St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-02-09
DEEPDALE'S OPERATOR.
How Guy Hazle ton Found q Long
Lost Fiancee.

above the average ana dl0 ample Jus
tice to the educational advantages
that had been lavished upon him
He was handsome man and heir tc
the Hazleton property - two facts
quite sufficient for society to receive
him with cordial welcome, and when
y Irene Curtis accepted his hand society
smiled approvingly.
Miss Curtis was acknowledged to be
the belle of her circle, and being the
only child Of one of our merchant
princes the engagement when an.
nounced caused quite a futter
Mrs Hazleton, Guys mother. was
the first to call upon the fair fiancee
after her sons offer had been &C.
ceptel. She found Irene, her hands
idle, her large eyes looking far into
TIE future.
One word reused the young girl
Darling"
Then followed long. close caresses,
that told how warmly these women
loved each other.
$50 l am to have a daughter?' the
old lady said. lovingly
i i
father that he is more like . friend
than a near relation"
You know Guy goes to New Or
leans next week, and will not return
until May. He thinks it win take him
three months, at least, to settle his
affairs there: and he will be ready for
Europe again. shall be getting your
II
me in trying to keep Guy at home"
HE has been home now, how long?"
Not quite q year. said the old lady,
abruptly: do you know how lovely
you are? know Guy could never have
married an ugly girl He worships
beauty. think there is something in
his sensitive nature that positively re-
coils from defect"
There were other calls Of congratu-
Iation, and a week passed swiftly over
Irene's head before Guy started upon
his journey to New Orleans, with the
understanding that the preparations
for wedding in June were to Be
pressed forward during his absence.
Irene found herself so busy and so
happy that over her day dreams of
future content not one foreshAdowing
cloud warned her OF the storms that
were to break upon her life.
She bad been spending day with
Mrs Hazleton, and together they had
visited stores and selected dainty goods
for the beautiful trousseau in active
preparation. When they reached
home, = gentleman TO see Mrs. Halle
ton was announced to be waiting her
return, and Irene ran lightly up the
stairs to remove her hat and cloak,
while her hostess went to the drawing
room. Her visitor proved to be the
confidential clerk of Mr.. Curtis, with
an appalling story. Irene's father had
heard that day of the utter failure Of
q speculation in which his entire for
tune was involved, and had committed
suicide. In the hours of grief Irene
learned more fully the value OF = friend
who loved her rs daughter She was
not allowed to return home; the
funeral, the sale of her fathers house
and property, the weary details of
business were all taken out Of her
hands, and she was allowed to nurse
her grief in seclusion.
just one week after her fathers
death Irene received = letter, which
she took at once to Mrs. Hazleton. 1t
was from q relative Of whom she
heard for the first time, brother of
her mothers lie wrote to her, in
forming her that her mother had been
poor factory girl at the time Of her
marriage. and that her family had
never intruded themselves into her
luxurious home
81 am poor man" he wrote. earn
ing my living N . telepragh operator,
but have home to offer you. You
will miss the Injuries of your fathers
house. but ! will give you comfort.
Come to me now, or at any time when
you need home"
Am I very poor" the young girl
asked. realizing for the first time that
her fathers death involved also loss
of property.
Are you not Guys promised wifeo''
said the old lady, reproachfully- "Your
home is here, Irene, until you leave it
as Guys wife. Write TO your uncle, my
child. and tell him yonr mother claims
you until your promised husband re
turns" So ~
But the letter was never written It
wes long past midnight on the night
following this conversation when
Irene was roused from sleep BY cries
Of pain from Mrs. Haxleton's room
She ran 1t once to meet sight Thor
ror. Her old friend had fallen asleep
over the fire and slept until her book
had fallen upon the hearth, caught
f1re from . coal and communicated the
aame to her dressing gown. When
Irene reached her she was in : blaze.
One moment OF hesitation increased
The frightful peril. In m instant the
little figure was wrapped in thick
haaukets from the bed, pressed closely
81 Jrsus's strong arms, while she cried
oloud for help The aanes Wese sub