The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-06-19

q leaving you alone,
night" 10 saidmy
aunt, as she stood ready for her jour
ney to her country home.
My trunks were standing strapped
and packed with hers, but had insisted
upon remaining until the next day to
attend to the last things necessary, and
she had given consent Tery reluctantly
and, even at this late moment, seemed
rcpenting. But 1 laughed as kissed her
again and again, and said:
"You forget, aunt, Claude is to spend
the evening with me, SO 1 will not have
time to feel lonely; and, as for fear, It
would be a sensation sc novel that |
think 1 would quite fancy anexperience
Besides, you have left two or three OF
the servants, and I do not know that
your absolute presence would scare
away any intruders." But she shook
her head with rather an unbelieving air,
and the last look / had, as she leaned
from the carriage window to wave her
hand in adieu, was one of loyinganxiety.
But on my own face was no shadow of
care, as I glanced for a moment with a
little pardonable pride at its reflection
IN the long mirror in the drawing-roons.
A glad delight was dancing in the
bright blue eyes at thought of the even
ing's anticipated pleasure, for was not
Claude coming, and was not that name
synonymous with all life and concen-
trated sweetness? Had not the thought
of one evening more spent with him
lent weight to the entreaty that l might
remain another day under plea of use
fulness? What practical test had l lever
given that 1 could be useful? "
When Claude came 1 l~augbingly re-
counted to him my aunt's foolish fears
and how near, through them, we came
to losing these few precious hours; but
somehow, for the first time, his laugh
failed to echo mine, and when the clock
upon the mantel chimed eleven silVery
strokes, and he rose to go, he said, very
earnestly:
81 half believe, Kate, your aunt was
right, and almost wish you had gone
with her."
""That is all very well to say now" l
answered, when the time has come
really to bid good-by. If you had let
me know your wishes this morning, I
should have endeavored to comply
with them"
"My ~selfshness forbade my giving
them room, and, besides, it is a mere
temporary infection. (This with a half
laugh). Your aunt, as you say, is no
formidable protection, and, after all.
Kate Growing serious), 1 leave my dar-
ling in the good Gods hands. Only,
dear, 1 shall be very glad when the time
comes that 1 can offer her a husbands
protecting love-"
Then kissing the cheeks into which
the scarlet blood had rushed at his
words, he held me for one moment with
a new earnestness clasped to his heart,
uttered a last goodnight and left me.
"See that everything is securely
closed for the night, Ben" l said to the
old butler, whose eyes were already
half closed, and then slowly mounted
the stairs. Usually 1 few up them as
a bird, but Claude's words had filled mt
with happy thoughts, and it seemed al
though some sweet, soothing spirit ha6
favored me with it's white wings, and
must make no hurried movement, les
it should fly away. 1 entered my room
closed and bolted my door, and SAM
into a chair before my dressing bureau
My windows opened upon a little bal
Cony, and the curtains trembled will
the cool breeze which came laden will
the scent of the flowers 1 had trained
upon it. l seemed filed with deliciou,
languor, and it required some effort t.
at last rouse myself to the task of pre-
pairing for bed. With lingering toucl
1 unclasped the jewels from my ears
They were family heirlooms of grea'
value my aunt had given me on m,
) eighteenth birthday. Their ligh
seemed almost to dazzle me, as I placed
, them in my jewel case, then glanced a
, my betrothal ring, which caught ant
| held the light reflected from thei
depths. Then one by one I took tn,
pins from my hair and let it fall a soft
shimmering mass upon my shoulders
How Claude had admired it when on,
. day on horseback it had escaped it
thralldom. Would he love me the sam,
/, when its gold had turned to gray an,
wrinkles had taken place of dimples
= And, peering into the glass, 1 strove t
! fancy the change, and add, in imagina
ton, two score and ten to my age, when
: great Heaven! was that face white an
blanched, eyes wild with terror, moutl
. half apart, with lips from which ever
! trace of color had fled, the same which
q moment before, had pictured unsuI
lied happiness2 What had brought tn
change? Only a mans bare foot pro
v jecting from under my bed and castin
it's own hideous reflection in the glas
It was black and broad-the foot of
4 negro. 1 watched it as a cat migt
watch a mouse, a snake, a bird, with
fascination which seemed to enchai
and enthrall me. I strove to screal
aloud, but the effort, mercifully, was
vain one. My mouth, dry and parche,
b could utter no sound. My breath can
l. hard and quick. My heart beat so lou
ly that l thought that he must hear i
H. "Ah, if Claude were but here!" And wit
/ that thought the horrid spell brok
u Some degree of calmness took the plaC
q of almost frenzy. The remembrance