The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-15
A GAME FOR TWO.

Never would have believed DICK cap
able OF such base and healtiess duplici-
~ ifmy OWN eyes had not borne witness
to itAodious existence. loved him
loved him more than woman ever loved
man before. | had heard hard things
said of Em, but / credited not
one OF them; common iumoI--
which always sayors of spitc-could
not shake my faith in the ma to
whom | had pledged myself, heart and
life. And yet here-here beneath my
Gngers--lay e%quivocal proof of his
gu;lefui, treacherous nature.
Dick and | had been engaged less than
a month-how soon had he tired of ne!
when mother excepted his fathers
invitation to the Norfolk home of the
l,owes. Dick journeyed down with us
from town, and / am sure the shrcwdest
reader of character would never have
suspected that even then his brain was
busy schcming against my happiness
SO careful of mother was he, SO atten-
tive to our every want and comfort.
Yet this must have been the case, for
on the second day after our arrival l
became privy, by the mercst chance,
to his perfidious designs.
That morning before dinner l made
my way to the library, whittier I knew
Dick had gone to write his letters, he
told me. His absence had been SO I'M
considerably long that 1 determined
to invade his solitude, even at the risk of
being chided for it. While l was yet
20 yards from the library door l heard
his voice raised in a hullabaloo such rs
only he can create.
Get out of there, you snappy little
brute!" he crie-!!. "Sssssh!-phew!--
scat"
Ipushed open the door just in time to
see him vault over the table, oserturn
acoupleo of chairs and disappear through
the French windows that abuttcd the
terrace. Through this glass I caught
fitful glimpses Of him as he dashed
hither and thither after mothers pet
spaniel-a sweet, lovely doggic he is,
too-who, on his part, was equally eX-
cited in yapping and scurrying after
Mr.. Rowe's cherished peacocks.
"HCome here, sir!" shouted Dick, angri-
ly. Scar! you horrible little BEAST"
And the language Dick used! Ger
tainly it "A not warranted by the oc-
c~asion, for thesiear little animal meant
no harm, but was only giving ven to
his natural p~layfulness. l could re-
strain myself M longer when Dick, irri-.
tated by his fruitless chase, began to
throw handfuls of tuft and gravel at
the frolicsome little creature.
Stepping toward the window to ex-
p~ostulate, my eyes happened to fall
upon the letter Dick had been writing
before this interruption came. The
words l saw glued me to the spot.
Without shame ] say it-there and
then | read every syllable he had SO far
penned.
M DARLING CuRLY-LocKs," SO this ex-
fcreble epistle ran. You must really
learn to moderate the fervor of your billet
doux In future and 50 must I. II she saw
them-she who must be o~beyed-they
would give rise to such questionings as
even I. with all my wits. would be unable
to parry without letting out our secret.
We must be cautious, therefore, and lie
AoW.#1 Will HdtCn up II UOuSc py WHICH you
can DO brought into the house unknown to
her. Leave that to me. As for the pres
ents / promised you, you shall have them
without fail liz YOU solemnly assure me
that you will not seek to rule me in future
as YOU have done in the"
At this point the letter broke off.
But I had read enough-too much. in-
decd, for my peace. And this was
Dick! This NEAR, crafty, guilty wretch
was Dick--the true Dick!
With an effort I forced back the tears
that welled to my eyes. He was not
worth a sigh. ] would be strong, I
would beat down my fondness for him
my foolish, confiding infatuation-
even though my heart broke under the
ordeal.
I had crossed the floor and taken a
book from the shelves ere Dick, having
driven the poor dog indoors, Numbered
into the room. / caught his muttered
Observation-Disclosures little curl" be-
fore he espied me-.
All, Jennie-you here 2" he exclaimed.
with simulated joy. "I'm sorry I have
been SO long. Fact is, II"
While he was speaking he sided
toward the table, lifted up the blotting
pad, and stealthily dropped it over
that horrible letter. Well he mighthide
1t! Then, with o~utstretched hand. he
caE1e i'm my direction.
Capt. Rowe" / said co1dly, drawing
back, ''you have-you areI never
thought you could be 500 heartless.s
There was no other way he re-
Joined, misunderstanding my allnsion.
Fl couldn't catch the beas-the dog;
end we should have had my father
Gown on y Threats If anything had
happened to his precious BIRDS
I'm glad You consider somebody's
feelings, Capt. Rowe added signif-
cantly. mo; do not come near me.
Youa are cruel-cruel!"
My resolution was fast oozine awav
II felt II slipping from me-and as
Dick still continued to advance Iadopt-
ed the most s~trategical move T could
think OIL ran out Of the room. Jp-
stairs ! sped to my bedroom, locking |
myself in and pouring out my misery
il bitter sobs.
When mother came To look for me
told her 4 did notsfeel wela-that mn
head ached badly. 7 coulfkanotsh bring |
Inyssaf ID tell her the ghastly truth
1sst ~, slss had, knew. set hsrmind