The Opelousas courier., 1894-10-06

/ ' wv H ~
| want them, and I'm sure l don't"
I'll do. Please give them back *
me-"
what for7"
ITO keep. To remind me-
'Of my folly?"
"Of my own T."
"Your folly Is over and done with
Our engagement Is broken off," he
says. moodily. Better forget 1t eve,
existed"
II can't do that" with an IRE
pressible little sob. II Am waiting
for those letters"
Take them, them" and he throws
them down on the table. Keep them
to compare with Horne's, if you like.
[ don't CARE"
How can you insult me so? What
right have you to think mt 20 mean,
SO heartless?" I cry indignantly.
And you cared for me once, OF pre-.
tended to-"
II did care; l car now, though
know I'm a fool for my palms." bit
terly. "Heartless, do you say? How
can I help thinking you heartless
after your conduct last nightr'
my conduct. And what Of yours?
If 1 danced with Frank, and, yes,
firted with him a little, you were
flirting all the time with Celia and
Mollie, and, oh, there wasn't q girl in
the room that you didn't firt with.
You know there wasn't"
Eyes, and you should know that
there is safety in numbers" he re-
torts. fixing his dark eyes on mine re-
proachfully. But you, Maud, you
flirted with Frank all the time. and
no one but Frank. A very different
thing"
"And what was 1 to do when you de-
serted me? Sit still and look misera-
BILE? Thanks, no. Really, you r IN
reasonable"
"You forget that I did not desert
you, as you call 1t, till after you gave
me to understand that / wasn't wanted.
You told me to go, and / went"
"You did-on the instant"
And you blame me for that now7
Did you not mean me to take you at
your word?"
Not like that" slowly. you meant
oh, yes-as If you were glad to go. I
dare ~ you were, but you needn't
have betrayed your feelings quite so
plainly"
Il haven't the smallest intention of
betraying my feeling for your gratif-
cation" he says, with some warmth.
You have treated me shamefully, but
l see little use in discussing it now. 1
don't want to reproach You for jilting
You've done it, and that's enough"
"Jilting you! Oh, Jackl"
Call it what you please" and he
turns away YEARLY. 1--WE won't quar-
rel about that. Celia was right, l see."
'Celia?"
Eyes. She said l would only make
matters worse it I saw you. I didn't
believe her, but"
Celia tried to stop your coming?"
"If you like to put 1t that way, yes,"
with a look of surprise. But I thought
I ought to bring those letters myself,
SO l came"
Cecilia seems to have been W
rantably busy with my affairs,"1 said,
II don't know, Of course, what
she may or may not have told you, but
this l do know, that l never trusted
her, and / trust her less than ever
now"
"You are ung~rateful, surely. She
tried to spare you this interview"
Had it not been for her 1t would
never have been necessary. But 60 to
her. since you'd rather take her word
than mine," passionately. $50 to her
and tell her that she has succeeded,
thanks to my folly and your
] break off, unable to speak for the
sobs that choke my utterances,
and turn away abruptly to the win.
dow.
Succeeded? Celia?" he repeat.
more to himself than to me. Maud.
what is the meaning Of all this? Is 1t
that Celia Misunderstood
"She misunderstood nothing 1
speak in a dull, expressionless way
and without turning round. "She is
far too clever for that. It is you who
misunderstood, and T"
What have I misunderstood? Oh,
Il you won't tell me l must go to Celia
Yes, go to her. What are you stay.
here for?'
Nothing now" And he walks to