The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-10-28


and threw myself on the carpet-like
turf. opened the novel and-thought!
Six months more would be lawyer.
l had already enough for two; the fam
lily firm was open to me, and prospects
were bright. Why should not fellow
marry young? Betty was not girl to
linger; and-though she had been two
years in the mid-whirl of society, an
acknowled belle and bit spoiled Il
knew she cared for-well, no one else.
And knew she did care-not SO very
little, perhaps-for her brothers chum.
If not why that softening of smile,
those droopings of glowing eyes under
mine; those fiushings of breakdown
| cheeks and murmured: ''Oh! you
mustn'ts" whenever approached what
she knew was nearest my unsusceptible
heart?
Hours passed. That mill-dam must
have moved further away! tossed my
novel aside; lounged slowly down the
avenue, across the road, and up the rise
beyond-still thinking. A high fence
about the pasture barred my way;
hand-on-rail, / was about to vault over
81 beg pard'n sir! But mind the bulll
| He's bad
The voice had silver in it. The hazel
eyes brightly dancing drowned mis-
chief in their depths; and the roses in
the cheeks deepened under their tan as
my eyes rivettcd on the sudden appari-
| ton.
Happy bull! l thought, to pasture
near sd enticing a Europa! For the
tabled daughter of Agenor herself had
no more graceful curves of budding
womanhood than those limited, but not
hidden, by the scant and simple ging-
ham gown. A very Marguerite was
this wild flower of the pasture; and
my fresh classics conjured up the god
like bull, breathing saffron from his
mouth, under her caress. Not mawkish,
neither, but with all easy purity of
courtesy, she added:
You're stranger, and 1 wouldn't
like to see you hurtr'
And the smile that followed showed
teeth many a belle in brocade had en-
We'd.
A man need not be hyper-susceptible
to admire pretty woman out of hand.
Thanking the girl with my best bow, 1
walked beside her, and began:
Thanks, fairest Europa"
my names Dolly Vance," she cor
rected simply; and the teeth CLEANED
whittier even than before, between lips
curled like rose leaves after rain. Then,
as rather awkwardly explained the
somewhat risque myth, Miss Dolly
broke in:
"Glad l warned you bout tn bull. 1
live here. Good morn'n'."
The little cottage was ideal in vine
clad prettiness; and fingered at the
gate, under interlocking tres, ito
speak again good-by," and to learn that
widow Vance and one fair child abided
there; and that 1.-The Harcbranes was
awful good to 'en, always"
Somehow it was very listlessly that I
iounged home; it was with a sharp |
twinge of accusing carelessness that / |
lifted Betty from the saddle when she |
cantered up. There was deeper glow
on her cheek; softer, tenderer CLEAN |
In her dark eyes; more tremor in the |
voice that murmured-very low:
lyon are SO good to me, always!'
Then-hlushing deeper. still, and |
tripping on her long habit-she flashed
by me into the house, with downcast
eyes.
That girl did love mel Those tell-tale
were not to be mistaken Yet
brute that l was! somehow a newer.
ruddier face rose between MS; a ruunder
richer voice drowned hers, echoing in
my ears:
mind the bull! He's had"
Days passed; and somehow could
not come to the point with Betty Hare
brane. l was attentive, of course, kind.
and sometimes tender, under the moon
light, while the colonel smoked with
Hal on the broad piazza. The consider
ate old soldier gave me every chance.
knew he felt himself to be a sort of
intruder; but the words / forced NV
self to speak were perfunctory, and
betty's ever murmured: ''Oh! Won
MUSTN'T. met eyer-ready obedience, for
change. l did not understand nv
stand myself; for really did like the
siri' and l knew, as well as man ever
AN, that she more than liked me. She
vas beautiful. accomplished, and had
huge expectations from grandaunt-
ough, but very warm" and equally
lncient-in distant southern state.
sut, strive as might, could not force
ny tongue to the words she would /
agerly hearken tol And, even while
With her, the rustic Europa glided
,etween = goddess-like, grand-propor-
Toned, garlanding her milS-white bull s
With the flowers of future hope.
Hal kept strangely busy about. the J
arm; but his gun and dogs were not
eft idle. Daily secured the woods: /
making rather poor bag" but deep S
nroads into Miss Dolly vance's ac- {
uaintance. 'We met by chance;. but | {
We grew to know each other, in '.the s
sual way" IL