The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-11-06

there - 10 near dOOut lts TUT OcOu
was evidently ready to depart.
II shall be in first thing, of course. l
would stop if might, but it won't do
to scandalize your pupils. II there is
anything to be done you will fetch me
directly?"
II am so glad you are here!" said
George again.
Poor Anna! her tale was told in few
words, but those few words containeda
volume of sorrow. Her outward voyage
had been prosperous and exceedingly
pleasant. She was leaving poverty be-
hind her, and was about to meet the
man to whom her whole heart was
given, and who had, as she knew, made
a comfortable living for himself. She
was strong and well and light-hearted,
and all on board the vessel conspired TO
court and fiatter her. She might have
chosen husband from amongst half
a dozen men. but it was Jamie she
wanted and Jamie to whom she was go
ing. All through the voyage she pic
tured his delight when he should rush
on board the "Petrel" to welcome her.
but the "Petrel' arrived and there was
no Jamie. Nor the next day, nor the
next day; she settled herself in hotel.
wrote to him and waited.
After three days waiting lady was
ushered into her room-a lady most
distinctly of the strong minded genus.
mot a bad-looking woman, Anna
thought to herself as the two stood
watchfully regarding one another; not
bad looking, nor vulgar, nor quite a
lady, nor just at this moment quite at
her ease.
/ "You are Miss Edgar, aren't your
she said, after that pause of inspection.
at is rather awkward for us, you see.
I am Mrs. Barrington-you won't take
it kindly, am afraid-but Jem would
not come himself, he would send me,
Now what can we do to put things as
right as they can be?
So the delay was explained The de-
lighted bridegroom had not rushed to
meet his bride because he was already
husband to another woman. It went
lizard with Anna, but she was q proud
woman and compelled herself to give q
cold attention to the explanations that
Mrs. harrington forced upon her. As
if, being betrayed, it mattered to heI
how the thing was done! A rescue from
danger on the one side, a nursing
Through an illness on the other. What
did it matter to the woman they had
cheated? Mrs. Barrington's offers OF
assistance were haughtily declined, and
the first steamer that left Melbourne
carried Anna Edgar with it, f.sssg
"Did your foresee, this, George, wher
you gave me the exact passage money
in that purse towards the house plen
ishing?'"
/ Don't ask home questions, darling
answered George with kisses. Lie
fstill and get well as quickly as you
cam" 20. fsoa y4s
| For Anna had been exceedingly III
upon the return voyage, and was still
terribly weak and shaken. The sym
pathy of all the place was with her, fol
seeing the impossibility Of keeping ths
disaster secret, the Edgars had decided
to speak Of it openly at once, and friend
Fly gifts of all kinds came in to show the
kindly feeling of the neighbors. The
little house overfowed like cornu
q copia with fruit and flowers.
Geoffrey hung about, ready to nurse
run errands, write letters, or do any
thing that, could be required of him, as
long as his business could spare him
and then unwillingly announced thai
he must go.
4 sYou will say it is heartless of me if ]
suggest that it is an ill wind that blow:
nobody any good" he said, squeezing
lGeorgie's hand as they sat over the
twilight fire; "but you see Anna coult
not have done me better turn than by
coming to grief in this way. All YOU
misfortune seems to be good luck t.
| me. If she had not come back / should
have been afraid to ask you to come tt
me, George, darling. for you would
have said you could not leave Josie.
, cannot offer you anything like wha
you are used to or what you ought tt
/ have, but you say you do not mine
being poor."ass ,ss.sy k.sf 81
L ike IL, 0ocu, ucdIs dHS"Cics
: George; "and, besides, your povert.
liz wealth compared with ours" .
II Extraordinarily was Anna Edga
when she went out to Australia in TIL
|. Petrol" At three-and-thirty she wa
|; Anna Edgar still, and the ''Petrel" wa
stcaming towards England with Jane
Il Darlington on board.
g The little house in Oxford road ha'
proved CHEEKY home during these tel
years to two busy and therefore happ,
women. Josie had tended the invalid t
the close of her pilgrimage, and NOV
T aided her young daughter in the 81
perintendence of the household; Ann
{ had stepped into the place that Georgi
) left vacant, and had become famou
: through the neighborhood as teache