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

freedom OF tho long summer vacation,
Eveline left the dusty city behind, and
went coursing through the green
fields and shadowy woodlands, ever
ripping streams and along the margins
of crystal lakes with speed that was
delightfully."- exhiliarating. She drank
deep draughts of the balmy breeze
that famed her temples through the
open car window, each inhalation Civ.
ing new impetus to her blood, which
had grown sluggish in the tainted city
air, so that when she was set down at
the little village station there was q
rare bloom in her usually pale cheeks
and an unwonted sparkle in her eyes.
1t was pleasant drive to the pretty
villa of Mr.. Farnsworth, which, while
1t enjoyed all the advantages of the
country, was yet not wholly cut off
from the bustling world. Eveline
found in her uncle q gentleman of old
time hospitality, who kept open
house, where his friends came and
went at their pleasure. Roy Carlton
was one of the many courtiers who
were in attendance where Cornie
reigned somewhat coquettish queen.
From the first Roy attached himself
to Eveline, and in the round of enjoy
ment that made up each day, the lines
of care went out of her face, and it re-
sumed its wonted bloom. But as the
weeks passed o change came over the
intercourse of the two. Whatever it
was, il found its manifestation in Roy.
II IT came under Eveline's obserya-
tiou, she gave no outward sign but
kept quietly about her accustomed
pursuits.
But there was one quick to notice
any alteration in Roy. 1t was Cornie.
She had coquetted with him, as with
her other admirers, and, until Eve
lines arrival, had been conscious of no
pasticHfA preference for him. Per-
haps 1t was the tranquility of unques~
toned possession. At any rate, when
she saw him devote himself to her
cousin she. experienced o vague dis
satisfaction, which gradually waxed
into anxiety, and then stood forth in
unmistakable colors. She knew that
Roy was something moro to her than
Nv others whom she used for her
amusement.
So matters went on until the time
when Eveline must terminate her
visit. Cornie watched Roy's growing
uneasiness with deeper and deeper
anxiety. She felt that Eveline's APP.
pro aching departure would bring
matters to q crisis, and contemplating
the probable issue, she would lie on
her bed with tightly closed lido,
through which the tears would force
their wny, trying to conquer the dull
pain at her heart.
The day preceding Eveline's depar.
ture, Cornie was almost i'll; but the
evening came and passed, and nothing
in Eveline warranted the supposition
that she had given Roy a second
thought more than in the way OF
friendship. Cornie had watched them
during the evening. She had seen
Roy follow Eyeline with a wistful
look, when he supposed himself unob-
served. There had been more ner-
vousness in his manner, perhaps, when
he took her hand for the last time,
and strange reluctance to meet her
calm, steady gaze; but nothing to in
dictate that anything unusual had
passed between them. As for Eveline
she gave no sign of agitation. II the
color in her cheeks was unusually
high, there was no more than could be
naturally accounted for by the pleas
urable excitement Of the evening.
That night Cornie's hopes rose. The
next morning she was up bright and
early, and went singing about the
house with a lighter heart than she
hsd borne for many day. Eveline,
on the contrary. passed the entire
morning in bed with bad headache.
At 10 o'clock the door bell rang.
Cornie ran down to find boy on the
threshold, who asked for Miss Mon
fort, and being informed Of her indis-
position, he left letter With Cornie
to be delivered to her.
ono glance ut the supersoviptiou,
and ccrnie's hsaEt srrh like lead.
Mlsh ttllsyius Et,pa sae aseeaasd tae