The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-12-05

seized hold of my heartstrings. DO
you truly love your elderly cousin?"
"Of course | do" answered Del, nest
ling close to my side. while the soft
evening breezes waited me the scent
of her perfumer hair.
q love you dearly she added.
Int her frank, unembarrassed words
only added to the growing pain in my
heart, to the tnmultuous 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 a wave of color.
''All right, little one" | whispered,
reassuringly, while the tempest of baf-
fled hopes, ruined anticipations and
murdered joys swept in 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 | know one who lives
only in the hope of having soon the
right to order your sweet young life
on lines of light and happiness. | will
see Aunt Martha, | added, rising slow
| ~, "and will send Fred to you"
cousin Allen!" she again said, cling
ing breathlessly to me.
let me go, dearie," L said, lightly,
willie the fury of bitter regret and
hurricane of wild emotion shook my
soul and senses and threatened to sub
merge my loyal determination to let
Fred gain the sunshine of life, hence
forth lost forever to me.
Look here" l added, iestingIy, Il
must call Fred back before the storm
bursts-before furious tornado comes
along to interfere with our bright plans
for the future."
"Why, Cousin Allen!" said Del, lift
ing her head in establishment from its
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 out!"
But | 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 | called to
Fred, who was slowly approaching;
"Here, Dalton" | said. cheerily.
'"rhis little cousin of mine, over whom
] have assumed a fathers authority,
fears the dull winter months. She
would 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 satisfac-
tory arrangement for her. | am going
TO discuss the matter with Aunt
Martha
Fred stood up and wrung my hand
with silent and deep emotion.
1t was late when our evening, filled
with so much Joy to two of us, came to
an end.
cousin Allen," whispered Del, hold
ing fast my hands, az we said good
night. How could you fear storm?
Was there ever night so blissfully
calm and beautiful? This is the kind
of weather that reigns in Paradise"
Sans doute, little fiancee," | an
severed back laughingly; ''neverthe-
less, great storm has ragged on the
gulf coast this evening, and the ruin
and wreckage it has left behind it will
never be repaired. IN. 0. Times-Demo-
crat.