The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-01-20

man, she waved her hand for him to
withdraw the bouquet and hastily ex.
claimed:
II cannot take these flowers from
YOU"
Had dagger been thrust into Halls
side, he could not have felt more pain.
lie said not word, but as he turned
away from the carriage he almost stag
gered He doubted not that she had in
tended to be cruel, and his pride was
wounded to the quick
When he went home at night he was
filled with conflicting emotions Now
he condemned himself for being fool
ish and presumptuous, anon he CEN
sured Julia for being impolite and
cruel But the most important result
of his cogitations was that he resolved
that he would work day and night to
acquire wealth and influence, and that
he would yet show Miss Amerdon that
it was no common man whom she had
unfeelingly repealed.
Fifteen years later Theodore Hall
again stood on the ferry boat, not as
its captain, but as passenger He
had spent fifteen years in distant
city, where he had met with remark
able success in business, and where he
haa become n highly-honored citizen
who moved in the best social circles.
For the first time since his departure
he had returned to his birthplace.
1t rained hard and there were but
few passengers. lie entered the ladies'
cabin and found only one person, a
woman. She wore plain black dress
and looked carcworn. She raised her
eyes. 1t was Julia. He stepped to-
ward her eagerly and asked:
do you RENE mber me?"
Julia's cheeks flushed as she arose to
greet him She was still an unusually
beautiful and graceful woman. al
though bitter disappointments and
hard trials had given her face an anx-
ious and sad expression.
II feared that you would not remem.
Der me-" she said falteringly. II could
not have blamed you had you passed by
without recognizing me-"
81 have not forgotten, but have for.
given"
.You are magnanimous," she replied,
as the tears came to her eyes. II never
felt SO unworthy as do now"
Il beg you not to feel SO any longer.
As time passed and gained in knowl-
edge of the world came to the con-
clusion that in your girlish surprise
you spoke unthinkingly and did not
mean to give me cruel wound. Then,
too, acknowledged, in view of all the
circumstances. that my act was rash
one"
II certainly did not mean to hurt
your feelings deeply" she earnestly re-
piled. immediately after had spoken
l was heartily ashamed of myself.
took no pleasure in the graduating ex-
ercises. was very unhappy through
ont the day. knew l ought to send
you an apology, but was too proud to
do it. You remember the foolish.
aristocratic notions ! then cherished.
/ have been bitterly punished for them.
To-day / take in sewing for a living
as your poor mother did, after having
been divorced from my aristocratic but
unscrupulous husband, who spent in
riotous living the large fortune which
my parents left me-"
81 heard the story of your misfor.
tunes. longed to see you once again.
Accordingly have returned to my old
home principally for the purpose OF
meeting YOU"
Julia was surprised and agitated.
"You are very good" she murmured.
"Have you no warmer feeling thar
gratitude?" he eagerly asked, as hi
bent his face toward hers.
Julia turned away, but he grasped hel
hand and detained her.
Listen to me-" he continued. "Youl
words gave me great pain, but they also
made man of me. l vowed that
would rise in the world and show YOU
that was somebody. From that day
strove to succeed, and am sure that
have accomplished more than ! would
have done had not the sting Of your
words urged me to renewed actor
when / felt weary and discouraged
To-day am wealthy and honored.
owe my present advantages principally
to the incentive which you furnished.
81 am glad if my folly has resulted II
some good, and / rejoice in your sue
cess"
"Will you not share in that success.
to which you have SO greatly contrib
uted?"
There was something so odd in thu
unexpected turn the conversation hat
taken that even sad-hearted Julis
smiled family. Then, too, a joyoua
hope began to take root in her heart
las you put the question" she re
piled. II am unable to give you an abso
lutely unfavorable answer"
Make it entirely favorable at once,
cried the impetuous sutton.
81 will cannot doubt that 70,
love me, even after all that has hap
pened; and as for myself, can nov
confess that you would have been my
first choice had / not permitted the
pride of station to harden my hear
against your youthful endeavors to wiz
my favor"
Theodore looked around. There wa.
no one in sight, and he ventured to kis:
for the first time the only woman WHOM
he had ever loved.
At this moment the rattle of a wind
lass made it evident that the boat hat
crossed the river and was being chained
to the dock.
\ . 4 II - l. IL