The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-09

tender, wistful look, which pierced my
heat like a poisoned dagger.
Nvil1 the solitude Seem dull when
we Are gone, Del?" asked.
"DAathly dnlliv said Del. with q
slight culver Of her tender mouth.
sAfnt Martha shall bring you to
taNR, you poor little Gagged birds I
satdI taking her hand in mine.
Aamma will never leave Seayiew.
nor let me SO away even for a day
without her. said Del. moving up
clofer to me, as If for protection against
thdse long, solitary days Of approach
ing winter.
Then we must take you away by
force, little one I said, with decision,
putting my arm protectingIy around
her shoulder. Del leaned her head,
crowned with it's ripping FURNISHED
gold, on my shoulder, not knovssag OF
the throbbing heartbeats SO Gloss to
hers, Of Of the rising storm Of emotions
she was creating.
"Oh, Cousin Allen, II you could only
get mamma to leave this dreary, dreary
place." she said, pleadingly4"get her
TO consent to my living like other girls,
l would love you, oh, 10 dearly, all my
lifei"
DO you promise that, DELI rs it a
bargain?" I asked, while a dull pain
seized hold of my heartstrings. "Do
you truly love your elderly cousin?"
@Of course / do" answered Del, nest
ling close to my side, while the soft
evening breezes waited me the scent
Of her perfumer hair.
81 love you dearly she added.
But her frank, u-nembarrassed words
only added to the growing pain in my.
heart, to the tumultuous emotions
which were invading me.
And Fred?" I asked, softly, hold.
ing her gently to my side.
cousin Allen!" she murmured in
an imploring tone, turning to hide on
my shoulder her lovely foce, over which
had swept a wave Of color.
"AI right, little ONE | whispered,
reassuringly, while the tempest of baf.
fled hopes, ruined anticipations and
murdered joys swept in a burst of fury
over my soul and senses, Overwhelming
me with their bitter waters.
"All right, Del, little cousin mine!
You shall not spend the glorious years
of your youth in these sad solitudes.
Your happiness is dearer to me than
life itself, and 1 know one who lives
only in the hope of having soon the
right to order your sweet young life
OH lines of light and happiness. Twill
see Aunt Martha" / added, rising slow.
~, land Twill send Fred to you"
"Cousin Allen!" she again said, cling.
ing breathlessly to me.
"Let me go, dearie," I said, lightly,
wEile the fury Of q bitter regret and
n hurricane of wild emotion shook my
soul and senses and threatened to sub.
merge my loyal determination to lei
Fired gain the sunshine of life, hence.
forth lost forever to me.
Look here I added, jestingly, Il
must call Fred back before the storm
bursts-before a furious tornado comes
along to interfere with our bright plans
for the f~uture!"
"Why, Cousin Alleni' said Del, lift
ing her head in establishment from its
contiding rest on my breast, and lift
ing to mine in wide-eyed wonder he1
beautiful soft eyes. What in the
world are you taking about? There's
no storm brewing! Why, the night is
calm and beautiful just look how
quiet the water is, how serenely the
stars shine outl"
But | laughed aloud, knowing the
tempest which was raging i'll my heart.
the wrecked blossoms of hope and Joy
which lay bruised and scattered over
the advancing years, and I called tc
Fred, who was slowly approaching:
Here, Dalton" / said. cheerily.
.gFhis little cousin of mine, over whom
/ have assumed a fathers authority,
fears the dull winter months. She
would like, the silly little bird that she
is, to flee from the sweet protecting
solitudes of her old cottage home. !
told her you could suggest a satisfac,
tory arrangement for her. l lin going
to discuss the matter with Aunt
Martina
Fred stood up and wrung my hand
with silent and deep emotion.
1t was late when our evening, filled
with so much joy to two of us, cams n
an end.
cousin Allen" whispered Del, hold
ing fast my hands, as NE said good
night, How could you fear a storm9
Was there ever a night so blissfully
calm and beautiful This is the kind
of weather that reigns in Paradise"
"sans doute, little fiancee," 1 an
severed back laughingly; 'neverthe-
less, a great storm has ragged on the
gulf coast this evening, and the ruin
and w~reckage it has left behind it Will
never be repaired..-N. o. Times-Demo-
GRAFT.
A Dangerous View of Life.
We are constantly confronted. with
ifho facf that na;fbe,. xao4ar;ol a5v,1