The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-01-29
but once could of surety be trusted to

but once could OF surety pc trusted 70
keep that cover as he found it.
1t grew easier to discern the feeling
within her than to comprehend his
mood. He seemed like unto man who
put chain and paddock upon himself,
but who had deliberately thrown away
the key. And SO there were days
when they were as children, giving
themselves up intellectually to their
delight in each others society. They
were usually followed by days onwhich
he was moody, when no bright effort on
Helen's part brought response from
him. Then it was pitiful to see how
she called pride to her aid, until the
man grew fearful and would sue for
pardon by some especial act that he
knew would make her gladness. His
irritability was greatest when he
CHANGED upon men who still came and
went, though they must have seen its
utter hopelessness. Civil enough to
them himself, manlike, he vented his
untold anger upon, the woman, who
was too absorbed in the one thing to
really grasp what it all meant, and sor-
rowed for that something within her
self which must be so displeasing to
him. The same little world that had
gaped and wondered now asked why
he did not come forward, since it was
evident that at last man had found
favor in her sight. There came time
when either of those two could have
told that same world, but they did not,
and so it has found something new
wherewith to conceal itself.
The end was pitiful, so pitiful. !
can close my eyes with a tired, sad
pain at my Heart. and see again the
pretty room that Helen called "her
own" and that the man had said was
more like unto nest built of autumnal
leaves. l still see her face-she, her
self, tall and straight, though cannot
paint in words for you her picture, save
that one never looked at her without
thinking how God gave grief with His
gift of song" That night his face, as
he bent to remove her cloak, was fun of
resolute purpose. Helen felt it, for she
moved to the mantelshelf upon which
there were some letters.
Look" she said, "what q lot, and
what a feast shall have when you
have gone"
Meaning mems illusions, I sup
pose," he said, coldly.
"Well, yes, they are mostly mems. /
don't think am as grateful to the
writer's of these letters as / ought to be.
You see"-with an unsteady laugh
you fill much of my time and most Of
my thought"
$50 did the others once, suppose.
It's only question Of time. have al
ways considered those men more than
fools, for don't fancy they knew the
were being fooled. OF course, 1 have seen
you have been good enough to give me
a lot of your time, and all that. As
man I have rather enjoyed being first,
even for a short space"
do you know what you are saying?"
she asked. sharply (but-the pain in
her voice).
"Still, liked being fooled, when
know it's fooling," he replied, doggedly.
There was silence for moment
that moment which most of us can
remember in our lives, that we shrink
from as-some untold misery that has
eaten into our hearts core.
She drew deep breath like some
wounded animal struck to death and
keenly conscious of its pain. Then.
with head erect, walked to where she
might face him, and, with hands be-
hind her, holding to little table, gave
a hearty laugh-a laugh that held in
it nothing but amusement and infinite
merriment.
"You like being fooled" she said.
I'm glad of that, for we owe each
other nothing, the fooler, you the
fooled. Not one of them all has been
SO great a one as you. You have come
and been what you called gay and
when you had gone the boys and have
screamed at the sober merriment that
was yours. You have come in those
gloomy moods of yours, and it was
such fine fun to watch my bear get
pleased again as put my bead-chain
around his shaggy neck. And then,
when you have been tender, such ten
derness! just remember and think
how well have piped my lay to yours.
Oi"-Nwith another burst of laughter
"you have been such fun to us ALL"
The man looked at her, looked and
realized to the full that whether he had
been fooled or not he would give his
life, his very soul, TO be fooled still fur
ther-to make her his own.
If l could believe--trust you," he
began
But you can" she answered "Therc
is not one of them that has been such |
fun to me as you. And now you have
been and found out and spoilt every