St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-02-10

MISS Merton paused, and they both
stood silent and looked out upon the
sea, bathed in its glory of moonlight,
for a long time The lady stole q
glance at the mans face. to see il he
took any interest in her story. But it
told no more than the great hotel in
whose shadow they stood.
When she resumed her voice had
lost its mellow sweetness. and had
taken instead hard worldliness that
grated on his ear like music out of
tune.
II did not mean to be false to her.
should not be telling You this now If
could not say that honestly. But when
she gave me the opal she tempted me.
She said: See how it glows, Helen,
like fire. l think he is like that II l
am not careful will get singed in the
flame
Il had never been without men
about me. but they were little men,
There wasno fire in them. and I thought
should at least like to play with the
fame-although knew it burned for
another.
THAT evening l wore the ring, and
Harry Germain saw it on my hand. |
told him whose it was and why
wore it
".This is capital he said Let me
wear it, and it will serve its purpose
better still. If he sees me have it, he
will be insanely Jealous hesitated
but moment, and gave it to him"
Perhaps it was because Lieut. Phelps
was absent-minded. but for some
reason he dropped the hand that had
been resting on his arm. and leaned
against one Of the pillars of the piazza
II knew" continued Miss Merton,
''that if he were jealous, the flame
would be easily kindled for me to play
with; but did not think of what might
follow. He saw the ring, and went at
once to Agnes.
"'You have given the ring to Harry
Gcrmain- he said. She was frightened
at his brusqueness. and faitered in her
speech. oh. don't trouble to deny it,
he said; i have just seen it on his hand.
thought there was some one between
us know it now Then. without
another word, he turned away from
her. Her first impulse was to follow
him-to call out, to cry to him that it
was all a mistake. But then her pride
rcvolted. and when Harry German
came up and asked her to dance, she
went of with him. laughing as bright
ly as she ever had And he saw them
together. and saw that German still
wore his ring
'And you?' queried the lieutenant
Il hope you won that for which you
playcd:' His tone was icily courteous,
but he looked out to sea instead of to-
ward his companion.
'sHc went away that night" she re-
piled Il never saw him again until to-
day."
Again they stood silent, and looked
at the sea and the sky, but not at each
other. Presently the man spoke.
"Where is she now?'
I'm the ballroom, by this time She
said she should come down later"
.sDid she know that you were going
to tell me this?''
s.No.-
He turned and left her without a
word-walled rapidly down the long
piazza, and she saw him disappear
within one of the low windows. Then
she sighed wearily.
Il only told him half the TRUTH" she
said Il wonder If it would have been
better to have told him all? She can
never care for him as do
The lieutenant stopped to give one
swift glance about then walked
straight across the polished floor. In
front of Agnes Wilton he stopped
again, and looked at her quietly q mo-
ment before he spoke. In that mo-
ment he had time to see that an opal
glowed like a coal of living FIRE upon
her hand
She looked up and met his glance
steadily. but she was very pale.
There is . legend" he said, bending
toward her, ''that If the love that gave
it grows cold. the opal's fire will grow
dim. Do you believe it?'
ssYes." she answered, so low that he
could just hear the words; ''but mino
never has grown dim. Its FIRE has