The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-26

an = ouu co1ue up TO you.
he ls using them" observed Mar
saret' smiling at the long, heavy strides
ascending the steps,. sAlice. don't he
Jealous, please, If 1 say that BERTHE ia
Que sy OF the incest men in this world"
Thanks for the compliment. which
wasn't intended for my ears. lust
neard from Your groom that Won Ind
condesc ended to honor ma with . v.eit y
An 40. bertie burst into the room.
1t is SO natural to find you here, he
auaed. Father feels ten years younger
rom your very presence. And you are
looking better - much better - than
When saw you last, though YOU might
Still be the original of Tennyson's %
rare, pale Margaret.
Nonsense" interrupted the Colonel.
rather testify. Don't be fool BERTHE
"hat long tongue you have"
You see, Margaret" observed BERTHE,
WIN laughing eyes, my appreciative
father still allows his admiration Of nv
talents to surprise him into little affec-
tlonate speeches. You must not think
anything of it. He is very proud of me, :"
"Humph!" was the contempuous re-
ply, at which Margaret and Alice
laughed.
Throughout the visit the cheerful
badinage continued, and when she was
ready to go home, after not a little
pressure to stay longer, Ber.ie declared
his intention OF rid ng with her.
1T was SO good Of you to come" she
said, after they had left The Cedars
and he mad expressed his pleasure in
Brian's changed conduct. "You knew I
had something to say to you"
Your eyes tell all your secrets, Mar
garet. What is that something's" ~
Can you not guess? It affects Brian
and you. You have always been such
COCA friends until very lately, and I am
SO anxious for those OLD feelings to be
renewed. The circums ances of your
last meeting were not-very pleasant.
He will remember this, and perhaps you
will remember it too. I am going to
ask you to forget it. When I recall all
that you have done for me before, feel
perfectly confident that you will not re-
fuse this favor. You unders land me, I
am sure?'
Understand! Who can fail to under
stand su h goodness as yours? When
I think Of that, it is oil the harder to
forget the suffering he has caused you.
Perhaps I cannot promise, Margaret.
"Oh, yes, you can. The suffering you
speak Of may have been Of great adj
vantage. may become the better and
the stronger for it. Besides, Brian has
struggled and suffered too. You can
never know how much. Even can
never know how much. And he is try
ing now. For that he deserves credit.
! think you will have to do as I wish,
BERTHE. Indeed, am sure you will"
There, l have nothing more to say.
You always have your way. I dare say
we don't realize what Brian had tC
overcome before he Won his victory
and as far as my words or actions are
concerned, he shall have no reminder Of
the past. .
Thank you," was the grateful an.
swer. II never liked you better or adj
mired you more than do now"
He smiled his response as they turned
in at the gates of Elmwood. AS they ap.
preached the door Margaret saw Brian
waiting to meet her..
He had evidently not expected to see
BERTHE, and Margaret noticed slight
embarrassment upon his face.
Il have BERTHE with me-" she said
riding close to him. He has come al.
the way from The Cedars to see YOU"
Little hypocrite," murmured BERTHE
under his breath. "DOn't you think il
wrong to tell tibs?" s-.-
The next second he had assisted hel
from her horse and turned to Brian
|. No word passed between them, but thei
d-clasp held language and a mean
ing of it's own.
fro BE CONTINUED.