The Opelousas courier., 1893-08-19

AFNMrEf~1" of business. My
F~ uncle, who had
taken charge of the place when my
father died, received me cordially at
the spacious, old-fashioned farmhouse.
"Ralph," he said, as we smoked on
the wide porch after supper, "you will
have a companion during your visit.
ga companion? Who?"
"Grace Northbrook."
"Grace," l cried, in establishment.
eyes, she will come tomorrow at
the same time you came to-day" he
replied, rising. "I'm going to the
barn now. I hope you and she will
find it agreeable to renew your old &C,
quaintance."
"Grace coming here,"I said to my.
self after he had gone. "What does it
mean?" Striving for an explanation ]
naturally fell to calling up the circum-
stances which caused my astonishment.
The Northbroeks had in the old days
owned the farm adjoining ours, and
the families lad been intimate. Grace
being an only child, and | the same, a
peculiarly close friendship sprang up
between us. We were inseparable play.
mates, and it easily came to be the wish
and intention of our parents, SO far as
they could direct events, that we should
marry. But conditions changed. My
father and mother died, and I soon left
home and when I learned afterward
that MI. Northbrook, moved by ambi-
tion, had sold his farm and gone to
New York to live, my belief was that
Grace and I were finally separated.
Having been young when I left
home, and whatever boyish liking I
had had for little Grace Northbrook
being quickly ground into ~forgetful-
ness by business strife, the seyering Of
our youthful engagement caused me
little regret. But one evening, after
I had taken up my residence in New
York, 7 met her again at a friends
home. Our surprise and pleasure
we're mutual. Walking together that
night on the broad piazza of my
friends house, / 500 found that her
temperament had frightened rather
than dimmed. In the daring way that
is SO easily excused in merry people,
she lightly called up our old engage
ment. I met her in the same spirit,
and we had a hearty laugh over the
youthful declarations and promises.
but, charmed by her mature beG1ty,
! I, even then, had a misgiving Chat,
with me, this spirit would soo@ Gsttll
into seriousness. A few moments
after our promenade ended, IsaW Ter in
company with Nh. Frederick Adlow, tbs
son of a wealthy banker, and in tfs
happiness of her face, and tho de-
votion of the young man, I founa Che
reason for her amusement over our
childish love-making and her freedom
in speaking of it.
met her frequently after that, and
our chief topic was this youthful at
tachment. She took particular de-
light in jesting about it in her half
reckless, light-hearted way, and seemed
to think it equally delightful to me.
But, though / joined in her mirth,
the effort was greater each time, and ]
realized that the boyish likiha I had
had for her as a little girl had riser
into o mans love for the beautiful.
sw~eet-hearted, noble woman into
which she had grown. I saw, too
with growing concern, that, In the 10.
of her love for Adlow, she was per
fectly innocent of even a possibility o
seriousness on my part and, wishing
more every day, as I did, for Q reviva
OF our childhood engagement, tn,
danger into which we were drifting
grew palmer. We were setting up
barrier of mirth, which, I feared
would be difficult to overthrow.
At last I felt hat I could no longe
endure this jesting upon what had be
come sacred to me, and, shrinkinI
from the possibility of heramused SUI
prise at a revelation of my love, ! dc
ermined to go away. This det7ml
nation was fixed one evening whe
Grace came to me with the announce
ment that she had been authorized t
invite me to accompany q party t
spend two weeks at Long Branch. Sh
mentioned the names, concluding wit
Adlow's. The prospect of seeing thei
joy day after day at the beach, Shove
me that it would be far from apleasur
trip to me, and that / must decline.
did SO, assigning business reasons. Sh
looked at me oddly, half wonderingly
and she was SO lovely in her part
dress, that I would have thrown on
TESTING aside and told her my loy
there in the quiet corner behind tt
people who were watching the dan
ers, had not Mr.. Adlow came up an
claimed her for the waltz She left n
with a merry glance over her should'
and 4 joking entreaty for her s1itt
old-time lover to change his mint
Not many days after I made IN excu,
j that took me from New York, and
, went as ! have stated, to visit my q
home.
"And now" I said TO myself viii
2 sitting alone on the farm porch, ISL
: is coming here2 What has change
! her pIans2 The party Was to be