The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-05-20

nerSelI Tor the pOSltaOn which she would
occupy as his wife, and he went to col
lege. They wrote to each other, faith
fully at first, then irregularly. They
met at vacation times and told each
other a good deal that they had not
bothered to write in their letters.
Once he went to sleep while she was
telling him about a reception she went
to. Then h stopped telling him about
her doings altogether.
But they did not break their en-
gagement. She was naturally an affec-
t%ionate girl. and for her, at least, there
continued to be d certain amount of ro-
nance about the affair; besides, there
Were family reasons which make a diff
ference. She was a good girl and he
did not want to cause her pain.
Perhaps he would never have known
that it was not and never had been a
real love that he had for her if he had
not met another whom he did love with
the love Of a full-grown man. She was
as different from his early sweetheart
as black is from white. She was strong
of face and character and broad of
mind. She knew her worth and
charmed him with her independence.
ITO say that he loved her hardly ex-
presses the full meaning of what he
felt. She was his queen: he was abso-
lutely happy in her presence, and I'M
speakably miserable when he was
away from her. She was a revelation
to him Of all that a noble woman could
be-"
Willis had risen to his feet and was
speaking excitedly, a red flush on his
usually pale cheek.
THAT was two months ago." he con
tinued. You can imagine what his
love for her is to-day when | tell you
that, beginning as l said it did, it has
doubled each day, until now it Is greater
than he is.
but all the time he is engaged to
his early sweetheart. They are ex-
pecting him home now. and for all I
know the date of this ill-iudged we'd
ding will soon be fixed. That is the
story.
He leaned YEARLY against the tree
and sighed deeply.
"Well?" he said.
And what am I to answer? she
asked.
Tell me, Helen" he answered pas
sionately, tell me. must | go back to
her? Shall l not tell her how it is with
me and be free? And if I am free will
you
Miss Gray drew back before his eager
gaze, but there was a soft. tender light
in her deep brown eyes.
''Then it is your own story that you
have been telling me-" she said, softly.
Eyes, Helen"
"And will you do exactly as l tell
you?''
II promise"
"Then go and learn to forget the
woman that you now say you love so
madly. Learn again to love the sweet
heart of your youth, who is far more
worthy, | do not doubt. Be a brave
man, Willis, and do your duty. If you
remember the other at all, remember
her as praying for you daily that you
may be brave, and, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
must pray for her, too, for she, too, will
have to be brave"
She bowed her head as she uttered the
last words and her frame shook. He
was by her side in a moment.
Helen! Helen! you do care for me,
then?'
She rested her head on his shoulder
for Il moment as he stood with his
strong arms about her. Then she pushed
him away gently.
Now, CO." said she, "and. Willis, we
must never see Zach other any more
III 1~o1yal ~ I@, 81. -1s
lence. Then he stopped and kissed her
forehead and was gone.
She watched his retreating figure as
he strobe down the broad road until he
was lost to view behind the trees. Then
she threw herself down on the grass at
the foot of an elm, and sobbed as if her
heart would break. Willis Dean saw
little of his betrothed for the first few
days after he returned to his home.
There were all sorts of teas and picnics
and the like on the programme, and he
caught a glimpse of her now and then,
but he never seemed to find her alone.
Not that he wanted to. His heart
was heavy, and when it dawned upon
him n day that she was avoiding him
he was rather grateful than otherwise.
He saw enough of her to know, how
ever. that she was faithfully attended
by a young westerner who was spend
ing a month in the neighborhood. He
seemed to be a frank, well-mannered
fellow, and Willis was fully grateful to
him also.
But about a week after his arrival
there was a grand affair at his cousins
and Willis went as a matter of duty,
and of course he walked through the