The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-12
Mowbray was SO greatly interested.
Will YOU have the kindness to hand

u me.
There was look in her eyes such as t
had never seen there before. TWAS
If wonder and yet OF pity-pity for
me, who considered myself the happi.
est man on earth!
But that was the way with Kate. Ii
she's a woman of resource, she's wo-
man of surprises as well. With her 1t
is usually the unexpected that hap
pens.
81 have performed my part OF the
bargain, Kate. ! have satisfied your
curiosity. Will you now have the
courtesy to perform yours? You have
written o certain name upon piece
of paper. Will you have the kindness
to hand it to ne?'
"I cannot, Boil cannot.
l caught distinct tremor IN her
voice as she said it.
"How SO? You decline to show me
that paper?"
81 promised to give it to you after
you had shown me the portrait, but
did not say Immediately after. You
shall see it some day; I promise you.
ga sheer evasion, Kate, and not
like you. However. it is matter OF
little conse luence.
"Of little consequence, as you say.
"The one important thing is that
have made a great discovery all
through that album. You guess what
it is, Kate?"
sThat-that-" she stammered.
sThat Miriam Mowbray loves me J"
said triumphantly.
She glanced at me again with that
look / had just before seen in her eyes
half pity, half wonder; then she
said TREMENDOUSLY:
"You-you will speak to her to-
morrow, will you not?"
ssYes, Kate. You are the only one
to whom I have whispered my secret;
and-and know you wish Lac good
luck in my wooing."
I'm that aud in all things, Bob?"
The sweet eyes looked straight into
mine, as she held out her hand | held
it for moment; then she withdrew it
hastily and escaped from the room.
| The next day visited the Now
brays. The time was opportune. Mr..
Mowbray was out. but Miss Mowbray
was in.
I. / hurry over that disastrous inter-
view. urged my suit with what elo'
ousnce I could command. My pro
posal was at first received with chilling
silence, and then came the crushing
, intimation that it was declined.
Twill do her the justice, however
, to say that she let down fellow a
gently as the circumstances would per
NIT.
| She acknowledged to me that sh'
. loved another, aud believe there wer
j.. tears in her eyes-I am certain Their
n were in her voice AS she MAIDS tn
!. confession. Her father, she candid
was oppossl to her love!
o and had declined to sanction his &C
gl vances. He had promised, however
Y to reconsider his verdict in the ever
of the young fellows prospects IN
"a proving in three years. That tlIr
q had nearly elapsed. Until that tin
,e had elapsed they had given their sacrf
word of honor that the secret OF the
re love for each other should not be di
closed, and they had further promise
/ that no communication should pa
II. between them.
n. I could not but admire woman vi
,m remained thus faithful both to n
i'll father and her lover, even though IN
ed fidelity proved at the same time Z
i L -,
- think that I stammered out som
thing to that effect as / bowed mys
from the room, and kept asking m
on self: "Who is the mysterious love
zoe And WHY was she so absorbed In
q portrait in the album?" :.
vas Life seemed very blank to me VII
I stood once more in the street. WI
should do now? Iscarce knew. =
nh. thing. however, was very certain. ]
ere fore did, anything must first OF
ION sult nv clum my chum Kate.
lis. turned my steps to her home. q
lis n greater disaster awaited me. h
am had left Templeton that morning 0
n a visit to an aunt in Durham. 1t
axe quite uncertain when she wouia
ex. turn. but she would not be back II
month, at least.
It was not until day or two
her. passed that I began to realize all l
nan lost in the sweet companionship
rest Kate. It was not merely her loya
Won her unfailing brightness and sympai
now but not till then did I understand
"" gap she had filled in the last Il
nv years in my life.
wo. You will say that l was tickle,
has questionable, in6rm OF purpose,
!" ing resolu sion and knowledge OF
link own mind. Well, / am content
ere. that charge should be made aga
,ket. me. My simple reply is that you
n it not know Kate. She was one OF
who. by their very unselhshness.
, in. never adequately valued until you
their voice, their smile, their b
Most Of us pursue our illusions.
all illusion was Miriam Mowbray. 81
Il a / began to see that in the bacKgr.
OF that illusion there was real
but Kate Brand.
Barely month had elapsed
, 81 7 there came the news that Kate We
l should have liked to have go
ered. her and console her, as she SO
have consoled me but what could
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