The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-10-23

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ward expression of it, and bring about
unintentional Sights and apparent
coolnesses, and it is trying, too, from
the fact that the longer it lasts the less
consideration or sympathy it seems Il
elicit from those even most nearly
allied to the lovers; and who, wheI
the first eclat of the affair is over, are
apt to regard its leng thened existence
with something of impotence, not to
say contempt. Dick and 1 have been
engaged an immense while, four years
before mother died; and he was ready
and waiting for me when he was first
taken ill, nearly year before that.
1 don't see him often. He is a civil
engineer and too busy to pay frequent
visits to our quiet village; but during
this one his patience has been tried
more than usual.
Is there ever gayer, gladder time
In all the year; or a gayer, gladder
morning than this when-I rise and
look across the frothing snow of pear
blossoms and meadows paved with
golden buttercups, to the red roof of
the village inn, half hidden in elm
trees, beneath which Dick lodges
Perhaps he may be striding across
those meadows now to pay us an early
visit and bring me bunch of violets.
He has done so once or twice; but
father doesn't like visitors at break
fast, and I'm afraid Dick has found it
out; at any rate, he does not come to-
day, and so 1 go down to breakfast,
give the orders for dinner, and am
just going to assist my little sister
through her laborous efforts at wading
up the scale on the piano when the
maid brings me letter which she
says has just come from the inn, and L
see it is from Dick.
How thankful I have been since
then that L left Maud and went away
to read it by myself; for even the first
words seem to daze and dazzle me!
1t begins. "My dear Cecily," and then
1 sit and read and re-read the over
and over again, how long L never
knew, with eyes that see, yet see not,
and heart which beats, yet refuses
to comprehend. Dick is gone, and
this is what he tells me:
When he went back to the inn he
found letter awaiting him from the
contractors for that Canadian railroad
of which he had told me before. 1t
was a very liberal offer, and he was
still very hot and angry. On the spur
of the moment he sat down and &C
cepted it; and then, in the act of seal
ing the letter, repented of what he had
done. Perhaps he remembered how
long we had loved one another and
what bitter pain parting would be; at
any rate, he put the letter in his peck
ct and came up to the vicarage to tell
me again that if would marry him in
June, he would still accept the small
er appointment in lieu of this; or, if
that were really impossible, would ar
range to come back from Canada in
the autumn, make me his wife, and
take me back to Canada with him.
Well, you guess what he found ? A
whole family laughing and making
game of him, mocking at the pain
which had driven him away; the love
which had brought him back; my
help me, mine!-the
loudest in the party, my hand aiding
in the jest which was amusing set of
boys. "And So" he
wrote, 81 went away, and write this
now to bid you goodbye. My eyes
have been opened at last, and I see
only too plainly that the years which
have only intensified my love for you
have withered yours at the root, that
nv visits have been a WEAKNESS, my
fidelity a jest. Perhaps some day L
nav live to be thankful that / have
learned this lesson even so late, but /
cannot do so yet, nor can / bring my
self to the useless pain of meeting
you again. l go back to my lodgings
At once, and sail for Canada this week.
Would to heaven you had told me the
ruth which sends me from you before,
but do not blame you for not doing
SO. You were always gentle at heart,
and I believe you could not bear to
hurt me to my face" And then he
babe God bless me, and signed him
self, "Yoms ever faithfully, Richard
Meredith.
/ cut the meat and serve the pud
ding that day at dinner, and though
cannot say one word, and there must
be something in my face which
'rightens the boys, for they stare at
me with wondering eyes and are
strangely good and quiet, I never
break down once, or rise until the
neal is quite ended; and then at last
escape, and as / write to Dick the
tears which have been frozen till now
break forth like rain and blot the
words as fast as they are penned.
For of course / answer him. Ihave
-ead-in novels-of girls who, when
hey have hurt or angered their
overs, are too proud to write or say
one word for pardon; but 1 am not
ike that. L love him too dearly, ill
rs L may have proved it, and stupid
md shy as 1 have been of showing my
Affection by outward signs. l am too
sure of his love for me to let any false
shame or misunderstanding rest be-
1ween us; and so 1 write and just tell
him the whole truth about that luck
ess scene, tell him how dear he is to
ne, and beg him humbly and with
f1ro;x,o a., l1x,o 49, ALI