The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-04-03

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! dow, and so intent upon arranging some
lilies in a bowl that she did not motto,
his presence until he was close beside
! her.
His voice recalled her absent thoughts
! and, looking up with a start, the warn
blood mounted to her brow, notwith
| standing her effort to control the mo-
mentary weakness.
Il did not expect to sea you 50 soon.
she said, in answer to his Good morn
ing"
And I did not expect to see 70,
alone. We are both disappointed.
most agreeably. Will you allow me t.
assist you? No? Perhaps you doub1
my ability. shall improve it by watch
ing you. Or better still. I shall taxi
advantage Of this opportunity to tel
you that l am sorry ever came here.
THAT is q poor compliment to Miss
Hilton and me, replied Margaret, with
an attempt a1 lightncss, and al absorb.
ing interest in her task.
You know what / mean, he returned
with some warmth. you know why
the very sight Of you is painful for me
You seem happy enough, but am Ut
terry miserable"
Did you sleep well last night?" she
broke in, with questionable irreleyancy
placing the flowers, which she could
make no further prctext Of fixing, in the
middle Of the table.
NO, J. didn't sleep at ALL" was the
rather short reply; Il was haunted.
Haunted! How unpleasant! I wonder
why they don't bring in breakfast.
Will you ring that bell by you, please"
No, no! Wait enc moment, Mar
garet. [ dare say the coffee isn't ready,
or the steak ism cooked. or something.
I don't like my breakfast hail done; be-
sides, I'm not hungry
But l. am; I've had Il long ride this
morning.
You didn't use to ride at S'conset.
COnfoun0 that holci How | wish it had
been swallowed up before | ever saw it.!
Why did you deceive me, Margaret?
You told me ycur name was Smith"
And so it was while J was there.
Others knew me as Miss Smith, why
shouldn't you?'
She colorcd in spite Of herself.
You might have told nc afterward, !"
he continued, rcproachfully. What a
difference it would have madc!'
Il understand" she replied, with not
little scorn, and Brian, feeling that he
had committed himself again, was about
to say something in his own vindication,
when the door opened and Miss Hilton
entered, thus putting al end to the tcte-
a-tete.
He saw llargaret's expression Of re-
lief, and his heart sank accordingly.
But during breakfast she talked to him
SO pleasantly and naturally that he be.
gan to feel less depressed. He YVES even
planning a quiet hour with her during
the morning, when she arose from the
table, with tho words:
Il think shall ride over to The Cedars,
Miss Hilton. / haven't seen Alice since
my return, you know. I am sure you
and cousin Brian will have lots to talk
over, so I'll leave him in your hands,"
Miss Hilton noticed the change that
passed over Brian's countenance, but
she answered quite checrfuIly:
Very we'll, my dear. You mustn't
neglect your friends. Brian and / will
have Il nice, quiet morning together.
Don't let tho Colonel keep you too
long"
After your remark about the quiet
morning, l think III spend the day"
was Margarct's quiet reJoinder. as she
passed through the door which Brian
held open for her.
Twenty minutes later she had mount
ed her horse, and was following the
well-kept road through the busy little
town. But though sho was nodding
every few minutes to the people she
passed, her thoughts were far from her
present surroundings. -1
Certain ideas had obtained Judgment
in her mind and refused to be displaced
For the first time, the possibility that
her uncle had looked forward to union
between her cousin and herself came to
her with certainty that was absolute
pain. She recalled many incidents and
illusions, many half-forgotten conversa-
tons, which received u deeper meaning
from this new possibility.
She remembered that often, in speak
ing Of Brian, her uncle had said good
wife would be his salvation, that home
ties would bind him to more useful
life, and that his most earnest desire
was to see his hayward son we'll and
happily married.
But she remembered, above all, that
when her uncle lay dying he had awak-
ened, after many hours Of unconscious
ness, to say, in accents which only her
ear could catch: God will bless and
guard you, Margaret. Don't forget
Brian, and be good to him for my sake"
The request had sounded oddly then,
but now it had a new meaning. Was
her uncle looking into the future even
then, or did he in his dying moments
enjoy the happy deIusion that his hopes
were realized:
Margaret was trying to answer this
painful question when She reached her
dcstiration-a handsome, modern-look-
ing house, surrounded by stately cedars.
Running up the broad staircase, with
the air Of one familiar with the sur
roundings, she paused before half
opened Goor, with the words:
May come in, Alice?"
For answer, there was a glad cry; the
sound of n chair falling, followed by
Il e. >lrA