The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-26

the letter in bureau drawer. But
the thought occurred again and again,
That open letter haunted her. Hel
mind traced in conjecture its struc
ture--all the epithets of endearment
l-all the protestations of love. The
longer she dwelt on it the more bar.
rowing became her thoughts. In
sheer desperation she determined te
deliver the letter Immediately. She
need not go to Eveline, and thus ex
pose her secret, but could send it by 6
servant.
Again the letter was in her hand,
but instead of following out her inten
tion, she began to walk the room with
hurried step and quivering frame.
AS the moth fits about the flame, sso
did Cornie coquet with the tenpter.
There was growing longing to per-
use those words of endearment to her
rival. 1t was conquering every senti.
ment OF delicecy and honor. With a
swift motion she drew the letter from
its envelope. and setting her teeth
hard, began to read.
She took An almost fierce delight in
thus augmenting her pain. Uncon-
sciously she crumpled the paper in
her convulsive grasp. Her heart
raised in her throat until it choked
her. The hot tears blinded her eyes.
Suddenly she started and looked at the
letter aghast. A teardrop had fallen
upon the fair page and left an un-
slightly blotch. With swift brush of
her dress she sought to remove the
tell-tale moisture; but it was too late ;
the mischief was done; she only
blurred the writing more. Further
more the sheet that had been smooth
was now oil crumpled.
Whist was to be.done? Cornie stood
pale and trembling. Then sem
tence of the letter REQUIRED to her
mind.
eff am not Indifferent to you, a
word will detain me; but if do not
hear from you earlier, shall know
the significance of your silence, and
the three o'clock train will bear me
from the scene of my happiness and
disappointment, to find peace OF mind
as best can"
She sought the passage again and
read it several times. Then she folded
up the letter and replaced it in the
envelope with strange steadiness.
Hlving locked it in drawer she went
down stairs; and nothing but the un-
usual pallor of her face. and an occa-
sional nervous start told that Cornie
Farnsworth had yielded to the tempt.
err, and committed a most treacherous
and cruel act.
"Roy, do You want to know"
Roy looked up at his mother with
an expression OF surprised interroga-
tion.
"Why, what q strange question" he
said. 81 suppose We should all like
to know"
"Well, then, you are the cause. and
the only cause.
Roy looked blank.
81? What have l to do with Cor
MES i'll health II
Stupid man! Is it so strange that,
when young people are thrown con-
stantly together, one should get think.
ing too much of the other, unless the
feeling be mutual? There, now I've
told you. And, Roy, you are in honor
bound to respect her"
"Why, mother mine, I have never
said word to Cornie other than any
of her gentlemen"
Snow now Words Has the thing
to be demonstrated like o mathemati.
cal proposition? What have you been
doing at her very apronstring ever
since you were big enough to walk
alone? And you know, my son,
there's not girl in town that will
compare with Cornie."
"That's So, said Ross, thoughtfully.
81 know that you will act an hon
orable part in this matter, Roy"
With that, Mrs. Carlton iudiciously
dropped the subject, and her words
bore fruit. Roy got to thinking over
their life-Cornie's and bis-durlng
the year of his disappointment. She
was certainly very gentle and woman.
II. Now that his attention was called
to it he remembered kind of wistful
sadness in her air, the significance of
which he had never before asked him.
self. There was nothing Of Jealousy
in it, nor even of reproach. She was
certainly very nice young lady.
And, come to think OF it, he had
vague idea of some time asking her to
be his wife before he saw Eveline. Els
mother was doubtless right; he had
been very constant attendant upon
Cornie.
When he saw the look OF happiness
that lighted up Cornie's face when he
asked her to be his wife-with what
perfect content and trust her head
rested on his shonlder-he tried to per-
suade himself that he was q happy
man. His feelings were not Just
what--on that night when he wrote
with 60 much passion to Eveiine-he
had expected those of 90 accepted
lover would be; but doubtless he was
al happy as mcss yoans meg IN bis
altsaslopl $.