St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-06-12
a NIGHTS EXPERIENCE.
NJ JENNY WREN.

! ! ! !: !: ! ! ! !: J J" J !"
a~ D-BY, then.
00AN, Kate, if you Will
* not repent at this
WI last moment and
A~WN go with me. l
@<SE<l]S0 heartily wish you
<T would. / do not
1T. ~ feel at all COM
~ Portable b o t
q leaving you alone.
even for a single
night" So said my
aunt, as she stood ready for her jour
ney to her country home.
Ny trunks were standing strapped
snd packed with hers, but 1 had insisted
upon remaining until the next day to
attend to the last things necessary, ard
she. had given consent very reluctantly.
and, even at this late moment, seemed
rcpenting. But laughed as | kissed her
again and again, and said:
You forget, aunt, Claude is to spend
the evening with me, SO will not have
time to feel lonely; and, as for fear, it
would be a sensation SO novel that l
think Iwould quite fancy anexperience-
Besides, you have left two or three OF
the servants, and do not know that
your absolute presence would scare
away any intruders." But she shook
her head with rather an unbelieving air.
and the last look I had, as she leaned
from the carriage window to wave her
hand in adieu, was one of loving anxiety.
But on my owR face was no shadow OF
care. as l glanced for moment with a
little pardonable pride at its rejection
in the long mirror in the drawing-roon:.
"A glad delight was dancing in the
bright blue eyes at thought of the even
iLg's anticipated pleasure, for was not
Claude coming, and was not that name
synonymous with all life and cOncen-
trated sweetness? Had not the thought
of one evening more spent with him
lent weight to the entreaty that might
remain another day under plea of use
fulness? What practical test had lever
given that could be useful? =
When Claude came I laughingly re-
counted to him my aunt's foolish fears
ind how near, through them, we came
to losing these few precious hours; but
somehow, for the first time, his laugh
failed to echo mine, and when the clock
upon the mantel chimed eleven silvery
strokes, and he rose to 60, he said, very
earnestly:
Il half believe, Kate, your aunt was
right, and almost wish you had gone
with her"
THAT is all very well to say now"
answered, "when the time has come
really to bid good-by. If you had let
me know your wishes this morning, l
should have endeavored to comply
with them"
my selfishness forbade my giving
them room, and, besides, II is mere
temporary infection. (This with half
lsugh). Your aunt, as you say, is no
formidable protection, and, after all.
Kate (growing serious). leave my dar-
ling in the good Gods hands. Only.
dear. I shall be very glad when the time
comes that can offer her husbands
protecting love-"
Then kissing the cheeks into which
the scarlet blood had rushed at his
words, he held me for one moment with
a new earnestness clasped to his heart,
uttered last goodnight and left me.
See that everything is securely
closed for the night, Ben" said to the
old butler, whose eyes were already
half closed, and then slowly mounted
the stairs. Usually few up them as
bird, but Claude's words had filed me
with happy thoughts. and it seemed as
though some sweet, soothing spirit had
favored me with its white wings, and
must make no hurried movement, lest
it should fly away. entered my room.
closed and bolted my door, and sank
into chair before my dressing bureau.
My windows opened upon little bal
Cony, and the curtains trembled with
the cool breeze which came laden with
the scent of the flowers / had trained
upon it. seemed filed with a delicious
languor, and it required some effort to
al last rouse myself to the task Of pre-
pairing for bed. With lingering touch
/ unclasped the jewels from my ears.
They were family heirlooms OF great
value my aunt had given me on my
eighteenth birthday. Their light
seemed almost to dazzle me, as placed
them in my jewel case, then glanced at
my betrothal ring, which caught and
held the light reflected from their
depths. Then one by one took the
pins from my hair and let it fall soft,
shimmering mass upon my shoulders.
How Claude had admired it when one
day on horseback it had escaped its
4hralldom. Would he love me the same
when its gold had turned to gray and
wrinkles had taken place of dimples.: !:
And, pecring into the glass, strove to
fancy the change, and add, in imagina-
tion, two score and ten to my age, when.
great Heaven! was that face white and
blanched, eyes wild with terror, mouth
half apart, with lips from which every
trace Of color had fed, the same which,
Z moment before, had pictured unsul-
lied happiness? What had brought the
change? Only : mans bare foot pro-
iecting from under my bed and casting
its own hideous reflection in the glass,
It was black and broad-the foot of \
negro. I watched it as = cat might
watch mouse, snake, q bird, with Z
fascination which seemed to enchail
and enthrall me. strove to scream
aloud, but the effort, mercifully, was q
vain one. Ny mouth, dry and parched.
could utter no sound. Ny breath came
hard and quick. Ny heart beat 30 loud
" that I thought that he must hear it.
.Ah, il Claude were but here!" And with
that thought the horrid spell broke.