The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-01-08
She took both his hands. "You dear


Charlie. But the horses are waiting"
They were all out there, indeed, watt
ing for us. Lord Stavers and Betty
hadn't dismounted, but were talking
earnestly. The full moon had burst
through a rift in the clouds, and the
whitened tree limbs sparkled.
Kilien called back to me: swell.
Charles" Then to Roche: II want to
say something to Charlie Westmore."
So Roche pulled back.
"Why have you been so disagreeable
lately?" my cousin on Ulysses asked of
Babette's rider.
"This, dear Kilien," said incense.
quently, sis quite an extraordinary
thing to do"
81 grant you that" she said, "but-"
II suppose his title and position
would attract any GIRL" went on,
now quite fiercely.
ut might" said Kilien, sit might"
And she gave Ulysses switch that
sent him careening.
women are strange creatures, utter
ly unreliable" Invent on, bitterly.
"You think so, Charlie?" she said
rather coldly.
II am quite convinced"
"You have flirted with lot of girls:
Inn sure You ought to know" Kilien
retorted.
"This Thanksgiving ends one girl
with me-" / announced.
Really" she said.
Its you, Kilien."
Don't be ridiculous, Charlie"
THAT blessed chap" and / pointed
to Stavers, "has separated u.s."
do be pleasant. Remember it's
Thanksgiving. Teddy is going to give
the bride away"
II must say, Kilen, I don't think
much of this way of doing things" I
went on.
ut was the only way to avoid talk
and scandal"
"Avoid It'll" / cried.
'You don't understand" she said.
stiffiy; you don't at all. There was
Lady Stavers' opposition"
Opposed to you'll" cried. 'Impos-
siblel"
"You are very complimentary, cousin
mine," she said, with another gay turn
of laughter; and she dropped me lit
tie courtesy In the moonshine. Then.
suddenly, she drew Ulysses nearer
Bab's head and extended her hand. so
as to pat the mares neck. "But am
glad to have you interested in me.
Charlie-when there are so many other
girls"
"Kilien!" cried; but with mock.
Ing answer, she pulled Ulysses away
and fell back to Teddy and Roche.
Betty Burton and the earl rode on be-
fore, which thought rather queer un-
der the circumstances. But then, STAY.
ers was to have Kilien all his life.
muttered to myself, with half a mind
to upset the whole plot.
At last the little stone church doomed
up-a bit of Gothic against the whit.
ened hillside. Kilien whipped up and
dismounted before us.
"You know Teddy is Betty's cousin,
Mr.. Roche"
eyes, of course"
he VIII give her away"
By this time we were in the aisle, I
was watching Kilien. Could under
stand her rightly?
Miss Dandy is my good angel" said
Stavers at last. Betty Burton stood
by his side, looking just bit embar-
raised.
why, Betty" said I, crossing over,
its you, then? thought you hardly
knew Lord Stavers."
I'VE met in Florence last spring."
said Betty, demurely.
It's extraordinary what actresses
women are. Whowould have suspe cted
this little girl of that affair? All, Kilien
had; Kilien had known. My temper
changed in moment; and now knew
something about my own feelings that
I perhaps shouldn't have discovered
had it not been for this episode.
My cousin didn't look at me that mo-
ment; she kept me at distance.
MY dear friends, this is a sort of
Thanksgivingsurprise party; but, since
1 have persuaded you, let me explain"
Like the epilogue in the play" said
Teddy.
Il hope" said Kilien, accepting the
conceit, shat I may prove good epi-
logue. These two people met in Flor
ence, you know. Lord Stavers came
over here-oh! you blind ones--after
Betty Burton. But Lady Stayers
doesn't approve, and so Mr.. Burton,
who is rather proud, wouldn't have it.
Now they win have to approve; have
planned it. That's the whole story"
Il feel easier about making my peace
with Mr.. Dandy, now that you have
explained it, Miss Kilien," Roche was
saying; but was pulling my cousin
aside.