The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-08

fSM,HffN1saa;/I but my pledge
;Nj' Gaz already given
III InslsSze another"
s[Ss2Qszas>, "And that othe
;MIlyM<'& is" exclaimed tn
MIW/IhZy.b"~ young man, almos
s~ q involuntarily, an
> without removin
MS intent gaze from tho girls beautj
full face.
A vivid blush sufused Rennie's fai
cheeks for a moment; then her lin
parted in frank, happy laugh.
II do not mind telling you, Nj
Neal, since you will know so soon.
am engaged to Roscoe Farnham,"
For the first time Meals eve
dropped away from hers; but the lool
that flashed through them during tha
brief interval was as quickly yelled a.
ne said, in tones whose slightly trem
ulous accent seemed quite natural
under the circumstances:
"Accept my sincere congratulations,
Miss Lawrence!"
Then with pressure of the hand.
he was gone.
Once outside Of the house, however,
the mask fell from his countenance,
80" he Kissed between his set
teeth, "Roscoe Farnham, the only
rival l feared, has supplanted me !
But let him beware! his apparent sue.
cess in no way weakens the force of
my determination to win Rennie
Lawrence for my vile. 10 has g.
pledge, but he has not yet the lady
ana the old adage holds good, that
there's many q slip 'twixt CLIP and
lip What luck has Won, craft may
despoil him Of"
But no threatening of the secretly
vowed revenge was apparent for
time.
The young men met each other on
apparently tho most friendly terms.
and Neal had promised to be best man
at the prospective ceremony.
Calling upon Mr.. Lawrence one
evening, Neal desired q private inter-
view, at the close of which Rennie was
summoned to the library.
my child" said her father, with
manifest excitement; "you have
bestowed your affections upon a man
devoid of honor or principle. Tell
her, Neal"
:, Spare me. Mr.. Lawrence" said
Neal, averting his face. "You tell !
her. l will assist you if necessary"
Between them the story was told.
How Neal, in consequence of alleged
suspicious, had been investigating Mr..
Farnham's antecedents, and had
learned that his love affairs in various
places were quite notorious.
That, just prior to his engagement
to Rennie, hs Ind cruelty broken
previous betrothal, and finally that
bis employers were even then investi.
eating grave charges against him.
which were likely to lead to his dis
nissal from the firm.
snow, my daughter" said Mr..
Lawrence, in conclusion, "will you
Wait to DO publicly involved in this
mans inevitable disgrace, or will you
'ct the part OF wisdom by Diminishing
lin at once?"
Rennie had listened without word or
Ign, but now she raised her haon+isp1
lead proudly. .
II will do this" she answered
[uletly. Il will send him q letter BY
ames this very night, and by his own l
nswer will [ judge him. If he is in. {
eed dishonorable and unworthy, no S
etter that he can write, no matter
ow skillfully worded, can hide it or +
lsguise it from me?" ,
And without another word she left q
10 room. !
Twenty minutes later William Neal
'ok his leave, walked few PAGES r
way from the house, then returning.
oncealed himself ct a convenient t
ONT and waited h
presently a servant man emerged t
ON the lower part of Mr.. Lawrence's h
ouse, followed by a rosy.cheeked
lambermnid. -
= Is too bad, sending you oil the W
here to night" the girl 81
MD have dropped