St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-05-21

rents. n Few iuchlcSS pcuCSaiuHa !" 80
had ventured out were bidding defiance
to wind and weather in rubber suits
which in vain strove to conceal the for
lornity of their owners, and even the
horses possessed an injured air. With
| in. the room was attractive enough, ant
the figure at the window. notwithstand
ing the pouts, by no means the least OF
its attractions.
"Whv, Grace" exclaimed voice from
the open doorway, Il left you standing
in that identical position full hall
hour ago. What spell has kept You
chained SO long?"
The spell of my own thoughts" an
swered the girl, breaking away with
little, short laugh. rather forced laugh
very unlike the merry, musical ripple:
which were wont to bubble over in con
tagious peals. Il was thinking, Helen
actually thinking. OF course ! coule
do nothing else"
Sand what was the engrossirg sub
ject? All, l can guess without thai
blush in answer. Go, Grace, and dress
You have barely time before dinner, and
the rain will not keep Neil Horton away
tonight"
what care I if he comes or goes?
fortunately have other matter for m!
thoughts more worthy their attention.
and with a shrug of the shoulders Grace
fitted past her cousin and left the
room.
Il can't help it." she thought, as she
Embossed the coils of nut-brown hair
preparatory to their Encouragement
1T is not my fault if he makes me say
ugly things. He is so jealous and ex
acting. / do not believe he will come
tonight" but the thought hardly ross
from her heart, for way in corner
nestled the secret belief that he would
and so, Notwithstanding the vexatior
of the moment, the pretty lace crava
was tied with tender care and rose
taken from the vase upon her bureau
to peep ont from the glossy braids
Full well she knew whose hand gave the
quick peal at the bell as the clock struck
eight, but she would not raise her eye.
from her work until he had crossed
the room and stood before her. Hel
cousin had vanished. She was alone
with him.
"Have you no welcome for me
Grace?"
"Ah, good evening. Mr.. Horton.
hardly thought you would venture our
in such weather."
SSNn,, n that Gronn NnI
know no weather could detain me. Per
haps you thought my pride would have
prevented my coming. did have lit
tie war with it, but I conquered. 1t was
grand victory. Do you guess wha,
gave me the strength to put it under
Love, Grace; the love bear you, and
which, spite of yourself and the quicl
words which you said when we last met
l think has awakened some answer in
your heart. You told me last night
when I asked you not to dance with .
man I know to be unworthy your re
spect, that had not the right to choose
your associates. Give me the right, dar
ling. by giving me yourself"
Neil Horizons voice as he said these
words was low and tender, the face
bending over her young and handsome
A great wave of color had surged up
ward at his words, but as he finished j
receded, leaving her deathly white, an6
her eyes flashed as she answered.:
Never! The right to be tyrant be
cause am in your power. The right to
choose my friends! This is your def
milton of love, is II, Neil Horton? Their
ii is not mine. / thank you for thus Civ.
ing me an insight into your jealous and
exacting nature. Yes, it is true. YOU
are jealous of Capt. Randolph, and
therefore, malign him."
"Grace, do you think so meanly OF
me? Listen, darling. l might be jeal.
Gus. 1t would be hard to see you with
other men and not feel some touch Of
such a feeling. but no jealousy would
cause Inc to wrong another. Capt. Ran
lolph is a man; Lad a sister would
rather see her in her grave than his
wife; had home its threshold never
should be polluted by his footstep. Yet
such men are given the entree into SO
ciety. Can not say this to you with
cut fear Of misconstruction?
For a moment the girl wavered; blu,
the hot. quick anger was in the ascend.
ant, and her good angel sadly spread
its white wings and flew away, as she
replied:
1T is not necessary to argue the
question further. Capt Randolph is
my friend. l have promised to dine
with him tomorrow afternoon, and
shall certainly keep my engagement.
release you from any further interest
in the matter, and think we may find
some pleasanter topic to discuss"
And this is your decision?" burst
from the mans white lips. Il con-
quered pride tonight, Grace, and came
e you, believing that you loved me, be-
,ieying that the hot words Of impulse
you already had regretted. l find
you cold and hardened; nay. more cruel
and unjust. loved you, Grace. love
you still. The right to care for, to guard
and cherish you deny me, but if the
hopes which once filled my breast were
not all false. if the answering love had
so gladly thought ! read in your eyes,
may bear some fruit, however withered
and you need friend, stand ready to
come to you. Good evening. Miss Weir. "
Not until the street door closed and
the echo of his footstep died away did
Grace realize wha: she had done. Calm,
quiet, as Neil Horton had been, she well
knew his implacable will. and that never
again would he sue Mt her hands for any
yift. Yet she loved him. Yes, with all
the strength Of her hayward. willful
heart. How dearly she had never
dreamed until tine hour she had lost
him. Yet he should never, never know
it, and, with this determination. the
curly head buried itself that night in
the pillows and the blue eyes closed at