The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-02-06

81 would not be
so sure, if / were you," was the re.
spouse Of the other person, who stood
on the path which led to the road
from the country house behind them.
The two girls had strolled down tho
walk in the crisp winter sunlight, and
they looked as unlike as two people
could we'll be.
julia Stallo turned her head with
quick, iuperious movement as she e.
claimed:
"Why would you not feel sure. since
I am sure? Do You think ! would give
my promise to nan who did not
adore me?"
"Brt mon may adore at one mo-
ment, and be Indifferent the next"
returned Miss Branch, stopping to
twist more closely about her head the
blue, fluffy mass Of wool which pro-
tected her from the cold.
1.-The man whom I love will not do
SO, was tho quick reply.
Miss Branch, who was four or five
years older than the magnificent bru-
nette, looked at ler curiouSly in 81.
lence tor time.
Miss Branch Was small. One at
first would have said she was plain,
but might discover that her face pos.
sessed q wonderful power of express
sion; there might be concentrated
spark in her eyes that would possess
force in whatever way she chose.
After pause she said quietly:
81 should imagine it might be easy
for man to be faithful to creature
like vou. Is Mr.. North coming to.
day."
eyes"
81 think yon make great mistake
in loving any man so much. All what
is that:"
The exclamation was caused by the
sound Of something rushing through
the shrubbery Of evergreens at the
right Of where the two girls we're
standing.
Julia Stallo shrieked o. little, ana
shranl1 to one side, and at the same
moment q huge, dark.colored dog
dashed out from the cedar hedge. His
head WIS down, his mouth scattered
foam, and his eyes emitted sparks.
Whiio julia, who bad sprung away,
had gone directly in the path of
the infuriated animal, Miss Branch,
who had remained where she had been
standing, was several yards from him.
The brute was going on with that
answering leap which is SO terrible to
see, and he had passed Miss Branch,
who had not moved, toward Julia
Stallo, who seemed potritied with ter.
ror in the spot where she stood.
"For Gods sake, jump out of the
way" cried Miss Branch, shriily.
Gle will not turn!"
If Julia heard she gave no sign; she
was incapable Of moving.
Miss Branch could not stand quiet.
! There was dash of physical courage
in her which enabled her to spring
| 10, ward, slipping of the crimson shawl
from her shoulders as she did so, and
then Haunting It full in the face OF the
wild-eyed animal, who moved one
side, and wayered in confusion, while
Julia Stallo sank down to the ground
in q heap, and her white face was like
the face OF the dead, save for the pro
truj1ins eyes OF horror.
The dog, batfled Tor the moment and
uncertain, nov tnrued toward Miss
Branch. II was useless for her to try
| to run. She c,sspea her hands and
stood still.
Only for breath OF time, however.
The sound OF o footstep on the frozen
gravel might have been heard by the
girls, if they could have heard any
thing.
The footstep was that of someone
running furlousIy. A man appeared
He had pistol in his hand, enl
though there WAS terrible fear il
his mind that be might not aim cor
rectly, he could not hesitate.
The flash, the report OF the pisto
and the dog rolled over with moan
his teeth set fast in the skirt of Mis-
Branch's dress.
1t was to Julia Stallo's side that tn,
nan sprang, hardly glancing Mt Mis-
Branch, who coo!ly drew a penknif'
from her pocket, and, stooping, care
fully cut her dress away from the gr,]
sf the dying dogs teeth.
"rhat, | suppose, is Mr.. North,
she said to herself, looking at him at
teutively as no bent on one knee owe
Julia, whose senses had come back t,
her sufficiently to enable her to recoe