St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-07-25

aye, that e did,
There was silence; for the man was
gazing at the turrets. The laborer was
l*about to move away. But the man
stopped him with another question.
"And are they happy. those two?"
! "'Appy?" Again the workman
seemed amazed at the question. why,
/ it's beautiful to see 'en1. Aye, often
and often when they passes i the road
1 wi the BARNS, agoing toschrrch mebbe,
or mebbe not, the missis she says to
/. me: Jim, it's pictur',' she says, and
l says to 'er: 1T is, says I. 'Appy?''
And the workman smiled.
! But the man at the stile was silent.
from the heavens there shot Jagged
lsstreak ofalight. For moment IT lit
up the faces Of the two men; then the
darkness had fallen like a PAIL And
the workman laid his h,tnd upon the
shoulder Of the traveller.
| Look ERE, stranger" he said. "I
don't know 100 you be, or where yer
come from, or what yer doing ERE; but
you seem civil sort, and I'll tell you
this: We're going to ave such night
as lot many i these parts II remember
the likes on, and if ye've got place
TO go to, don't wait no longer, but make
tracks; and if you 'aven't, why come
yer ways along O. me-"
The stranger seemed moved; but he
replied: Il thank you. You are very
| kind. | have shelter from the Storm
As he spoke his eyes were trained across
the stile, SO the laborer passed ON his
way. And the storm gathered. Tlun-
1 derous clouds loomed densely overhead.
The air was thick, and pressed. upon
| the brow. 4 great bird rose from the
r:ishcs at the ponds verge and shrieked
to surer refuge. Thewind dropped.
But the man fingered And over in
the meadow, on the pathway, there ap-
pcared a light, 1t drew nearer, and
swung gently to and fro. The traveller
| saw it was carried in the hand of man
walking. He was clad in coat that
was lined with fur, and his face was
soft and white. At the stile he saw
the man. He frowned and would have
passed. But the stranger stopped him.
'Mr. Dalry1nple," he said.
The other raised his lantern till it
shone in the face of the man. He shud-
dered slightly, and again would have
passed Oh his way. But the traveller
stood before him, SO that the path was
closed. asaE - g
"Mr. Dalrymple," he repeated.
''By what right do you bar my way 2"
The tones were quiet but imperative, as
of a man accustomed to receive defer
ence. 'And why do you call me by
name"
"L have news of your brother said
the man.
"He is alive?' The words were said
gladly, but there was gulp at his
throat when he spoke. The man saw
the gulp.
"He Will never return" he replied.
by what means,"s said the squire,
"car l tell that you speak with author
ity 2"
The man put his hand beneath his
rags and drew forth the faded photo
graph of a woman. On the back there
was name written. He passed it to
the squire. -.
The squire looked at it. And he
turned it over and read what was writ
ten on the back. Then he raised his
hand and uncovered his head. And4he
said to the man: 'sMay keep this me-
mento@' And the man nodded.
What you tell me- he said, quietly,
G nJ,Iy, f1o4 !, ,x,l,
always understood. Nevertheless, this
confirmation grieyes me deeply" There
was real sorrow in hisvioce. Aud that,
too, the man noticed. "Did my brother
,leaveno message?''
''He spoke much of woman" said
the man.
!. u" Can you tell me hergname2"
1t is Marianne"
&s The squire was silent. Then, softly:
"Poor-fellow!" and d.again: "Poor fell
low!" to himself, 1T is my wife of
wbomthe spoke" he said o.fhe man.
81 trust she is well, )" said the man.
"She is very well. Ileft her but now
with the children"
u There was the sound of a rumble of
wheels on tic road, and two lights
shone out through the dimness.s The
lights frightened; the sound cleared;
4 brougham and pair drew up at the
turning. 5
My carriage meets me. here" SAID
the squire, ssand I am somewhatpEess
for time. But you have laid me under
deep obligation. Is there no way in
which 1 can serve you?'
There is one" said the man. Il
should like to shake you by the hand!"
The squire hesitated. It was only
momentary. But flush rose to the
hollow cheek of the stranger. s''It is
my hands," he said. "I will wash them
in the pond" ..,s.--+@
But the squire had drawn off his seal
skin glove, and he held out his soft,
white palm. The other clutched it in
his bony hand, and for moment the
eyes Of the two men met in the light
of the lamp. The. squire started, and
released his grasp. Therewas a lool. in
his face that held something of fear.
When he entered his brougham the look
remained still on his face.
And the man sat again on the stile.
In the darkness the lights from the hall
shone brightly, and he gazed at the
lights. Then he turned his eyes to the
trees that were dim round the pond,
and again from the pond to the lights.
Was there happiness at helights? Was
there. peace in the pond? So the man