St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-29

even for single
~ night So said my
iunt, as she stood ready for her jour
ney to her country home.
NV trunks were standing strapped
and packed with hers, but had insisted
upon remaining until the next day to
lttend to the last things necessary, and
she had given consent very reluctantly,
md, even at this late moment, seemed
rcpenting. But laughed as kissed her
again and again, and said:
"You forget, aunt, Claude is to spend
the evening with me, so | will not have
time to feel lonely; and, as for fear, 1t
would be a sensation SO novel that l
think would quite fancy aneXperlence
Besides, YOU have left two or three OF
the servants, and / do not know that
your absolute presence would scare
away any intruders.'' But she shook
her head with ather an unbeiievlng AR,
and the last look 1 had, as she leaned
from the carriage window to wave her
hand in adieu, was one of loving anxiety.
But on my own face was no shadow OF
care, as I glanced for moment with
little pardonable pride at its reflection
in the long mirror in the draWing-roon:.
A glad delight was dancing in the
bright blue eyes at thought of the even
irg'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 might
remain another day under plea of use
fulness? What practical test had lever
given tAat | could be useful?
When Claude came / laughingly 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:
II half believe, Kate, your aunt was
right, and almost wish you had gone
with her"
''That is all very well to say now,"
answered, when the time has come
really to bid gooddoy. If you had lei
me know your wishes this morning,
should have endeavored to comply
with them
My selfishness forbade my giving
them room, and, besides, it is mere
temporary infection. (This with half
laugh. Your aunt, as you say, is no
formidable protection, and, after all,
Kate (growing serious), leave my dar-
ling in the good Gods hands. Only,
dear, shall be very glad when the time
comes that can offer her a husbands S
protecting love- ~
Then kissing the cheeks into which
the scarlet blood had rushed at his
words, he held me for one moment with
new earnestness clasped to hs heart,
uttered a last goodnight and ID t 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 flew up them as
a bird, but Claude's words had filed me
with happy thoughts, and it seemed as
though some sweet, soothing spirit mad
favored me with it's white wings, and L
must make no hurried movement, lest
it should fly away. 1-entered my room,
closed and bolted my door, and sank
into chair before my dressing bureau.
My windows opened upon little bal
cony, and the curtains trembled with
the cool breeze which came laden with
the scent OF the flowers had trained
upon it. / seemed filled with a delicious
1anguor, and it required some effort to
AT last rouse myself to the task of pre-
pairing for bed. With lingering touch
/ unclasped the jewels from my ears.
They were family heirlooms of great
value my aunt had given me on my
eighteenth birthday. Their light
seemed almost to dazzle me, as I placed
them in my Jewel case, then glanced at
my betrothal ring, which caught and
held the light reflected from their
depths. Then one by one ! took the
pins from my hair and let it fall a soft,
shimmering mass upon my shoulders.
How Claude had admired it when one
day on horseback it had escaped it's
tllralldom. Would he love me the same
when its gold had turned to gray and
wrinkles had taken place of dimples. .
And, peering into the glass, strove to
fancy the change, and add, in imagina-
ton, two score and ten to my age, when,
great Heaven! was that face white and
blanched, eyes wild withterror, mouth
half apart, with lips from which every
trace of color had fled, the same which,
= moment before, had pictured unsul-
lied happiness9 What had brought the
change? Only a mans bare foot pro-
jecting from under my bed and casting
its own hideous reflection in the glass.
1t was black and broad-the foot of a
negro. | watched it as a cat might
watch a mouse, snake, bird. with q
fascination which seemed TO enchaia
and enthrall me. / strove to scream
aloud, but the effort. mercifully, was a
wan one. My mouth. dry and parched,
could utter no sound. My breath came
hard and quick. My heart beat so loud
~ that | thought that he mast hear it.
''.Ah. if Claude were but herei " And with
that thought the horrid spell broke.
Some degree of calmness took the place
cf almost frenzy. The remembrance
that for his sake must makelso eff
fort to escape. But, ah! was ever 4
prisoner in more hopeless chains
Slowly, deterlninedly, / withdrew my
eye. from the fearful thing lest cour-
& age atthe sight should fail me- tried
to think. blit reason seemed 10 have de-