St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-06-26
9 WHO BREAKS, PAYS. /"
8 SssssssSsseessssssssss

NHE time was evening-the close of
K / a pleasant summers day.
The place, the tastefully and even
lGxuriously furnished parlor of a pref
ty villa in the suburbs of New York.
The people, a magnificently hand
some, athletic man of middle age, and
a lady some Is years his junior-not
handsome, but with "a face that was
full of power and expression, and whose
changing interest won the heart Of the
heholder as mere soulless beauty has
no power to do.
She had had her triamphs, in spite of
Der lack of regular loyeliness-this
woman with the sparkling face and the
deep, bewildering gray eyes. Many a
man had thrown his love and fortune at
her feet. She had accepted no such of
fcring, however, but had gone on hts
lonely though triumphant way; and
knew not how to love. ii
They would have acknowledged their
mistake could they have seen her on
this evening of which | write, as she
stood there in the twilight with those
scft, gray eyes resting upon the face of
her companion witha iuoS II 5asrning.
For her time, though long delayed,
had come at last. With all che force
of her strong and fiery nature, she
loved this man, who alone, out of all
the many she had known well, loved
rot her. ssks
1T is settled, them she said, in a
lew tone. 1--WE. part. You leave me
ard for her!f
No, my dear Agatha" he began, in
soothing way.
"Hush!' she sad, imperatively. "Do
7rot try to deceive me. know all, Elt-
ham, know that you are about 10 mar
~ a pretty little schoolgirl, whose two
attractions are her wax-doll hSauty aaEl
her wealth. Beauty like that / could
not have given you, but fame and love,
such as your schoolgirl never even
dreamed Of, might have been yours with
ne. But you have chosen. i say no
mere. Farewell, Eltham!'
Why couEd he not love this woman ?
She was young, and famous already
MS an opera singer. Above GIL, she loved
him better than he had ever been
loved before-.far better than he would
ever be loved again, ii he married as he
intended to do!
Agatha Beaumont's color rose high
beneath the doubling, questioning
glance those bright. blue eyes We're fix
ing On her face. With a woFBnn's keen
instincts she read her companion i
thought, and resented it tas only aproud
and loving woman could 40.
Never mind discussing the question
with yourself at this late day, Mr.,
Fitham Po5hings,'' she said, sareas--
tically. YOUR fate and mine are fixed
now. Once -good-bg.. IS
why need it be good by, Agatha92 q
iaid Ethan Poynings, IN his lowest,
deepest tone. Now that it had come
tc the actual farewell, he found that
this woman had taken stronger hold hold
upon his life than he knew. why need
ii be good-hy, dear Agatha? Cannot
we be friendsssti1, even though q s#s
Even though you give tosanot hasl
woman the love | once hoped to win!
Even though you come to me, for a
few brief nome ehts, when you grow
tired of her pretty face and childish
ways! Even though you leave ne aae
80 back to her, and leave me loving
yof:!!'
s'But. Agatha
take care!' she aaid, with dar4
glance. aYou have broken my heart
Who breaks. pays Take care thai
no evil befalls you through all this
md, that yon nay be safe from such
lsave me in peace now and foreveris'
She pressed his hand eonxalsiseiy
she glanced, through fast gathering
;eaIs, and, for tae last time, at thai