The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-23

that her brother and Ben Rolston both
loved this dark-eyed stranger. With
many a keen h~eart-pang she beard her
discussed daily, and saw her dearly
loved brother suffering intensely in
silence and her own lover drifting away
beyond her reach.
Women are said to be the seve-est
critics Of their sex. This is true, sim
ply because a woman, when unpreju-
diced, can appraise another woman at
her true value as a man never can. The
tricks Of manner practised by shallow
women, which seem SO artless and be-
witching to most men, to a keen, in
telligent woman mean the perfection
Of practised art. TO Mary McAllister,
J%uanita Courtenay was a glittering
sham-no more. She was a born CO.
quette, and encouraged Ben and his
friend both equally; but at length. one
bright evening never to be forgotten by
Mary, her beloved Alick came in moody
and silent, and went straight up to his
room, where she followed him, and,
throwing her warm sisterly arms round
his neck, besought him to share his
grief. "She was married this morning
to Ben Rolston," vas the reply. He
did not think in his selfish grief hat
the sister who held his burning head
and sootheo him like achild had at that
moment a breaking heart. But Mary's
time in the furnace had not yet passed
over.
Alick found Rocky Point intolerable
after that day, and sailed for Australia
the next week, while Mary was left be-
hind to suffer alone the keen, slow tor
ture which seems to form a part of some
women's lives. Never again did she see
her only brother. For some time he
wrote at intervals. and then the letters
ceased. All trace of Alick had disap-
peared. These were dark days to Mary.
Even when she told me of them fifteen
years later, her voice was tremulous
with deep feeling.
Everything seemed giving way in
those days" she said. 'Father pinned
and fretted for Alick, and then. after a
weary time. he died, calling for him till
the last. And then | sold most of the
things and came here, and opened this
little shop, and l felt happier away
from all that reminded me of the past.
About one year after l came here,
awoke up one night out of a sound
sleep, with the sound of my own name.
I started and sat up, but all was silent.
Again l dozed off, and again, Mary,
Mary thrilled through me. It vas
Ben's voice, and he was in trouble.
rose and dressed, opened the door, and
looked up and down the street; but
there was no sign Of life. except the
crows stalking about in the dawning
light. was restless all day, and ere
night l wrote to a friendin Rocky Point
to tell her that l intended visiting hel
next day. When l got there l learned
strange news. Mrs. Rolston had left
her home one week before, and fol
some days it was unknown where she
had gone; finall: her husband traced
her to a distant city, where it seemed
she had joined an opera company, the
manager of which had spent his sum
mer holiday at Rocky Point. and hat
been much pleased with Mrs. Rolston'.
splendid voice. She had never beer
much attached to domestic life. hel
whole soul going out after gayety anc
admiration, and now she had deliber'
ately given up husband and child fol
the life she loved. Poor Ben! No won
der 1 heard his voice in my dreams. bu.'
never again was I to look on his brigh'
face in life. The very morning l ar
rived and heard this tale, he went GU
in his boat alone, though warned tina
a squall was coming up. His boa wa
found floating bottom upwards the mex
morning. and later in the day his bod,
was washed up on the beach opposite
his own door. After the funeral l of
fered to take the child with me. Ben
mother being now dead, and Mrs. Rol
English port; and now Ben'schild is al
most my own.. He is his fathers image
: but inherits his mothers voice"
> Are you not afraid of his mothe
!. claiming him. l said.
,, ooh! she died long ago." said Mary
!. with a deep sigh.
Somehow, after that evening. Mar
and drew closer together. We ha
both suffered, and the kinship'of sorro,
:. is perhaps the strongest of any. Itol
: her Of my present position Of lionel
!, wealth and my longing to have Be
lei me.
'Oh! l could not live without him,
. shesaid.
: Yet when | went home l took hir
with me to educate as my son and he'll
: and not long after, as Mary could nc
live apart from Ben, she consented t
i. become my wife, and though for bot
: of US the glamour of youth had passe
away, leaving a clearer vision to tn
great realities of life, yet our Marie
life has had a deep happiness in it fa