The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-11-28

gaze, her great brown eyes took on a
tender, wistful look. which pierced my
heat like a poisoned dagger.
VIII the solitude seem dull when
We are gone, Del?" l asked.
"Deathly dull" said Del, with q
slight CULVER of her tender mouth.
Aunt Martha shall bring you TO
town, you poor little Gagged bird!" I
said, taking her hand in mine.
Mamma will never leave Sesview.
nor let me go away even for a day
without her. said Del. moving up
closer to me, as if for protection against
those long. solitary days of approach
ing winter.
Then we must take you away by
force, little one" l said, with decision,
Putting my arm protectingIy around
her shoulder. Del leaned her head.
crowned with its ripping FURNISHED
gold, on my shoulder, not knowing of
the ~throbbing h~eartbeats so close to
hers, or of the rising storm of emotions
she was creating.
"Oh, Cousin Allen, if you could only
get mamma to leave this drcarv. dreary
place." she said, pleadingly-'get her
10 consent to my living Ike other girls,
| would love you, oh, SC dearly. all my
life"
do YOU promise that. Del? Is it a
hargain?" l asked, while a dull pain
seized hold of my heartstrings. DO
you truly love your elderly c~ousin:'
"Of course | do" answered Del, nest
ling close to my side, while the soft
evening breeZeS waited me the scent
of her p]erfumer hair.
Il love you dearly" she added.
But her frank, unemAarrassed words
only added to the growing pain in my
heart, to the tumultuous emotions
which were invading me.
And Fred?" I asked, softly, hold
ing her gently to my side.
Cousin Allen" she murmured in
an %imploring tone, turning to hide on
my shoulder her lovely face, over which
had swept Il of color.
"All right, little one" l whispered,
reassuringly, while the tempest of baf-
fed hopes, ruined a~nticipations and
murdered joys swept in a burst of fury
over my soul and senses, overwhelming
ne with their bitter waters.
"All right, Del, little cousin mine!
You shall not spend the glorious years
of your youth in these sad solitudes.
Your happiness is dearer to me than
life itself, and l know one who lives
only in the hope of having soon the
right TO order your sweet young life
GIL lines of light and happiness. l will
see Aunt Martha l added, rising slow
". land l will send Fred to you"
Cousin Allen" she again said, cling
ing br~eathlessly to me.
Let me go, dcarie," I said, lightly,
NEile the fury of a bitter regret and
= hurricane of wild emotion shook my
soul and senses and threatened to SUBJ
merge my loyal determination to let
Fred gain the sunshine of life, hence
forth lost forever to me.
Look here" l added, jestingly, Il
must call Fred back before the storm
bursts-before a furious tornado comes
.long to interfere with our bright plans
for the FUTURE"
"Why, Cousin Allen!" said Del. lift
ing her head in astonishment from it's
confiding rest on my breast, and lift
ing to mine in wide-eyed wonder her
beautiful soft eyes. What in the
world are you taking about: There's
no storm brewing! Why, the night is
calm and beautiful! Just look how
quiet the water is; how serenely the
stars shine Quit"
But l laughed aloud, knowing the
tempest which was raging in my heart,
the wrecked blossoms of hope and joy
which lay bruised and scattered over
the advancing years, and l called to
Fred, who was slowly approaching:
Here. Dalton" L said. cheerily.
''Fhis little cousin of mine, over whom
I have assumed Il fathers authority,
fears the dull winter months. She
like, the silly little bird that she
IS, to flee from the sweet protecting
solitudes of her old cottage home. !
told her you could suggest a satisfac-
tory arrangement for her. l am going
to discuss the matter with Aunt
Martha"
Fred stood up and wrung my hano
with silent and deep emotion.
1t was late when our evening, filled
with SO much joy to two of us, came to
end.
Cousin Allen" whispered Del. hold
fast my hands, "a "e said good
night. How could you fear n storm?
Was there ever Il night so blissfully
calm and beautiful? This is the kind
Of weather that reigns in Paradise"
Sans doute, little ~fiancee," l an
back laughingly; "neverthe-
a great storm has ragged on the
gulf coast this evening, and the ruin
md wreckage it has left behind it will
never be repaired."-N. o. Times-Demo-