The Louisiana populist., 1896-12-11
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| over a steaming bowl OF water, read
tllem, refastened them and sent them
back. He was just now Illuminating
on the last epistle. 1t was in the same
strain as usual; Adrian asked for no
money, was able to support his wife
| by ---s brush, modestly enough, still
sufficiently, but he wanted his father
to recognize her, to know her-he
wanted reconciliation.
"And don't he wish he may get it.
recognize the hussy? Never, Oh. he
can support her, can he? So much the
better. for he won't get any help from
me, now or at any other time. ! know
what it is-he's afraid I'll marry
againr'
And then Luke Stanton fell into a
reverie. After all, why not? Many
men did marry after CO. and-and-.
He looked at his watch hurriedly-a
quarter to 4; then his eyes eagerly
scanned the stretch Of beach.
Shell be getting back directly" he
murmured, and catching up his hat
went to disport himself along the pa
rade.
Presently he FASTENED his step a lit
tie as n slight figure in muslin gown
| huttered into view at the far end of
| the parade.
"Oh, Mr.. Stanton! You quite starts
led me. How delighted to meet your
She was a dainty little person, with
genuine complexion, big blue eyes
and the most puzzling and bewitching
hair, which seemed to run the whole
gamut of tints from brown to gold as
sunbeams played on it. She looked up
into rne old gentleman's face with the
most confiding expression.
Isn't it provoking? There is abso-
lutely no news"
Really, I'm delighted-I mean," he
corrected himself hurriedly, sit is most
extraordinary"
isn't it? 1 came down here a week
ago to meet my aunt and uncle, as we
had arranged before they went abroad,
and, to my amazement, found no one
here"
"Yes, yes" he put in soothingly. ut
was very trying. Poor little girl. Poor
childr'
Il should have gone straight back
to London if it hadn't been for you, Mr..
Stanton. You have been more than
kind to me-"
"Not at all, my dear young lady. 1
was touched at the loneliness Of your
position, anxious to be of service to
to so charming waif."
She shot him a grateful glance.
But think really must go home
now. 1 went to Carlinford, as you
suggested, thinking that some letter
might be awaiting me at the postoffice,
but as 1 tell you, there was nothing.
cannot think what has happened to my
friends. feel must go back to Lon
don tomorrow"
Tomorrow Mr.. Stanton stopped
aghast and looked down at her. "You
mean to leave Startmouth-"
"Yes."
T-at least you will allow me to
see you safe to London-to your
friends. Oh! forgot, my poor child
you are an orphan. But at any rate,
you will let me take you back to the
people with whom you were stayingw
"Oh, nov she said hurriedly. 81
could not think Of giving you so much
trouble"
Trouble! II it were not that it
means losing you at the end, should
call it pleasure. There! 1t is settled,
isn't it? And what time shall we go"
Indeed, Mr.. Stanton, cannot ac-
cept your escort. It-I-they-oh!
can't you understand
Her face was turned away from him;
they had wandered away from the pa
rade on to the beach and she was draw
ing cabalistic figures on the shifty
sand with her parasol. He looked at
her for a second, and then he felt the
blood rushing to his head.
MY dear Miss Alban, do you mean
that any one-that some one
She nodded, not desis-ing from her
diagrams.
THAT some one has dared to hint
that-that-you know what
mean"
Apparently she did, for she answered
in low voice:
THAT is it. l overheard something
in the drawing room this morning; and
what would they say If you came to
London with meT
There was a moments pause, and
with q sudden gulp, Luke Stanton
plunged manfully into the deep waters
of a declaration. They would say in
truth-that he could not bear to lose
her, that he loved her. that he wanted
nothing better than to hear her say
she would be his wife. Would she say
1t here-now? He was an old man.
triple her age, no d0ubt-but-but-.
Ha cfopra6 osxf s,f breath and rad of