The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-06-23

bored. Why was it Mr. Maynard's ..
ciety had ceased to attract me?
But yet it seemed SO strange to moe
everywhere; to exchange q smile of ic
GOODNESS and a courteous bow of 70,
NAL greeting and feel that all was owe,
l don't think quite realized it unit
: the day Mr.. Maynard told me his en-
gagement to Irene Brooks was q posi-
tive fact / did not think he coul,
have quite forgotten in three shor
months. He always admired her.
knew. and as she is meek and amiable
she is just suited to such q bear. Fol
my part. l hate married men and mar
ried life, and thought. with inward
congratulations, of the many years er,
l should take the fatal plunge.
But my congratulations vanished
when | awoke, one morning, with the
leaden consciousness that 1 had given,
the night before, favorable answer ia
viii Maynard's wooing. l did not
mean to say yes" did not care for
him when he was away from me; but
he was SO earnest, so determined, I
scarcely knew had consented until l
felt his lips press mine and he had
slipped a glittering stone upon nv
finger 1t was there, as l awakened.
so that l knew it was no dream. All
day / caught its sparkle; all day it
served as witness to my mad folly.
But when. that night entered Mrs
Somers' drawing-rooms. leaning on his
arm, he looking down on me with a
sort of possession-look, 1 fancy, l
caught Clarence Withers' eye, full of
scorn and full of anger. / think mine
flashed back equal contempt am sure
l felt it Had he not first set me the
example? was only following in his
footsteps, carrying out his pet theory,
that the man always should precede
the woman and she bend to his lordly
will
At last the summer came. What q
long, long winter it had been, and how
glad was to see once more the birds
and flowers, thought as 1 wandered
one lovely morning in June away from
the gay party who were spending the
day among the woods and trees, revel-
ing in picnic of the good, old-fash-
toned sort hate picnics and always
did, and was glad to have escaped |
them all. So Wandered on, STOPPING |
now and then to pluck wild flower or |
an exquisite fern, until, on the verge of |
steep rock, my eye caught bunch of |
loveliest anemonea Isprang forward,
eager to grasp it-too eager, alas.- for
my foot tripped and / fell forward
upon the sharp stone, cutting an ugly
cash in my forehead. think it stunned
ne for the moment / must have faint
ID; but, surely, ere opened my eyes,
caught the sound of breathless tones
my God, my darlingr'
md felt hot kisses rain on cheek and
ip
Slowly Enclosed the sealed lids and
'azed into the pallid face of Clarence
fithers My strength came back with
ny pride and. drawing myself away, 1
aid:
do not be alarmed, Mr. Withers, it
all right now. Did you imagine you ,
eld Miss Brooks? Allow me to re-
ieve you" |,
mo. Miss Brooks is fortunately in a |
lace OF safety. l an, glad to see your i
ccident was SO trivial Good morning."
And so he left me. Were those cold.
different tones the warm, loving I
mes had listened to but q moment q
efore? No. had been dreaming; n
nd, staunching the blood with nv b
andkerchief which still flowed freely,
walked on. and soon stumbled upon b
r. Maynard, fastening to find me. t
Oh, how his words of pity and dis v
ess grated on my ear. / answered t
m petuiantly. and begged to be taken "
'me My head ached. He ordered c,
70 carriage at once. l would not al Il
W him to accompany me and, with q
lxious solicitation. he tenderly babe q
good-by. closed the door upon me, W
ID was again alone. b.
All night lay and tossed upon nv W
d, and morning found me feverish 81
d restless. but with a new, undaunt-
resolution, that ere slept again l l
ould have returned viii Maynard's W
~, and asked him to give me back l
: plighted troth. q
Yet the words came with a hard w
uggle, and the tell-tale blood crim- lr
led my cheek and brow as stood be- TO
e him and acknowledged l could not or
try him. wi
Do you not love me, Alice?' he
d. av
NO, Mr.. Maynard. You have been co
y good, very kind, but cannot love ma
L." wi
Why. then. did you consent to be g''
wife?" to
lis tones were calm now, with the DC
mness which precedes the mountain
rm, when all nature is hushed, and
Ieafiet stirs, not even bladehf A .
IS trembles, until with a mighty
r heaven DISCHARGES its artillerx and