St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-03-04

and a menace to the peace of the COM
munity; and in the event of these
/ troubles coming to a crisis, demanding
j the presence Of the troops, think it moi
unlikely that the mine would be shut
/ down by order of the district com
n1ander'
All this he submits respectfully, and
signs himself Sc John Bareie Ham ilton.' g
Now, whether the charges againsi
me are true or false has nothing to do
with the question. Is this Darcie Ham
ilton entitled to be called my guest, to
| enjoy the shelter OF my house, and the
privilege of my daughters society? Is
l7she doing right by herself and by me
in making him her friend-not to speak
Of anything more ?" ..
let me look at the letter" said Faith.
- She held it in her trembling hands,
trying to fix her mind upon the last
few sentences, and to compare the
written words with those she had heard
her father pronounce; she turned to the
date, and then she went back again to
the signature. Ess
Take it, please she said, handing
it to her father ST think there is not
much to choose among u.s."
II don't Know what you may mean
by that. Include yourself if you think
you must do SO, but stop there, if you
please"
Il admit" said Faith, shat he is not
what thought him. I don't under
stand. We seem to have all gone back
to barbarism. AS to the rest-whether
1 sent the message, or whether it was
sent him falsely in my name-it does not
matter-to me at least. Believe what
you like; we shall never know each
other any more.s AS your daughter I
have only one last thing to ask of you
money enough to take me back to my
mothers people,
sg"You shall have all the money you
want. as you always have had; but as
to going back-you are crazy! You
can't go anywhere now, unless you are
expecting a regiment OF, troops to es-
cort you.''
At bedtime Fafthiwas coming down
the long second-story passage when she
met Darcie. walking toward her listless-
ly, with d tired. wandering step. He
knew that, she had been with her father,
and as he searched her pale, downcast
face he saw that some new trouble was
upon her, and his eyes were full Of
love aud sbeseeching sympathy. He
thought that she must have gone
through with enough since he had seen
her last to account for the change in
her sensitive expression. The question
of the moment with him was how he
best could help her. He held out his
left hand, and waited for her to speak.
His look was utterance enough, but
she would not meet his eyes, She
swerved slightly away from him, avoid
his touch, and. as he called her by name
in the tone that he used for no name
but hers, she uttered just two words:
''Oh, ,Adon't!" There was no Inistaking
the accent of rept11sion, almost of flor.
ror. with which they were spoken.
What is this" heSasIed, straighten-
ing himself ffnvoluntarily atirder the
shock.
.sYourletterl" she gasped. aWas-it az
letter signed john Darcie Hamilton
Was that the letter you asked me to
fetch-that you were meaning to send
from this house?'
Z Faith! Great Heavensl have you
opened my letter?''s -
She looked at him dazed1y, not deny
Ing or attempting to reply; she was
only of what he had done.
"It is not possible!" he persisted, in
} heart-broken voice. Faith, dearsyou
could not. have read my letter! Twill
never believe you could do thing like
hiatt
Then it came to her distinctly what
t was that he meant, and why he
ooked at her in that strange manner.
Mas! what could it matter now? my
saith for your faith, 'she cried dwildly, |
ind ran past him, and shutsherself into
Ter room.
Darcie stood awhile stone-still where
the had left him; then he dragged him
elf to his own room and sat upon the |
tide of his bed, trying to realize this
thing. Yes, she had doubted |
lin, and had taken that way to satisfy /
lerself. What she thought of him, now I
hat she had read the letter, was small |
hing compared with the loss he had |
in losing his image of her. He
crew very cold, sitting there alone in
he dark, and his wound was aching |
1eavily.
At length Wan came in withsa pack /
Ige of medicine and note from the |
loctor, who could not see his patient
lgain that night, as he had expected.
The note said: /
There is a row in town tonight; |
most of our boys are in it, but they
viii go back to the mine with con-
iderable liquor aboard} about mid
light, I think, all things considered,
you had better be conspicuous by your
Ibsence. Wan viii take you over to
NY place, where o friend viii show you
Q your new lodgings; they will be on
he ground floor. Wan is fly. Isend
'ou something to make you sleep.
"Oh. yes" groaned Darcie; .'I shall |
leep to-nighti ssssss4-ss4asv
And Faith, on her knees at her bed
ide, was whispering, brokenly: Lover
nd friend hast thou put far from me,
nd mine acquaintance into darkness
.zthouJhast made me an abomina-
ION unto themi"