The Opelousas courier., 1897-07-03
FROM JIM"

den path, with It's lrlngeS OF leatuefSS
ferns and pale, sweet-faced violeta.
She was looking as cool as il the day
we're filled with delicious sea breezes.
Scissors in hand, she stood and con.
templated the sweetly-blooming flow
er-beds before her, filled with their
old. fashioned favorites; as we'll as
newer rarer flowers!
Another figure fitted up the garden
path-that of a young man, tall. dark,
stalwart and handsome. The clark,
dark eyes" lit up when he saw Dell,
aud he waved his hand gaily to her.
"Isn't it warm today?'
Rick said this with a profoundly
wise look, as ii afraid Dell might
not yet have discovered the fact. Then
he famed himself vigorously with his
straw hat.
do you really think 500" with
sarcasm. "Why, I was Iaboring I'M
der the mistaken impression that it is
rather cool. I'm glad you came to
undeceive me-" gratefully.
"Don't be ridiculous!" said Ric K
Anderton, severely. Theu: "Won't
you give me a flower, Dell?:" with an
.insinuating smile.
s.Here is the last rosa Of SUMNER "
said Dell, cutting the "Iast rose" off
its stem with q vicious snip of the scis-
sors. "It's rather faded and old, but
Of course you don't mind" in a tone
impossible to translate.
"No, indeed" said Rick, provok-
ingly, while Dell pinned it to the Ia.
pei of his coat. "Of course [ don't
mind if it is a trife faded"
He was looking straight into her
eyes as he said it, and as he was her
lover, Dell took a very unfair inter
probation OF his remark.
"Dell, where did you get that
ring?"
Rick Anderton took Dell's SNOW
flake of a hand on his own great,
one, and gaZed at it, a frown,
half playful, half real, in his eyes.
"Ob, somewhere said Dell, in n
manner as exasperating at it was
vague. ''But which one DO you mean,
Rick? THIS one? Why, you gave it
to me. Don't you remember"
81 don't mean that one," said Rick,
the frown in his eyes growing more
ominously dark, the playful express
sion entirely gone.
"This one. then? Aunt Belle gave
it to NE on my last birthday. You've
seen it ever so many times before, I'm
quite sure"
II don't mean that one!"
And R:ck's voice was SO harsh and
stern and jealous that Deli almost
skipped out of her dainty slippers.
She heaved a reluctant sigh; there
was only n ring left-a ~delicately-
chased gold one-so she supposed she
would have to tell him all about it.
She meant to teach him q lesson,
though, for being SO Jealous.
"This, "she began, with a charming,
as we'll as exasperating air Of reluct-
ance-"er-Jim sent me yesterday.
Isn't it lovely?"gazing up at him with
bewitching blue eyes.
Rick made no reply, but held her
hand tightly crushed il his own, dis.
pleasure and pain in his eyes.
"You hurt me. Rick" said Dell,
plaintively, gently essayingcts with
draw her hand. y
She was rather enjoying the scends
but she had no intention of permitting
her hand to be broken to bits.
With an impatient gesture, Rici
dropped il.
"Who is Jim?" he said, abruptly.
"a dear old friend of mine, Rick"
with enthusiasm. II only wish you
knew Jim. You would be perfectly
delighted"
II beg leave to differ with you, .
said Rick, freezingly. II would not
be delighted with him, for I'm sure
he's a prig and a fool!"
Dell looked snubbed.
But isn't the ring pretty?" she said.
ut last, holding it up tantalizingIy.
"And see what's engraved on it."
'sTo Darling Dell, from JIM"
As Rick read, the passionate, Jealous
pain at his heart became almost unen-
durable. He dared not trust himself
to speak, Sc he turned abruptly and
strobe rapidly down the garden. path.
dell ausaed, though just = little
r~neasiIy.
"He will come back tonight" she
thought, f'to ask to be forgiven for
doubling me. and then how he will
laugh when he knows all about lit"
But the lovely blue eyes were a trifs
clouded for all that when she returned
to the house laden With flowers.