The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-09

the other day, when you had her put
some withered, worthless specimens in
apress, get your head SO close to hers
that your Hyperion curls actually
touched her cheek? and you kept put
ting your big hand close to hers to
help, as you called it."
"Well, what's a fellow to dot I'm
all banged up" complained Diamond,
'.and I've got to amuse myself some,
way. What lovely red lips she has,
continued he, frightening, land
how Vel they speak such %atrocious
Englishf" :
GIVE got to leave here, said Thorn
dyke, gloomily, is he folded up a let
ter. eff I had as much money as you.
have I'd stay here and watch you, and
see after that poor. little moth. You'd
better get away from here just as
quick as you can if you stay much
longer I'll write to your mother, if she
is on the other side of the pond. Any
how, I'll give Julia Devon a hint, and
she'll come flying here and stop all
your nonsense"
The days heightened into weeks,
Diamond had no longer a good excuse
for lingering; his ankle was well and
he often forgot to carry his arm in
the sling he os%tentatiously retained,
but he declared it was an excellent re-
gion for botanizing, and SO he strolled
up and down the gorge two or three
times a day with his herbarium, which
he seldom opened, spending most of
his time at the Kinsey farmhouse,
watching Rebecca as she busted her
self with her homely duties. In the
evenings he sat with Rebecca on the
porch or under the locust trees, in the
moonlight, while he talked of the gay
world she had never seen, and sang
love songs, somewhat out of tune
to be sure, that he had sung to
many another maiden. On Sundays
he punctually made his appearance at
the Westinghouse and gazed at the
rows of sweet, mild-faced women in
thor immaculate lawn caps and neck
erchiefs.
Many demonstrating letters came
from Thorndyke, and anxious ones
from his mother, proposing to sail for
home if he were not soon able to re-
turn to the city, and Miss Deven, his
~iancee, assailed him with tender, sym.
pathetic missives, and even suggested
coming to him with q chaperon and
the family physician.
The great magician, Love, had cast
his spell over Rebecca. She breathed
enchanted air. When she reused her.
self to consider the situation practice
ally she saw only one ending, and that
was marriage with her city lover, and
so a poor little letter written by
brother Israel's son, offering his "hand
and heart, y remained unanswered and
almost forgotten.
Diamond took no thought of the NOR
row. He knew that all this must soon
come to an end. How could he pre-
cipitate the crisis? It came sooner
than he thought. One day a letter:
came from Miss Devon, proposing that
he should join her, with a party Of
friends, at the Springs, q favorite water
ing-place not far away, or if he were
not able to do so, Julia and her mother
would spend a few weeks at the near
est hotel in order to be with him as
much as possible.
Some hours later Aunt Susy proceed
ed to relieve her mind.
81 want to know" queried she, ssit.
you're triiin' with that girl! She's as
good as you are, to say the least, and
her father owns two Of the finest farms
about here, and Becky's the only
child
.Triding!" exclaimed Diamond, red
dening, II don't know what you
mean"
T'm going out to milk" snapped
Aunt Susy, s'and you can jest study
oyer it while I'm gone"
Diamond resisted an almost over
towering impulse to pay his usual
evening visit to Rebecca ; he resolutely
set about packing up his belongings,
and for fear his courage would fail he
sent q telegram to Miss Devon stating
that he would meet her at the Springs.
Poor Rebecca sat on the porch
alone. watching and waiting for her
recreant over. Sometimes as tina
shadows shifted she thought she saw
him emerge from the r~avine, and her
heart would give a glad bound. Never
was the witchery Of the moonlight SO
strong, never was the music of the
evening breeze 50 sweet. Rebecca sat
until the moon went down and the
clouds gathered over the stars. The
song of the night wind changed to a
vail that found echo in her heart, and
by and by the storm burst in all its
fury. With sinking heart she gave
him up and went sadly to her room.
Diamond promised himself one more
stroll through the ravine with Be
becca. Certainly he must bid her
goodbye; even Aunt Susy could not
object to that.
II am going away this afternoon"
said Diamond, as he and Rebecca were
taking their last walk together.
Rebecca gave q little start at this
unexpected announcement anddropped
the bonnet that she was swinging by
the strings. As Diamond stopped to
pick il up the picture Of Miss Dsven,
which he had repentantly returned to
it's accustomed place in his pocket, fell
mt III full view.
Now or neveA," thought be, and
then, bracing himself, he said, in
answer to Rebecca's inquiring glance,
this is the lady have promised to
marry
Rebecca smothered . gasp. A late
wild rose. the last one. hung q little