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

piazza, and, looking up he saw the
slender figure of his betrothed as she
came through the doorway. She had
thrown a light shawl over her head, and
came evidently unattended, for she
closed the door after her softly.
The red glow of Deans cigar attracted
her attention, and before she recognized
him she started back with a frightened
little cry.
'Oh..' she exclaimed, recognizing him,
it is you, Willis"
Even l." quoth Willis, gravely.
Il thought no one was out here. L
! came to be by myself"
Il assure you l shall not trouble you.
| was going in at once, anyway"
Your cigar is not half smoked"
We'll, no, but the fact is Ter"
Eyes, Willis, 1 know. But on the
whole, dear. l would like to have you
stay. ! want to say something to you.
No, don't throw away your cigar. /
want you to be good natured.'
II am at your service, of course, Flor
ence."
They sat down, and Willis looked at
the end of his cigar, while his compan-
ion played nervously with the rings on
her fingers.
Il hardly know how to begin,' she
observed at length.
Il would help you if I could, but l
hardly see how | can"
Silence. during which the orchestra
within began to play a waltz, and Flor
ence tapped the time with her foot
nervously on the boards.
Willis" she said, at length, II do
not want you to think that l blame you;
but you have not made me very happy
in the last few years"
Willis said he was very sorry; hat he
was afraid he had neglected her; that
he was ready to atone and make her
happy now, if he could. He said it
bravely, but with a heavy heart.
but, Willis, l ought to tell you |
have been happy without you"
Deans heart gave a great jump, but
he made no reply.
YES" continued his companion, II
have been quite happy without you,
and | think I could always be if"
IF what, Flossie?"
IF you would give me up"
And break the engagement"
"Yes, Willis. But oh, don't think /
am a wicked girl. l tried and tried. but
| couldn't help it. | tried not to sac
him any more and to think only of yoa;
but he found me one day and I mad
been crying and my eyes We're red; and
oh, Willis, l couldn't help it."
''There, never mind, Flossie. So it is
for him you want me to give you up?"
"Oh, Willis, am l SO very wlcked?'
ION the contrary, l think you are
doing perfectly right"
"And you will give me up?'
Il cannot, since you have already
thrown me over"
But you are not angry??" anxiously.
Florence" said Willis, with deep
conviction, Il am SO far from being
angry that I think l would like to kiss
you"
He came over to where she was stand
ing, and for the first time during the
interview she saw his face clear in the
moonlight. 1t must have shone with
happiness, for he had a wild desire to
dance a war dance then and there, and
the silly words of a negro jubilee song
kept repeating themselves over and over
in his brain. She put up her lips and
he kissed her gravely. She detained
him and looked searchingly into his
face with her hand on his arm.
so my story was yours, also, Willis"
she said presently.
Yes. Florence"
And is she good and noble?"
Yes"
"Then, Willis, / am perfectly happy"
Then she left him standing there and
went in. He tried to see how far he
could throw his cigar stump. He would
have liked to hang over the balcony by
his legs, as he did when he was a boy.
But he managed to restrain himself
and went to the supper room, where he
astonished an elderly dowager by in
sisting on helping her to all manner
and kinds of provisions, returning the
most incoherent and unintelligible re-
! plies to her frightened and feeble pro-
testations.
Late in the afternoon of the next day
a dust-bedraggled ngure came up the
gravel walk toward the house where
Helen Gray lived. He spied that young
lady seated under the elm tree as he
came up. and came quickly across the
grass to her.
"Helen!'' he cried.
She drew back quickly with a gesture
of protest.
Willis" she exclaimed. II told you
we must never see each other again.
Why, why have you come back?"
For the best of reasons, Helen, / am
free"