The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-01-23
that if he remained of the same mind

that if he remained of the same mind
until the following year, he might pro-
pose again, and she might" then con-
slider the matter. Meanwhile, if Mrs.
Horton did not object, he might write
to her at school, but she would not anS
swer his letters.
Poor Fielding was utterly cast down.
not even the permission to write afford
ing him any hope, and all that kept him
from suicide was an earnest request
from Horton neither to make an ass of
himself nor to die on the premises;
after which that severe guardian lee
tured his ward quite harshly for her fir
tatious ways, especially when her arts
were practiced upon his own personal
friends.
"But l don't mean to, Jack; really
don't. What makes them act so? I
can't help it," sobbed the culprit.
"Yes, you can," said the mentor, Sc
verely, adding, mentally, "but they
can't"
He looked out of the window mo-
ment, then turned to her and, in a
strained voice, said:
'Papoose,' think it best you and
mother should curtail your visit and
go back to Ohio as soon as you can pack
up. I'll speak to mother about it to-
night, and-well, I'll see you at Christ.
mas, anyway"
Over year later, Horton wrote his
ward letter somewhat to the follow
ing effect:
There has been enough of this sort
of thing. 1 suppose you do your flirt-
ing now with the callow sophomores
and the hitherto sedate and dignified
professors, for want of better material.
Now, Olga, this must stop. Here is Jim
Fielding, one of the best, brightest,
brainiest fellows in the world, going
to the dogs on your account.
I want you to be serious and think
things over, and when you come down
here this time, do give Jim a chance"
Olga came on schedule time, along
with Mrs. Horton, and it was very
shortly after her arrival-not more
than two days-that Fielding again de-
clared himself.
But it was a different Olga to whom
he spoke this time. 1t was girl with
the same old ways, the same odd fan
cies, but yet a girl who could under
stand and appreciate his feelings, and
pity him with her whole heart without
making her pity obnoxious. She had
known, she said, that this was coming,
and had dreaded, yet hoped for, this
talk on the gallery; but she did not
tell him of her stormy interview with
John Horton that afternoon, when that
ogre had told her she must accord Field
ing hearing, or-or-there would be
indefinite trouble.
Fielding?" the girl asked, TREMENDOUSLY,
when she had finished telling him how
she had long thought it over and found
she could not love him. 81 suppose it's
useless to say I'm sorry, although l
hope you know am, So
81 know you are, Miss Horton. be-
lieve in your sympathy and your kind
ness of heart as thoroughly as 1 be-
lieve in human existence. And believe
in myself enough" he went on, more
firmly, ito think that might be the
successful one were it not for another
someone. Good night. God bless you
both"
They shook hands as two ordinary ac-
quaintances might have done, and Olga
disappeared through the hall and up the
stairs.
That very day Horton had made him
self practically certain that the future
of his giddy ward was assured-that,
true to his behests and the promptings
of conscience he had done everything
to make worldly, Olga would engage
herself to Jim Fielding. Then, after all
his guests had gone to bed, and he was
left alone in his library, this great, big
ex-soldier, thinking it was all over, and
that he was forsaken, leaned his head
on the table and cried like baby.
He was baby, too. For presently
some one entered the room quietly, and.
kneeling beside him, said:
'STell me, Jacky. Tell your mother"
Some women are jealous of their sons
loves. Jacks mother was not one of
these, no matter what her other faults.
"You can't direct woman's affec-
tons, darling, any more than you can
direct the tides or the winds. And
you have done great deal, it seems to
me, for Mr.. Fielding in this case
|
There must have been at least 2t
guests at Horizons house to celebrate
the homecoming, and these had pro-
gressed through nearly every course
when one of the girls, who sat opposite
Olga, remarked, suddenly:
"Why, Olga Horton! Where's your
pretty solitaire? The last time 1 saw
it"
Olga flushed, then paled, as she rose.
| trembling. and showed the solitaire IA