St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-02-24
81 PER YEAR.

bow, the last iaLtle maid nad ConncQ
her cloak and rubbers and held up her
chubby face for parting kiss, when
Wanda began to make preparations for
her departure She generally was the
tardiest to leave. as her cavalier, Bob
S1ocum, had ''ehores" to do Mt homo
which deprived him of the felicity of
escorting teacher home.
She had just put the finishing touches
to the arrangement of her white woolen
hood. in which her sweet face shonc
forth too bewitehingly for description,
when she heard q gentle tapping Mt the
school-room door.
Come inl" she said. cheerfully, quite
expecting to sec some wee mite appear
to claim her sympathy and redress for
having been numerically snowballed,
SO the start she gave when Alphonse
Damiens, hat in hand, presented him-
self. might be readily excused.
| II left the team and MIR. Arundel at
Stewards, Miss Wanda, and walked
up here, hoping you would allow me to
accompany you homc." he said, with
great Difference.
THANK you. / shall be ready in. ono
moment. Mr.. Damiers." she replied.
carelessly, though her flushed check be-
lied the serenity of her manner. If she
only knew the wild turmoil OF passion
which thrilled his soul she would have
been even less at ease.
He scarcely hears her, as she adds
another coil to the wrap round he's
white throat.
Now am ready" Wanda says, and
they pass out into the lonely road, with
the frozen river on one side of it and
the snow burdened pines on the ether.
81 would not be prcsumptuous, Miss
Arlington, but may say that this lit
tie walk is glimpse of Heaven to me?"
he falters.
He feels the soft hand on his arm
tremble, he sees the tearlessii misery
which comes into the eyes aad dims
them.
..Let-let us walk faster," she whis-
| pers scarcely above her breath.
'.Go faster!" he echoes bitterly. "Ycs,
had almost forgotten myself. There
should be short cut to the left here.
Are you cold?"
mo-" she says, but there is q tremor
render light and careless.
'Go faster!'' he says with despair
ing shrug OF his shoulders. ''Ah, If
these hours Of torment would only go
faster. Do you remember the day that
first saw you? You were standing ut
Mrs. Evesham's cottage door one July
evening and the wind blew my straw
hat to your feet You picked 1t up and
gave It TO me-"
81 do not remember have forgot.
ten," Wanda says indistinctly.
at seems an age to mean age
T."
lie stops. for something like sob
strikes his ear.
lie looks dowp into her face. 1t is
pale. and the red, ripe lips are tremn-
lous.
He has mistaken her emotion. The
red flush flies 10 his face. then leaves 1t
white with suppressed excitement.
'sWhatl Wanda!" he hesitates, for,
with quiyer OF the lids, tears are
springing to the blue eyes. "Whatl
yon are crying! Is 1t possible you love
me, girl?" and he seizes both her hands
and looks down into her face with q
hungry glare. ''Is It possible? Look
at me, Wanda. Obi Heaven! ] long.
and yet dare not hope. Wanda, you
know love you You cannot help but
know it. have loved you since the
first moment saw you. never drcamt
that you would give me hope to love.
, No, it cannot be. Look at me, Wanda.
Is it possible that-you-love-mc?"
Slowly and ;fcarfully the words drop
from his lips.
! Then she tries to draw her hands
away, but he only clings the harder.
"Spcak, Wanda" he says, hoarsely.
t'Do you love me?'
Then she speaks. Slowly, heavily
/ she lifts her eyes to his and looks NJ
, him with n great yearning misery and
J solemn truthfulncss in them. II ana
> SO sorry that you should entertain such
, feelings for me. Mr.. Damiens, for can
{ never return your love-"
She sees him quiyer under the blow
, she has struck, and with womanss
tenderness seeks to heal the wound.
! s.Oh! do not look like that, she cried,
| for he has dropped her hands and
: stands before her dazed like one, In q
|, dream.
!. 81 cannot help my looks" he says,
Q bitterly. Nor can help loving you.
tits no crime to love you, Wanda-Miss
Arlington"
< s'Nor for me to be unable to look up
on you as other than a friend"
4 s'Yes, yes, that is true." he replied
: hurriedly. "You must be my friend.
i will not annoy you with my solicita
Q tions, / win worship you in silence"
She could not see his face. She
could not see the cunning malignant
gleam Of those dark eyes, nor imagine
that the mans humble words but
c1oalzed designs of future conquest.
He had recovered the first blow of hi:
disappointment and was now himself
again = cunning, treacherous man
ready to do anything to attain his ends
He give her upl Not he, indeed What
care he though she had O dozen lovers
he did not blame her for 1t, only-it
would be all the worse for them.
So he said once more with NIL humil
ity: ''Be, as you say, my friend. Miss
Arlington. am rs You sec rough
uncouth fellow. and you may hurnanizt
rae"
81 an very sorry for you,' Wands
said frankly; "but. Mr.. Damiens, yot
must not let your passion grow
the better OF yon. There are hundred,
OF girls as attractive as am, which |.
NOT sauing much for their charms wLs