St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-04-07

mourning. "Why, this is an unexpected
honor, for it is not often nowadays
that, unsolicited, you favor me with
your society"
She accepted the chair he placed for
her.
paul. she said, in low, tremulous
accents, ST can bear this load of misery
no longer. have come-aye, on my
knees, if necessary-to beg you to give
me back my child"
"A modest request, assuredly, as
though l was the Omnipotent. But you
fail to say which of your lost treasures
is the immediate object of your solici-
tude. You forget that somewhere, float
ing on the waves of humanity, are two
pledges of your devotion to your late
lamented lord"
.sForget!" she cried. "Never for one
moment do forget. The horrible
thought is scared in my brain that they
are lost to me. Day and night mourn
their absence
'sPshaw, Wanda! Though I should
like to encourage such beautiful ma
ternal instincts, it is out of my power
to accede to your very modest request.
You will never see son or daughter in
this world again, SO you may as well
reconcile yourself to the inevitable" !"
"But Paul." she pleaded, ''you, who
have such marvellous power, could find
them for me-nay, not the heir, do not
dare to ask You that-but the sweet
girl that /, wretch that am, cast away
so many bitter years ago. will not let
her rob you of one shilling of the rev
enues of this estate
"And you would have me risk tho
fortune / have won for just piece of
sickly sentiment. Now, once for all,
my lady, tell you that you shall never
meet your children, even il their death
were needed to prevent you
/ Suddenly she leaped to her feet. Her
eyes blazed with fury. It seemed inn
possible that one so frail could show
such vehemence in passion.
| 'Oh, you base coward" she cried.
"and it is for such a thing as you that I
have wrecked my soul Inhuman that
you are, does Lord Arundefs murdered
body never cry for vengeance, does my
broken-hearted husbands ghost never
I y
ones"
He rose and walked towards her with
hand outstretchcd and eyes fixed on
hers with q glance that seemed to pene-
| trate her soul.
s'Be calm! Be still!'
She shrank from him with pitiful,
terrified loois. and burst into paroxysm
/ of sobs.
Never taking his gaze from her, he
seized and rang the bell, and on the ap-
pearance of stout, british countrys
man in livery, which did not conceal his
rustic origin, he said, in suave, cold
| tones:
"Her ladyship is far from well this
morning, Robert. You will attend her,
while she takes an airing in the park
the exercise may do her good"
Obedient as child, she rose and left
the room.
4 It was then that Paul Hayter once
more took in hand the letter he had
been perusing when he had been SO un-
pleasantly interrupted.
There's mischief here" he muttered
to himself. elise what does this interfer-
ing knavc, Forester, mean by his allu-
sion to 'prying Americans and his per-
emptory demand for an immediate In
terview, which may, he declares, avert
a great family scandal? Well, think
1t little late now to fear disclosures.
Still, do not like the fellows manner
always SO syeophantic, now SO obtru-
sive. What does it lnean?''
4 His mcditations were rudely inter-
ruptcd. The door of his room was flung
open and Robert, his servant, gasping
for breath. stood before him.
TO BIZ COSIIA y fsD.
j THE CLARION, only 81 per year.