The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-05-13
AMODERN CHEVALIER
The rattle Of cups and saucers and tn.

Bruce, one afternoon early IN November.
had not seen her for nearly six years;
then she was Helena Graves, and now,
after many weary days and nights, after
hunger heartache, and WEAKNESS, l had
come back to my native place, to the home
of my fathers.
1 wondered dimly if Helena would rec
ognize me; true, she expected me some day
soon. but / have changed, and from the
merry, laughing young fellow ! had gone
away I had come back sober man, with
hair we'll streaked with gray,
need not have worried over such trifie,
for no sooner had entered the door, be-
fore even the stately butler could announce
me, Helena gave little cry of BERT"
and rushed pellmell into my arms. l had
not received such welcome for long day,
and somehow it brought sob to my throat
and tear to my eye.
1t was certainly home at last. Helena at
once brought her husband, whom / remem-
bered as a boy of about my own age, with
whom / used to have pitched battles occa-
sionally, to me and told him that was her
own dear cousin, who had returned at last
like the prodigal son.
Bruce shook my hand heartily, and said
he knew more about me than l probably
knew about myself.
THAT is libel, Bert, isn't it?" cried
Helena, pouting.
was on the point of making a laughing
rejoinder, when out of the twilight, as it
were, there stole slender figure in wild
ows weeds, and sad, sweet voice said
"And do you remember mey'
Did l remember her? o, heavens, do
fnb
with relentless fate in the hope that my
feeble strength might perhaps prevent the
turning Of the wheels of life? Do remem-
Der the endless pacing on my floor night
after night, or the days spent in seeking to
forget in pleasure and excitement!
"You are Mrs. Ludington," said, rising.
She held out her hand and took it in
mine once more. At that moment did net
feel thankful that I had seen her again, as
/ had prayed to do so often. only felt that
fate, indomintable fate, had once more
seized me in its merciless grasp, and the OLD
memories, which thought ! had stamped
out of my heart, rose as strong as of yore.
After my cousin had ascertained that
intended staying with her a week or two, or
as long as she wanted me, she said, which
her husband added would be forever, she
fitted away to attend to her otheraguests,
some of whom were staying in the house and
others who were merely callers.
| Mrs. Ludington leaned back in her chair
and looked at me steadily. She wished to
examine me, she said, to see if had grown
| taller or shorter, stouter or thinner, uglier
or better looking.
"Uglier, fancy" replied with a sigh. ]
! felt old and tired and gray beside these So
ciety people.
Handsome is that handsome Does" she
said under her breath Was mistaken, or
was there a catch in her voice as of tears
unshed? She did not look happier or young
er than when ! saw her last, in spite Of il
all.
'Then am frightful indeed" And
laughed aloud at the idea.
NO" she said, in a curiously quiet tone.
Handsome would be too weak word to
use in describing YOU" cit would, in
deed!" thought to myself.) II should cali
| you a hero, martyr, matchmaker, Cyrano
| de Bergerac, Chevalier Bayard, and o, above
dl, 1.-THE destroyer of your own happiness ant
mine."
| / looked at her in amazement. Was she
out of her mind? Had trouble turned
her brain? Perhaps she was laughing at
me, or did she really mean it? The thought
dawned upon me that she might know.
"Your intentions were good,' she con
tinued, and her voice grew bitter. "bu'
there is a certain place paved with good
intentions. I have no doubt that yor
thought you were doing me kind action
that you were helping me along the ston,
path of life. You were, indeed, only in
stead of leading me to where the roses would
lie, you pushed me further aud furthel
among the stones. All, you men, you glor
ious possibility man, how little you know
when all is told, of woman and woman's ma
ture! When girl laughs and talks with ;
man you at once jump at the conclusion
that she il in love With him.. 1t never oc
ours to you that it is the quiet one, the mar
who thought he loved her so much that h
was willing to give her up to insure her hap
piness, that she loved"
Her voice rang loud and clear through
the deserted room. My cousin and her hus
band had gone to speed the parting guest
and we were alone.
rose hastily and stood in front of her
she must know all, but who told her
Not he, surely, and not 1. We were tn
only two that knew.
-"Madge," said l, in an agitated tone, un
consciously using the old name, what d.
you meant"
II am speaking to the man who delibef
ately gave up the girl who loved him am
who thought he loved her, to another, am
that brute, who made her life he'll TO
four years."
Was this woman who stood before m
with flashing eyes and trembling lips, til
girl knew long ago, the girl with whom
stood on the old wooden bridge and toll
her, as the suns last CLEANS shone on he
bronze hair and lit up her pale face, that
was going away to war, and might neve
come back again?
The lights grew DINNER and DINNER in tn
room, the noise and hustle in the street
indistinct, and there in that hour she toll