St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-07-01

ne ul0 not see the gtri AT ncf Idtncr
side. A stone whizzed through the air.
1t might have been Jcre Harman's
death-blow; instead. it struck her. 1t
cut q great, cruel cash just above the
temple.
They spraug toward her-her friends
her lovcr-but Nellie Hsrman put hcl
two hands out to me with a sharp gasp
ing cry.
Jack, Jacky she said, and I caught
her in my arms.
have lived over the agony, the joy.
| of that moment. all through the long,
lonely hours of this night
II was Zig John himself who brought
the doctor and cried like a child when
they told him she was dying. His little
crippled child she had loved and cared
for, and Il had died in her arms. AYE,
and that harm should have come to her,
who was more good and innocent Of
wrong than the angels" muttercd Big
John. brokenly, as he went away soften
ed and sorrowful
Jerc Harman sent me ont to tell the
men that he had yielded. and In the
silence Of death they went away.
The strike is over.
As I sit here in the gray dawn. wait
ing. fearing. dreading the coming OF
the morning and the news it may bring,
hear the clattcr of horses hoofs. 1t is
servant from the Hall riding to the
village on some errand.
"What news?"I call out hoarsely, and
learn that the worst is over and that
she will live.
Nellie Harman hovered between life
and death for long weeks. and worked
as l had never worked before. Jcre
Hartman left much of the management
of the mill in my hands, and / put
heart and brain in the work or should
have gone mad in those weeks with the
longing to see her face. When she was
we'll again I spent many evenings at
the Hall. talking business with her
| father, who came seldom to the Office
in those days. He had broken in health
with the recent troubles and had lost
energy. but he was gentler and kinder
than of old.
Harry Desmond was always there.
was but . dull guest. could not en-
dure his ight-heartedness, the triumph
in his eyes, the happiness in his laugh.
! could not endure that he should call
her by name or smile on her.
was . mad fool!
told Jerc Harman that must go
away; that must have rest, chauge-a
vacation. Gordon. the young foreman,
could take r,y place, I urged, and he
consented, though grudgingly.
The last evening promised him to
spend 1t the hall and go over the ac-
counts with him.
Never had Nellie been brighter or
gaycr. felt a vague pang that my
going was 50 little ts her.
II was early when Desmond left, and
I Immediately rose to 60. Jcre liar
man grasped my hand cordially in fare
we'll. and Nellie said simply Good
by." and went down the path slowly
and sadly.
Suddenly heard light, flying step
behind me as reached the shadow of
the trees.
1t was Nellie.
stepped back in the darkness She
stopped, As If listening, and then came
toward me.
81 thought I should overtakc you,"
she whispered. slipping her arm through
mine. ibid you think could let you
90 away tonight without . last
worl?' There was something in her
voice. tenderness, that explained all.
She had come ont to meet her lover.
Desmond, and mistaken me for him in
the darkness But to have her SO near
was very sweet. She seemed not to
care for speech. She was very still
Just clasping my arm and leaning ever
80 gently against my shoulder. The
temptation was grcat-I was going
away-just to take away with me the
memory of moments heaven!
kissed her.
Forgive me-" pleaded, desperately.
"You thought me your lover, Desmond.
and was cruel. mad, to take that kiss.
Nellie, forgive me-"
"But l kissed .scw, Jack" she whis-
pered. ''And you won't go-oh. Jack!
Won won't go when love you So"
Jack Spencer. gray-haired ard forty.
commonplace and poor-she loved him!
That is my romance.-M A. WOrs-
wick, in Frank Leslie's Weekly.
Just the Words for Il.