The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-10-17

we come to the rounded numbers. "
invite people, and do as they expect u
to; but on the other years, that mos
people forget, we do just what we pleas
Robbie and 1. Robbie has just gon
over to the village, but he'll soon b
: home. This is our twenty-ninth wed
ding day, and we're moving to the sea
You know, when we were first murriet
we wanted building site on the beach
and we couldn't afford it. Now we can
and so we're celebrating" She paused
looking curiously at Comics face
which was turned away from her
When she went on there was a suf
laugh in her voice. 1--WE couldn't NOV,
without our house, of course; it's toe
much part of us-and, anyway, wher
we die our shell may feel more at home
if it's left On the beach,"
The girl tried to join in Mrs. Hill
dreth's laugh, but when she parted hel
lips low, passionate sob came through
them. She fell on her knees and bowed
her head in Mrs. Hildreth's lap. HeI
words came in gasp. This was to
have been my wedding day." she said
! Mrs. Hildreth put her arms around
her, murmuring: my child!"
"Yes," the girl answered, in hard,
dry voice. ave decided to have no one
but mamma and papa with us, and then
to announce it and take you all by sur
prise-now we shall surprise you in an
other way, for it will never be at all.'
She was trembling, and she caught Mrs.
Hildreth's dress in her hands. ut was
my fault, of course" she finished; ''at
least you will think it was my fault"
The joy of her long, happy years
shone before Mrs. HiIdreth's eyes until
they were blurred. She lifted the
girls face between her hands. Con
ME Bainbridge," she said, gently, "you
and Jack Houghton are not common
place, fooiishchildren who quarrel for no
cause. Tell me all about your trouble,
from beginning to end"
Il couldn't bear explaining it to mann
ma" Connie cambridge said, "and /
meant to say nothing to anyone, but
when you spoke like that of your we'd
ding day"-her voice broke into the tone
OF one whose heart yields itself to sym
pathy or love. ''Ah, 1 can tell every
thing to you," she cried, ''for no one else
on earth would know so well what
have thrown away"
Along the street which led from the
center of the village to the old Hildretb
place the Creatures interlaced theirrest
full shadows, letting only the smallest
fiecks of sunlight sift between them in
the perfect silence of the idle summer
afternoon. 1t was strange that the
very shadows did not stir and change
little when sharp thudding of hoofs |
and the swing of a horse broke through
the air. and a young man came riding
at a gallop beneath the trees. He held |
his head high, and his lips were COM
pressed in way that had nothing to |
do with the swift, easy motion of the
horse, and there YVES a frown above his
eyes, which were looking straight ahead |
with sort of bitter challenge in them
for all they saw or did not see. He
rev rein abruptly at the Hildreth
gate. The crape-myrtles were wait
ng for him as usual, and the sweet
doors OF the garden spread out to sum-
non him, but the straight path led to
-acancy.
They'll be uprooting the roses next
md carrying them after the house"
lie went on, turning his whip against
all bush which he loved, and sending a
hover OF pink petals to the ground.
lie tramped across them ruthlessly,
lowed his head under an atbor of honey
uckles, and whistled a note or two as
le walked along the paths. sI'l be
lad when the whole thing is torn up
e declared; sit would be useless to
~ coming back here any more" He
tarted to whistle again, but broke off. |,
Perhaps" he muttered, harshly, ''you ,
link you can stand seeing the Hill {
reths, when the garden is too much for
ou!" He stood quito still, and set ,
is face against the inroads of change
hich left nothing in his life I'M
'uched. The knowledge of all that had
one before him seemed to rise like |
lie above him, until his physical bal
ice was unsteadied by it, and he leaned
'ainst tree and shut his eyes. In +
lat moment of relaxation his senses n
ere no longer guarded by anger, and b
felt the soft, perfumed air stealing d
er him in caress. There were many k
'eet odors in it, but one of them was t.
ore like personal message than the
hers. He smiled family, and opened b
$ eyes. 1t was the little acacia tree 81
was leaning against. He reached up h
one OF the yellow balls, and as he d,
1t it between his fingers a memory of "
came into his face The little thing II
IS like love itself, and it was SO laden Ii
IN sweetness. He kissed it more than w
ce' and then, putting it in his pocket h,
tn tender Difference, he turned fe
ok along the path and followed where tr
house was leading toward the sun II