The Opelousas courier., 1900-06-02

s<A would do we
to give some thought to-"
By and Ly she began to think {
the time at which she had first en-
tered that house. Homeless, friend
less, almost helpless, she had an
piled to Mr.. Granger for a situation a
g%overness to his little daughter, jus
left motherless. She had no faltl
that she would obtain the situation
for she had brought with her nointer
c~ession from others; she had no intro
duction; she possessed nothing blu
her capability and her earnestness.
She had been shown into the library
just at dark. Through the gimme,
OF picture frames and the shine o
polished walnut she made out th,
room was u~noccupied, and sat dowr
to wait. The faint freight was very
quiet. There was o study chair
drawn upon the hearth rug, a bool
open in a reading rack, a profusion o.
papers upon o table near by and Q
watch ticking gently among them.
The comfortable ticking of the watch
sounded with the wailing wind beyond
the window drapery's warm folds. She
listened to both in a half stupo,
caused By the WEAKNESS of breastine
the rough weather.
Suddenly, without q sound, the
door swung open softly, and a gentle
man entered, went across the soft car
pet aud turned up the gas. Then he
turned to her, saying c%ourteoasly:
"Do You wish to see me?"
"Mr. Granger?"
eyes"
She was impressed as never before
with the gentleness of q gentleman.
She made known her errand and
waited patiently under his kind but
comprehensive eyes.
Looking at Theodore Nelson, Mr..
Granger thought that here was one
woman, at least. who had no thought
OF his being rich and eligible. It was
a relieving thought after certain ex-
periences he had known during the
past month. He said:
II think we win try each other.
Miss Nelson"
The words were q shock of pleasure
to Theodore; she was tired, the place
was SO restful, and she was not sure
where she should lay her head that
1t was comfort and peace
opening suddenly before her, q place
where she could drop her burden OF
care and be kindly EMBODIED in an at
mosphere of peace. She did not
know that Mr.. Granger saw her eyes
full of tears as they parted.
How much had happened since that
night Episode after episode swept
across her memory. The first beau
tifully served meal which she ate in
the pretty breakfast room, the first
glimpse of Lora Changers fair little
face, the dainty chamber assigned
her, in which she could not at first
sleep for comfort. Many O night she
had lain watching the play of the red
arelight upon the white ceiling. I'M
to go TO sleep because no
dream could be SO happy as the
waking revery. She never lost her
pleasure in these things. familiar as
;aste and Injury became to her daily
life.
She thought of the first Christmas
had lived there and of the grade
.ul pleasure which swelled her heart
vhen Nh. Granger put into her hand
! tiny Florentine watch; while the
lext instant little Lora sprang for
yard with o beautifully cut cameo
lerssgift. Why, she had never had q
christmas present before in oil her
life!
She thought OF q night whom Lora
lad been taken dangerously I'LL with ,
ne Group, and how, as il the child
Vere her own flesh and blood, she had
PATCHED and prayed with the father.
She remembered evenings in the
'eautiful old library, SO quiet and
right; morning drives, pleasant fore-
Ioon study hours, music lessons, given !.
o the long parlors, where MI. Granger !
the floor, buried in thought.
agreeable supernumerary. He J
essed up sometimes torsee what they
laughing at, but he was usually !,
bstnt-minde1 !
That his thoughts were not always ,
leasant Theodore came 30 know. :
here was Q sore place in his life
'hich he brooded over. Az first she !
opposed il to be the loss OF his wife. b
ut respectfully as he mentioned TO :
fora her dead mother, he never i
bowed for the child nor for himself 2
sense OF great loss. Iii o man fine 9
and tender hearted as was =
urtis Granger this was strange. 8
Theodore did not know how ii was 8
she came to understand that she 9
capable Of bringing pleasure to 8
pora,s father. But she felt that he Y
happiest IN the evenings when !.
icy were alone and she was il The q
God to laugh and talk freely. III o
lose times Dir. Granger would kindle 9
nite . brilliancy utterly alien 10 him +
all other periods. b
a sympathy had grown up between y
which not one person In q hun q
would appreciate rightly. Theo. Z
ora felt d generous desire to please o
=. Granger. With the utmost Frank 8
sas she consulted his tastes. si.
ntly discovering that whatever his q
1ening engagements were, he liked
chat with her an hour after ten. she
ade il . point to be at leisure then.
nee. II 4 half absent way, he told d
ora that when she was 4 woman Il
le must wear her hair aa Miss Nell i