The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-12-22
1t was she who talked the most; tell
Ing him of her great trials and disap-

the insistence of ono who is drifting
towards happier things. He sat and
listened, and as he listened looked;
and as he looked was conscious of q
vague thanlSfulness that he, still a
young man, was bound by no Chain to
the woman who sat before him. SHe
tried not to sec the lines about her
large. dark eyes, the dragged hardness
that marred the sweetness of her
mouth. He knew acknowledgements
her heart and her love were as fresh
RS tho first day they were given to
him. but for the life of him he could
not repress a guilty thankfulness that
she was-only an old friend.
. BY and by he rose to go, but held her
hand long in taking leave.
''Now that we have met again,
Olivia, we must not lose sight OF one
rou?'
She looked into his eyes and a happy
smile curved the cornsrs of her lips.
'Whcnever Vcu please. Angus Will
you come Tomorrow"
And he bowed low and left her be-
hind the glowing lamp, her heart
beating high in her bosom with the
surety that tomorrow he would speak
and ask her to be his wife.
Lady Arlington's voice reused her.
"Olivia, come out of your hiding
place at once. I want you to come to
Nottingham next Saturday. Will yeu?''
Olivia smiled q Eyes, thinking " hat
would any plans matter now, Alter
tomorrow her life would be Angus to
do with as he would. Most likely he
would want her to go to some quiet
river place, where they could be alone.
In happy, drcau1ful silence she drift
ed across the great drawing-roon to-
ward the group gathered about Lady
Arlington, who was chatting volubly
to half a dozen women at once.
what did you think of Mira Bert
rams hair? She changes the color
every month, declare. Lady Susan
was quite angry about it; but then,
you know, she thinks it quite indecent
to touch up at all. was so a,vfully
couldn't conc. She's quite pretty, and
her gowns-all fresh, OF course, for
she's only Il bride-are so very smart
Lady Ferrersl Is Sir Angus mar
ried?''
Olivia Abin@er did not know whether
she or another asked the question. She
only waited for the answer.
''Oh, yes; six weeks ago. She's such
q dear little thing. and SO nice. Her
fathers place matches with his own in
Scotland
Olivia Abinger did. not cry out or
faint. though tho SCATTERING of her
dream and the breaking of her heart
-
Good night" and drove in a frowsy
four-wheeler to her shabby lodgings.
St;n silent, still enduring, she went
upstairs to her little s:tting-roon1; but
when she had lit the gas it tiared upon
\ face marked by the anguish of a life
iimc.
She stood by the table. her hands
hanging at her sides. her eyes, which |
could not weep, staring before her.
married! rich! happy! While I,
who have hoped and longed and loved. |
ln-'
She flung her white arms above her |
acad, and 4 great cry rent her throat
l cry of all a woman's pcnt-up passion, |
- ell a hearts bitter disa ppoi: tment.
ut is too much" she cried nload to |
he shabby walls and cheap furniture; |
I cannot bear it. Tonight l have |
dreamed OF other things. I cannot go |
pack to the old ways. My heart is
lead within me-!ead.'
She paused; 2 gray shadow stole over
Ter drawn face, somber fire burned
n her eyes. For moment he disap-
feared into her bedroom, Their returned
o where the gas flared. She looked
bout her and, with the careful method
II a poor woman, picked up her cloak
rom the floor and folded it away on q
hair- Then she lowered the gas to
he blue and flung open the window.
II want my soul to be free to go to |
lin if it can," she murmrred, leaning
ut over the street. ''This will un-
Dose my bonds-and bring me peace
nd rest, and, perhaps, a little sigh of
egret from him"
With cold white fingers, that vet did
ot trcmbie 1T their task, she drew the
topper from Il tiny phis.l she held in
er hand. A thick, sweet odor as of
lmond flowers hoated through the
Dom. 1t dominated the faint per-
ume that breathcd.from Olivia'o gown
nd fair hair. and even tainted with
Is insidious SAVIOR the outer air. With
Hated nostrils she caught the subtle
cent and smiled little. "Peace-aud
egret-and rernen brance." she sighed,
hen raising her hand to her lips with I
ne movement of her slender throat |
he swallowed the few drops of liquid
obtained in tho small blue bottle.
Ter hand dropped heavily Oh the win !
o.vsin and her fingers relaxed. !
The tinl<le of fallen glass rose from }
lie pavement below. {
She fell upon her knees before the /
pen window and raised her ashen face !
!, the star-lit heavens. q
Her fingers twitched in agony above I
or bursting heart; her pale lips strug-
led to cry but once to the man who,
'r the second time. had plunged her
Ito the darkness of despair. '
But only n whisper came from her i
urcing throat and poor. twisted a
outh. r
"Angus-my love-pray for mere t
cnlber Inc sometime" q
Her head fell forward on the win d
owsill. q