The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-12-18

ohS PiSAoSos
But if she pleases to marry him! l
could not bear it-oh, l could not
bear it,"
The anguish in the young voice
stirred Pauline strangely. She turned
and laid her hands upon his shout
ders.
ooh, yes, you could" she said. SIT
would be hard, but you could"
do you think to comfort me by
telling me that?" he said, bitterly.
"fou are very good, Pauline, but you
don't understand these things.
He drew her hands from his shout
ders anu clasped them tightly to-
gether.
mo, l suppose l don't-as you I'M
derstand them," she said, with touch
of sarcasm.
He looked at her in surprise.
"Why, believe you are out of spir-
it's, too, Pauline! Can it be the
weather, do you Think"
"Oh, it must be. The weather is al
ways to blame for everything, isn't
it?"
81 think drive would do us both
good. Won't you take pity on me
since Katherine has left me in the
lurch?"
At any other time Pauline would
have been only too glad to enjoy the
delightful privilege of drive behind
Jacks handsome bays, but to-day she
felt that even in so slight thing as
this she could not bear voluntarily to
make herself second to Katherine. =.
Thank you, Jack" she answered.
gently. But I'm afraid I'm too dull
to make an agreeable companion. L
think I'll practise for an hour or so,
and see if l can't get into more COM
Portable state of mind"
"Well, I won't urge you, Pauline.
How dark it has grown within the last
hour. There isn't an inch of blue sky
to be seen anywhere" he added, glanc-
ing from the window as he turned to
go.
Pauline accompanied him as far as
the door, then came back and seated
herself at the piano. She was still
there, running over scales with fever
ish velocity when Katherine came in,
flushed and a little tired from walk
ing.
For goodness sake, Pauline, do
stop that dreadful banging! 1t is
enough to drive one wild! / wonder
mamma has patience to endure it,
she exclaimed, fretfully.
She went over to the fire, and sink
ing into a low chair began impatiently
to remove her long gloves. Pauline
left the piano at once, and came and
stood beside her sister.
did you not have pleasant time,
Katherine?" she asked.
"No-yes. Has any one been in
this afternoon"
Jack has,
ooh, jack" Katherine said a little
contemptuously. ANY one else?"
mo one"
Hasn't Mr.. Eliot
"Why can't you understand Kath-
erine," Pauline interrupted, sharply,
that no one includes Mr.. Eliot the
same as every one else?"
Katherine looked up at her tall,
young sister, half startled. Pauline
was not won't to speak thus to her.
Il think, Katherine" Pauline went
swiftly on, that you ought to feel
ashamed to treat Jack Donelson as
you do. He is entitled to little con-
sideration, at least, and when you
nro,,oica IN dr;va with him of on sf-
ternoon and then go deliberately off
without word to make some unnec-
essary calls, it is not considerate, to
say nothing of it's being downright
rude
A slow angry flush rose in Rather
ines beautiful face.
Dear me, Pauline" she cried,
scornfully, you are really quite dra-
matte! Would you mind saying that
again little more slowly? I'm afraid
I did not fully understand il"
1t was Pauline's turn to blush.
BE as scornful as you please,
Katherine" she said, but it's true,
and you know perfectly well that if
it wasn't for Wilton Eliot's .-----ay
you would never give him second
thought. Why. even Jack would be
preferable in that case"
With that she went swiftly out of
the room, too angry to trust herself
farther with words.
The atmosphere of the house
seemed to stife her. She felt that she
must get into the open air. To think,
with Pauline was to act always. Five
minutes later found her walking rap
idly in the direction of the river. 1t
was a dark, swollen flood that crept
along between the shelving banks on
either side. By-and-by, when the ice
had formed on it's surface, it would
be the scene of many gay skating
frolic. But now, as Pauline stood be-
side it, watching absently few flut-
tering snowfakes fall one by one into
the sluggish current. the river seemed
to typify her own dark mood.
A step sounded behind her, and she
turned to meet the grave. questioning
gaze with which Wilton Eliot was re-
garding her.
miss Ward" he began.
only Pauline" she corrected, smil-
ing little bitterly.
Il beg your pardon for having star
tied you, but | was taking the short
cut to the station, and seeing you in
the distance, thought l would stop