The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-09-23

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they had been SO nearly contemporaries.
Then the two young men concludes
their business while the ladies' were
busy about their household duties.
But, as Carew had Of course been IN
vitcd to stay all nigh, the whole party
were by and by assembled outside tho
open door to enjoy the GOODNESS of the
evening as the dusk dropped softly over
the boundless prairie, and the evening
star cleaned brightly out in crystal
purity as the sunset light died away
above the unbroken horizon
They sat long talking, chiefly OF
..home'' scenes; and even after Mrs.
Percival had gone in to rest, accolnpa-
uied by her son, Carew still fingered.
10th to terminate his conversation with
Miss Percival, and unable to resist the
spell of this sympathetic female com
panionship, now SO strange in his hfe.
Under the influence. of it, and IN the
friendly obscurity of the twilight, he
| talked as he would not have beheved
! possible an hour or two before His
| companion could read between his
words something of his present sclf-dis-
gust and self-despair. On the other
| hand, the whole tone of her convcrsa'
ton struck long-silent chord in his
heart, reviving crushed asPira tons, and
| suggesting an unseen strength in which
a man may fight u good fight against
I fate. even when everything seems
! against him.
| As he lay awake that night. the best
and hottest influences of his early life
! seemed to have sprung into renewed
life under the impression made by one
woman's face and gentle words, and in
many a lonely hour on the prairie
thereafter he mentally associated
Stella Pcrcival-partly from the sug'
Ecstion of her name-with the bright
pure stars they had watched as they
talked that evening, and got into a way
of thinking of her as the Lone Star OF
the Prairie"
But when he next found a reason fol
passing that way, the little ranch was
deserted, and the inmates. he was told
had sold out and gone to live in Can
ada. So the Lone Star had set o,
the prairie, and he must henccfortf
look to that lode-star of life of which
Miss Percival had spoken with sucl
earnest feeling.
Some two or three years later, Carey
, was sitting in the cozy library OF al
English vicaragc, talking to a fair youn'
matron. His carefully trimmed hal
. and beard and strictly conventional at
> tire somewhat altered his appearance
but his expression was still NOR
:, changed from the drcary despondenc
!, written on the face of the wandcrer
. the prairie.
4, eyes, it is otld.'' he said, "that
. should ever have lived to succeed m
. poor Cousin Dicl<-with :ll~his HON
comforts! For you haven't the faintes
idea of the life of a cowboy on tn
. prairie! ] was very near going under
but l had an experience that pulle
:, me up short. 1t was only a
- hours talk with young lady
met accidentally. You know, 1 neve
thought I could believe in a woma
= again: but this ono made me bcliev
not only in her but in myself too; an
that saved me!''
4 '.Your poor boy!'' exclaimed his 81
>. ter But we must hurry now, or =
- shall be late at Mrs Beaumont's. ar
4 she won't forgive me. For you are
T. sort of star here, now, you kno'
=. Come; you needn't look SO dismal ov
!. it! dare say you may find some MI
= people there. And she has two ladi
~, visiting her who have lived in the Yves
1 believe; so you may find lots to Ia
!, about
N An afternoon tea is apt to be
l" tame affair to a man fresh from t.
~ prairies, and Carew was looklng-a1
y feeling-rather bored when he sudde
- ly caught sight of a figure and ia
- that made him start with amazemen