The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-02-20

cares for best-or, failing the loved
presence, with the memory of some ten-
der message to haunt : through the
day. John missed both Bitterly, and
determined to seek in music peace a
mind, since forgetfulness was impose
sible.
He paid extfavagaltly for his seat
in st. James hall, and took possession
of it Just as some one began the Moons
ligs Sonata" Dreamily he enjoyed
the wonderful mesmeric melody; 1isten-
ing, with closed eyes, he heard its tens
der human voice tell Of Elsa, Of their be-
trothal and the storminess Of their
parting. As it ended, he awoke, sigh
ing, from his r~eYerie, to a conscious
ness of Elsa's presence. He could not
account for tit seemed part Of the
dream-yet there she sat, next to him.
studying the programme, her sweet,
oval face shaded by a large black hat
that cunningly revealed the waavs and
coils of her chestnut hair. She was
dressed faultlessly and looked at ease
with the world and herself. John mad
pictured their meeting so differently
he had had visions Of need and dis
tress bringing her back to him, 81 love
conquering pride, and he missed the
pathetic, downward IN of her red
lips.
Unconscious OF his scrutiny, shesread
on to the end CT the page, when she
booked up and their eyes met. She
started a little, then held out her hsnd.
with a gracious movement.
"How do you do? You are the last
person in the world / expected to find
herel I hoped to be in time for TIE
sonata, but ! see I have just missed it.
He did not hear a word of the song
TINT followed-he was wondering what
to say to this strange, cold, but ever
fascinating Elsa. She turned to him in
the interval and said:
'My conscience has often prieloed
me about not writing to Mrs. Ponder.
Have you seen her lately?"
eyes, 1 saw her last week" he ans
swered, hurriedly, "and she told me
something you have a right to know"
Eliza held up her little gloved hand
with a deprecating gesture.
"Oh, please-please--nothing about
that unfortunate diamondl I suppose
it has turned up somewhere. / meant
to save up and send you another, bui
afterwards 1 thought it would be bet
ter to forget it all"
"And me2 Well, perhaps you are
right" said John, slowly.
II am not always right" said Elsa
frankly, smiling on his melancholy
face; "for instance, / should have told
YOU from the first about my father
but I put it off because l like pleasant
topics, ard that always made me cry
"For Gods sake, Elsa, be merciful
You don't think I love you less because
of that? And, Elsa, dear, | have
searched for you for three years to tr1
and undo what ! said in a moment o.
madness. Can't you forgive me|
Elsa's manner bAdled him, but wheE
she spoke her voice was low and trem
ulous.
81 forgave you long ago, and don,
.s-a,Aaale az it anx mora. eXerxthfpe
is past and buried. /
Everything but our promises and
plans for the future, you meanT"
"PIease don't speak Of them, they
were childish. The perfect love and
trust we spoke of so gliby were myths.
But / shall always be gratefulto you"
81 don't understand. You talk in
riddles. Why should yu be grateful
10 mel"
; "You told me once tat there is al
ways a second best. 1 ave learned to
find it."
what do you mean Where have
v,u been all this time Don't keep my
!. in such SUSPENSE can bear it'll"
81 suppose / owe youn explanation.
!, When ran away l madsome desperate
! resolutions. They camto nothing, for
u when / went to mywk in the morn
! ing, determined to giveotice and bury
: myself where no onehould find me,
" MIR. Scarpley was so nd that, in an
swer to his inquiries, vas tempted to
0 tell him the whole stof' Elsa stopped
! and stared at the emp platform for q
moment.
! IF I had only kno!" murmured
2 John, frowning. Il vt there, but he
would give me no clev
sHe Is the best andarest of men,
g returned Elsa, warm II made him
II promise. And thouge had only my
II word, he believed inc, and-and--
e loved me. Desolate, rt-broken and
7 friendless as / was, offered me the
I truest heart that eveeat, and I'M
P worthy as I was, I acted it, and have
le learnt to value it"
tsYou married thahanl" gasped
Z John, hardly knowinhat he said.
ELSA gently bent head. tThat
ed honor was mine,' isaid, proudly.
he "He is not young-may call him
er plain. 1 think he is best and hand.
he soonest mar in the vi and he thinks
ng l am the most p~erfeoman that ever
ce lived. So now youw why 1 am
.er grateful"
ler The long-haired fite again took
mt his place at the piauSlsa smiled and
applauded with the, It was clear
he she had no pity foln's heartache,