The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-02-06

the slight hold Sne Seemeu 10 nave
upon him was slipping away. She
hardly dared put this into words, it
was still too vague for that; but it was
there, the little cloud no bigger than a
mans hand. But when she stood hold
ing Aunt Eleanor's letter and check in
her hand she did not think of any OF
these thing3. Her heart-young and
glad in spite of sorrow and care--gave
a great bound in her relief and pleas
ure. II Cousin Myra came she need
have no misgivings, for she was
maiden relative, agreeable, efficient.
who seemed to live to help others out
of difficulties, and was always ready
to step into the places no one else
wanted to fill; and with all this money,
she need not ask her father for a cent.
Oh! how charming it would be not to
think of meals, nor Hates clothes, nor
soiled carpets and windows, to be free
like the girls about her, and enjoy the
lovely time her aunt's letter promised
her. She surely had earned this bit OF
Eden after the past two years OF daily
duties carefully performed.
She went down to dinner that even.
ing, her face rejecting all her happy
anticipations. Even her father was
struck by the shining, happy eyes OPP
posite him.
''ls anything the matter, daughter?"
he asked, with misty feeling that
young girls faces ought to look that
way often. And then Adelaide's hap
piness overfiowed, and she told him of
Aunt Eleanor's plan.
Eyes. it is time you had a holiday"
said her father, rousiny himself, land
if Myra will come you can CO." he
added, feeling very unselfsh and
paternal in thus giving his sanction.
Just here Rob came in-he was late
quite often nowadays-and the CONVEX
sation took another turn. But AIDE.
ladies keen eyes noticed that Bob hard
ly touched his dinner, and that he
looked pale and tired.
Poor boy, he can't be well!' she
thought. but wisely said nothing then.
| But as he was hurrying off as usual
towards the front door, Adelaide laid
her hand ON his arm: Rob. I'm
afraid you're not well; won't you stay
at home this evening? I'll do any
thing to amuse you," she added, with
her brightest smile.
AS he turned towards her, the light
from the hall lamp fell on his hpyish,
attractive face. Instead of its usual
easy, good-natured look, Adelaide was
shocked by its pallor, and the strange
expression about the eyes.
Don't mind me, Ada" he said. try
ing to smile. "l'm all right, and must
60 down to Carter's; he said he would
help me out on my 'trig.'" he added.
But his face kept coming between
| Adelaide's plans for her visit all even.
| ing. Was it sickness that made Rot
look so? Ought she to have a pale
blue or one of the new greens for ar
evening dress? And that lovely bon.
net at Stevens'-could she afford te
! buy that? She certainly could, if she
had her cloth suit fixed over. If Rot
should be sick-he had never beer
! since she could remember wha'
! if there was something on his mind
What if he worried about his studio.
more than they supposed, and that the
|, |
What II he were learning tn smoke
like that horrid Carter, whom She
never did like? Oh, if her blessed
wise little mother could only have
stayed with them, she would know
what to do She herself must do NOR
to make home attractive-she woult
coax her father to let her have more
company in the evenings now and
then.
studying in his own room. Mr.. Bar
ringer always buried himself in h:
books and magazines in his sanctun
!. upstairs Adelaide sat in the prett,
library, her hands busy on an aprol
for Kate, her thoughts keeping pac'
; with the needle flashing in and out o
her work.
How foolish she was! Rob woult
come home soon, and laugh at he
fears. How loud that door sounded
: Was that scream upstairs? That Ger
tainly was the front door-how nerv
: GUS she was getting, and she Away
: despised nerves! There, at last, tina
, was his step in the hall.
She threw down her work and raj
out: "Oh, Rob, I've been so worries
4 about you! Are you sure" Sh
, stopped suddenly, as she saw that
was not Rob, but Alan Gregory, Rob-
e old friend, whom he had seemed T.
. drop lately. Adelaide turned cold wit
s sudden foreboding, but she said a
S once: 81 beg your pardon, Alan.
r thought it was Rob; he has not com
I home yet"
1 II know. wanted to see you, AIDE
r laide. Can we go in here?" asked tn
a young fellow, indicating the library.
: Adelaide led the way with what coul
age she could muster. what is it?
: she asked, and Alan answered at once
Its Rob; he is in trouble, and deter
: mined to come to you. ! managed {