The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-01-28


ton Of any one, never deviated from
the path that must inevitably take her
past the spot where Vandeleur was
sitting, but strolled along with an
open book in her hand.
So immersed was Miss Sinclair with
her reading that she failed to notice
the man until she was quite close.
At the first glance, however, she
recognized him, and the sudden shock
was almost painful, but, recovering
herself in moment, walked straight
up to Vandeleur and held out her
hand, saying gently:
81 am SO glad, Mr.. Vandeleur, to
see that you are better-so very glad.
Although Vandeleur's heart beat
quickly, he was outwardly calm and
cool as he replied nonchalantly:
"Thank you. Except for the fact
of feeling rather weak now and then,
| 1 am comparatively we'll. I trust you
are quite we'll, Miss Sinclair"
"Yes, I am very we'll, thank you.
But-but Mr.. Crawford told me you
had by no means recovered yet"
Vandelour mentally mathematical
Crawford as he said, with bad imi-
tation of a laugh: :,
"Pshaw! Crawford is an awfully
good fellow; but, you know, he occa-
sionally constructs mountain out OF
q molehill.
! Pointing to the seat which Craw-
ford had vacated few minutes previ-
ously, he continued:
"Won't yon please sit down, Miss
Sire clair? long to have chat with
an old friend"
His own desire now was to keep
her. and an unnatural elevation per-
yaded him rs he hailed with almost
hysterical delight the prospect OF
I showing this woman how utterly in
!. different he was to her.
She hesitated q moment, then quiet
ly sat down.
"But surely. Mr.. vandeleur," she
, said, "your wound cannot be OF 30
trivial nature as You would have
a one believe? You were reported
killed al first; all the papers said 30,
: and I-everyone was 30 dreadfully
t sorry"
, "Were they9" said vandeleur,
: ironically. "Sorry to say their feel
ings must pass unappreciated
t Enough of myself, however. I pre-
n sumo you are staying down here fol
r some timer" he added.
During their conversation Miss Sin
clair surreptitiously observed Vande
t leur.
il With q dull pain at her heart sh'
noted the unmistakable evidence o
l. suffering in his look.
u A strong desire to tend and nurs
t this man, whom she loved as womal
st only loves once, overmastered her
and she experienced q mad impuls
a. to cast all conventionality aside, an
~ throw herelf at his feet aud cry: "Oh
i. my love, my love, wronged You in
1t nocently! It is all mistake! Won
O, you forgive-only forgiven"
m The impulse died away, however
n as she glanced at Vandeleur. and sa'
the hard line of his mouth.
id He will never forgive, she though
n. never.
No Neither spoke for some minutes
and the pause WINS becoming awl
lv ward, when puff of wind disarrange
he yandeleur's rug. He feebly essaye
Iv to reach for it; but Miss Sinclair for
= stalled him, and with "Please allo
lis me-" arranged it.
ck While doing so her hand slight
-. touched that of Vandeleur, causir
an the blood to jump madly through b
a. veins. while the color flooded her on
r. face.
Presently Miss Sinclair said hes
N. tatingly: "I have been trying for Il
I'll last few minutes toto say somethln
az Will you listen? I want to ask 20
I'd pardon. Some time ago VEL gus
,th relied with you, apparently wltho
anv ostensible cause whatever. Thr'
sb months ago discovered the fact tn
lin I had done you grievous wrong.
ssTook you some time, didn't it
M sarcastically interjected Vandeleu
er. "I was acquainted with the fact
n. actlv eighteen months ago."
The The venom of his remark alnt
"a scorched the words on her lips, b
ay. she quietly proceeded:
~. "Please reserve your sarcasm IN
YOU have heard me. Not even I
her fear OF your misunderstanding SD
He deter me from performing what | CO
,ss. slider to be right and my duty 70
ere It is right you should know that
inc some slight excuse to offer for my
parent wanton capriciousness.
he Shs paused moment. resting
- hin ON her hand. and Yandelt