The Bossier banner., 1892-05-05


unconsciously a deep pleading crept !
bling hands clasped.
Again mighty pity filed her heart
How she loved the kind, old man, with
his handsome head and wide-opening
heart! And yet, not at all as hus-
band, but as an instructor, an adviser
a friend, whose gentle concern had
done so much toward making her col
lege life success. Her lips trembled
as she faltered:
''Dr. Palmer, l am truly sorry.
cannot be thankful enough, either, for
I am not worthy of such rich love as
yours. But l shall be frank. l do not
love you and l never can love you as
you wish
He sank into a chair s.t his desk,
while already calm resignation had
begun to steal over his features
Il see, you are right 1t was wicked
for man of my age to wish to possess
so young and beautiful a woman as
you"
Harriet demonstrated at this, but he
only said:
mo, go now, and forgive the weak
ness of an old man."
His head fell forward on his arms
and Harriet waited only long enough
to reverently press her lips to the
snowy hair. Then she glided swiftly
out with her hands pressed tightly to
her throbbing temples, murmuring:
~ once thought that it was a wom-
| ans hour of triumph when man told
her of his love-
So Harriet wept over her second love
and turned from him.
However, no one dreamed how her
heart ached as she was saying good-by
to group of schoolmates, when the
handsome young Grant Conway took
| her hand, with the same ease and pure
| friendliness - nothing more, nothing
| less-as the rest. travelling veil hid
very pale, tear-stained face as the
train drew away from the little college
town, but twenty-four is an age at
which woman is strong, and none of
them guessed.
They marveled, though, as two,
three years stole by, and still she he Id
all men back. 1t was her fault entire
ly that she was not married, for her
quiet sweetness had certain air of
guarding about it which barred them
from the critical point.
Twenty-seven! Her birthday to-mor.
row, and twenty-seven! She tried to
smile as she leaned toward her mirror
and noted the gray hairs beginning to be
limited over her temples, but some way
she found instead that the whole
image was suddenly blurred. Turning,
she dropped on her knees and buried her
head in her pillows. There it was all
thought over-the boy and the old man
and the others, noble and true men,
too, who might have loved her if she
had let them. She did not choose a
lonely existence; on the contrary, she
shuddered at the narrow, one-sided life
that she was living. But still there
rose before her that handsome, proud
face which she loved better than al
the world, and she could not forget it.
She had seen him twice since they had
left school, and he had been gracefully
pleasant with her. but then he was just
as cordial with some of his other old
time friends, and his open, frank at
tention made poor Harriet's heart bleed
more than cold Indifference would have
done.
Why did she cherish such an empty
longing? Why could she not forget as
did the boy, whose three romping son:
J she had fondIed the other day? Why
yes, why could not she even be like
! dear DIR. Palmer, whose grave hac
!, grown all sweet with fresh grasse:
and white pansies that very spring
And as she murmured over again the
) little prayer whose pure simplicity she
) had never outgrown, her Now lay
! me down to sleep" became almost
) pleading for the sleep which blesses III
forev yer and forever
The next day passed uneventfully
the usual amount of presents and well
wishes, but still its sadness filled he
heart to overfowing Life had become
sorely serious to her-would it ever be
come sorely useless?
1t was after nine, and fortunatel ll
the last caller had left early, whel
Nora appeared at the door and NUT
tered, as was her custom, an unlntelll
: gible name Harriet turned mechan
ically. for she was weary, but the form
advancing from the hall made he
catch her breath. How handsome h
was! But she quickly recovered her
self, and tried 20 smile as she held ou
her hand.
Il am glad to see you, Mr.. Conway.
"Yes, thank you, Harriet"
Harriet! His air of confidence startle'
her and yet overpowered her. Sc
when he went on, calmly holding he
| hand with gentle, though not passion
l ate pressure, she could only wait
Harriet, have come for you at last
Has the waiting been long?"
Come for her? She could only trem
BILE, at which he smiled quietly an
calmly continued:
!. 81 could not spea to you sooner, TO
. I had not my life settled. Now ar
= : certain as to my future and have com
: for you"
Z Not word about love, not ques