; I can be contented any
where" she answered, Il am 28
years old, and I have ceased to care
for gayeties; it is different with you"
had always suspected my cousin
of having story, but now | felt sure
of it; no one could speak In that way
of life. unless it had brought some
great disappointment. I wondered
how it felt to be nearly 80 and to have
given up everything, but | only
thanked Rachel for her offer and
kissed her. / could not persist in
my refusal, so she made her arrange
ments and we started as soon as the
necessary business had been attended
to. There was another consideration
to which she called my attention,
though I did not like her to think
about it she would be glad Of home
in return for her companionship, as
her income was quite small, especial
ly for a person of benevolent DISPOSE
ton.
1t was spring when we first went to
Greystone, and the country was at its
loveliest. Solitude in such beauti-
full spot seemed very pleasant, and
summer was upon US before we real
lied it. tfdd two or three intimate
friends to visit me, and the season
passed quickly and agreeably enough.
Then autumn came with its own Pc
culiar charm, and we enjoyed explor-
ing the country under it's new aspect.
Even the long, quiet winter did not
prove uncomfortable, though ], at
least, drew a little breath Of relief
when it ended. Rachel did not mind
the stiffness and the loneliness; in
fact, I think she rather preferred
them. She seemed to have found a
peace which stood her instead Of hap
piness and was not contemplate
substitute for it. I sometimes en-
Wed her.
Spring, summer and autumn again
went by. Ny year Of mourning was
over, and I was able during the last
two seasons to fill the house with
people, 80 that 7 had little opportu-
nifty to be lonely. When winter came,
however, / found it difficult to retain
my guests; indeed, impossible.
Americans, as rule, do not care to
be in the country during the cold
months, and my friends either could
not or would not come, 50 we were
by ourselves all through January and
February.
Our life went on so quietly that any
unusual incident which served to
break it's monotony awoke our inter-
est to a degree disproportionate to
the magnitude of the event. Perhaps
that was why I specialized a great
deal over an adventure which befell
me In January. l. was taking my
daily walk alone Rachel, who always
accompanied me, being detained in
doors by bad attack of neuralgia. l
had done all could to make her COM
Portable, and she had dropped into a
doze before I started. I have said I
was alone; but / should not have
used that expression, for had COM
panion whose society was great
comfort to me. I forgot to mention
one very agreeable adjunct of the es
tablishment at Greystone, which I
had found there on my arrival; it
was beautiful greyhound, Jupiter
by name. He had been the pet dog
of Mr. Laurence's cousin, who had
made his home with my husbands
mother until her death, five years
previously. This young man, Wayne
Goodwin bytname, had been abroad
ever since, 80 had never seen him.
He had sent me letter Of coincidence
when informed by the lawyer Of my
husbands death and the will making
him possible legatee. had no
particular interest in Mr.. Goodwin,
but I had become very much at
tached to his dog in which respect [
was different from Rachel, who never
took any notice of Jupiter.
Aren't you fond Of dogs ?" I
asked her.
Yes, but I don't care for grey
hounds, she answered.
On this particular morning, warmly
wrapped up in furs, I walked along,
Jupiter bounding at my side, until
we reached wood, whose tall trees,
their topmost branches sWaying in
the wind, looked like giant skeletons
waving aloft their skinny arms.
AS we passed, I noticed the animal
gave a start as if alarmed. I laid nv
hand tenderly on his long nose, while
[ looked down at him reassuringly.
Then I glanced about to see whether
I could detect any reason for his
fright, and I noticed stranger COM
ing toward us. He was cookbook
ing man, we'll dressed, and new-com-
ers we're not ali everyday occurrence
in our vicinity but should probably
not have given him second thought
had it not been for Jupiter's strange
conduct. The animal gazed at the
approaching figure few moments,
long and earnestly, then made two or
three leaps forward, and, before l
could recover from my establishment,
was licking his hand, barking, and,
in canine fashion, expressing unmis-
taxable pleasure at the meeting.
] was completely puzzled; for the
stranger, after returning Jupiter's af-
fectionate greeting with interest,
gave me rapid glance, lifted his hat,
and went on his way without Il word
of explanation. With some difficulty
I restrained the dog from following
him, and, burning with indignation
at the mans behavior, which seemed
to me as peculiar as the four-footed
creatures, I continued my walk. I
cut my promenade short, however, as
soon as / thought 1t was compatible
with my dignity to do 80, and has
tened to see Rachel. I found her
much improved, so poured out my
curious narrative without pause.
When I had finished she merely
smiled and made no comment. AL
most the only irritating thing about
Rachel was her lack Of curiosity.
"I cannot imagine who it was, [
exclaimed. Perhaps it was some
one Jupiter used. to know. "
Possibly" assented my cousin,
who had listened with Indifference to