The Opelousas courier., 1895-08-24
his finger tips. He IAN quote Tenny

his finger tips. Hs AN quote Tenny'
son by the yard"
"Oh, how delightful" she exclaimed
do you know Mr.. Millington9 Will
you introduce him to me after lunch.
eon?'
"With pleasure" I said, cordially.
didn't forget. Immediately lunch
con was over I buttonholed the curate.
my dear fellow" told him,
there's an awfully nice girl here, who
IS dying to make your acquaintance.
She has heard SO much about you,
don't you know, and your preaching,
and all that. Nothing will satisfy her
but an immediate introduction. Come
along"
Millington was very vain. 1 knew
my message fattered him. He left
Miss Darby's side with some reluc'
lance; but he left it. introduced him
to the intense eyes, which fastened
upon him instantly. It was clear that
he was booked for the present. Then
l repaired to Miss Darby's side. The
company was breaking up into twos
and threes.
Shall we," l suggested to her, take
a short stroll through these beautiful
woods?"
She assented. We roamed away to-
gether. l do not quite know what
self pleasant. but 1 could hardly say a
word. She, too, was silent, and seemed
embarrassed. For my part, I felt as
awkward as a p%lowboy. This sort of
thing could not last. Something must
happen to break through our painful
constraint. Something did happen.
After awhile we returned to the
summit of Heavens Gate. Certainly
the view from the eminence was SUI
perb; Longleat house, in the hollow be-
low was INTELLECTUALLY splendid, and
the effect of the sunlight on these syl-
van glades was verysglorious.
"Now, then, Vivian, out with it,"
said Martin Rayner to me, as we sat
over our pipes that evening.
''Out with what?' 1 stammered, col
oring.
"You know well enough. What
were you saying to my little godchild
all hat long time this afternoon-eh?"
"1-I-the truth u.s." l answered,
hurriedly. II couldn't he'p it, Rayner.
I'm nc match for her, Itknow, and l
haven't a penny Of fortune. I-I-sup-
pose ought not to have spoken. But
l couldn't help it. I-I-asked Bee
Miss Darby to marry me-; and-and-
she said: 'Yesr"
Rayner did not speak. 1 looked up
into his face, fearing that he was
vexed. Ineed have felt no apprehen-
sion. His eyes were bright with ten
der kindness.
my lad" he said, in answer to my
look, II give you joy. 1 can share
your feelings. l, too, have had my lit
tie romance. When l was about your
age l fell in love. Her name was Bee
also. Like you, l had no fortune. I'm
like you, l was afraid to speak. But l
thought hopcd-she knew that l
loved her. n y Circumstances
took me to another part Of England. /
did not return for three years. When
l returned l found her married"
There were traces of strong feeling
on Rayner's face. 1t was clear that
this event was still very real to him
after twenty-five years.
Things had happened in the inter-
val of which l was not, at the time,
aware. Her father had lost all his
money. They were a large family of
children. And there was a sutton ready
to take Bee as soon as she would have
him. He was a young fellow-a clergy
man, with an assured position and a
tolerable living. He had the ear of her
parents, who, no doubt, believed that
they were consulting her happiness in
promoting the match. 1t ended as
they wished. She married him."
Rayner paused a minute. A light
vas beaming in his eyes which i'm
parted to them an expression of SUBJ
lime tenderness.
Vivian, she was-she is stilI-my
only love; but now in a different, in a
higher sense. The old, fierce passion
died long ago. From it's ashes has
risen another, sweeter sentiment. Why
do you suppose l have buried myself
in this distant corner? Twas she that
drew me here, my lad. To guard, to
cherish her, has been my single aim for
twenty years"
lido you mean began.
YES" he interrupted me: "you have
guessed it. After twenty years l love
how mora 4hn- o,ra~ 1,rf - Sc r~,%l klnt
tenderness which we feel toward the
of our dead. She is one of my
dead, Vivian. She is the angel that
hath reached me down her hand and
lifted me from the slough Of a despe-
radios life"
/ have never seen a face took more
beautiful than old Rayner's then. His
words had stirred me deeply. We both
sat silent. At last Rayner spoke.
"My Lad" he said, earnestly, do you
know I wanted you to love the little
Bee? Ihave spent a year or two seek
ing some man worthy of he-. 1 believe
I have found him in you. You cannot
think how glad you have made me,
Jack. And really l was growing Xxx
ious. She has seen so few men, and
that handsome humbug, Millington,
was always hanging round her. But
It is all right now. Your hand, Jack.
And mind you, make her happy"
Next morning Ragner called me into
his study.
"You are going to see her father to-
day. He thinks you are an eligible
young pan with a comfortable fortune.
So you are, for you must accept this"
He handed ME a pink slip of paper, |