St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-12-16


fainter in the presence of the living.
/ wear crept slowly by, and I lost my
father who had become dcarer to me
since my grief Armand Daintry became
my friend. He was more gentle, less
abrupt than when we first had met.
BY instinct rather than anything else,
I fclt had brought PEACE into his life,
as be had into mine. OF love l had
neve4 thought. 1t was a thing stiIlborn,
buried bcfore the breath of life could
come to It, believed my art was sutfi-
cicnt for me, and knew not it was glori-
fled hy the continued presence of one
who had become dear friend, an almost
brother. Wherever | went, whatever |
did, felt that the thoughts Of one being,
like guardian angels, hovercd round me.
Was | unhappy, lie comfortod-Was l
undecided, he advised-was ambitious,
he supported ME!
Month after month passed. | was no
longer student, but an artist, and my
first little picture, entitled "Outside
AdrlanoplH of dead horse and his
rider, ':ad been commended on the
Academy walls. But nothing cndurc5
AK - 'bt'Nt 'tu't q Ni1''HSSt >tthAi| a. 900
Armand Dalntry called. His face was
pale and grave.
"N hat ails yon?' | inquired at once.
''NothnG, but that must leave you.
[ shall volunteer for Egypt Tomorrow
"Ah." A strange Tightening OF the
throat h,>hcd my words.
'It's no good hanging about in Eng
land doing nothing"
"Why not: Why not"' L asked I'M
pulsivcly. care you not happy here"
"Happy? Too happy Camilla, lis
ten. The first day saw you | knew it
would be all up with me. had seen
your photograph, and said to myself shat
is the girl cou!! have loved. L darsd
fate III vcnturlng to meet you. l have
dared fate in trying to continue TREND
ship with you while my heart was mad
with love. That you have no thought
of me | know. That is why | Will not
remain, but 60 where man may do his
duty and forget"
A tiamcrcd blush caught my cheeks
and lit up my eyes, then turned icy
cold. Could my pulses beat, my heart
leap with JOY, with rapture, "hllc that
dear dead man lay far away in lonely |
grave meath the bllSterlng Eastern sun: |
And Armand had Dech his lrlcnH! 1hcre
seemed trcachrIy in hearkcnlng to words !
of love from him.
''And when you return:> ASKED with T.;
unnatural calm.
He smiled bitterly.
'lf return may be cured
$50 easily" l could cot 1or0car eX-
claiming.
He graspcd my hand.
"WouId you not wish 1t 50: IS 1t
possible that II l 1--we you Wou'u let me
devote my lie to giving you the happl-
ness you have lost. that might teach
YOU the difference between real love
and the ideal one you plcturcd:"
His blue eyes shoHe like Il summit
heaven, and ms hands, the hands which
bound the wounds "l the
suffering amid shot and shell on the
battlefield. trcnbied Ike those or 4 man
drunk with wine.
With ore great bound my hearts love
vent out to HIM, then l Iemembered'
What would lie t!nnH OF love SO easily
foresWorn?
"!iave YOU no answer for me-! VIII
you Try amt forget tl!e past:
"Ncver! .
NY voice was latsh ana unnatural
dared not show the emotion that almost
mastered me.
"Food-hy tEen, ne salu, hoid!D9 out
ais hand.
Something that was very Ike a sob
II StI1nDItG
oirang!cd it Until he WAS gone Then,
IN, then l dartd 10 weep, gaining NM
,ack to owe, to bless me, for he could
not hear y
"Armand, my beloved, stay" | moanet
through h. long days aud NIGHTS winch
but uenrd no mole OF hlm. II
only he had refused to 60 and waited,
1ow different Life might have been. /
myself with the hope that he
would return, the campaign could not
sc Of long duration: would wait and
nope, and should he love me still would
hen let the dead past bury ITS dead.
If only bad let him write, but nc
never attempted 1t; he mad f'gotten
vas a woman, and accepted my marsh
ie%lslon as Interchangeable. lie maze no
'iIort to reverse 1t. The only scrap OF
lis handwriting possessed was the Pre-
crlption he had gwen Inc at our FIRST
meeting.
With loving hands | made sacneJ OF
ATTN and placed It III It's scented lo'os.
is commonplace lines were dearer to me
han would have been the love lays or
'oet. Some dHy "ould $40" MIN non
mad tFvasuFeo the r"Sgeo page: "hlcn
vas alfea'y imp al" laoeo WIN my
Kisses. ,
'NeWS or the war. News or the