St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-04-21
| ENHANCEMENT

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THE carriage turned and the horses.
pampered aud spirited, started
rapidly down the hard, winding road
while Horton, waving his hand to twl
faces looking out the window Of the
quickly-disappearing train, jumped in
his trap and followed. ---.-------e
Come over and spend the evening
now that your friends have gone" Miss
d'Aubert called to him as they left.
Beyond the limits OF the village they
drove through the beautiful, peace
full scenery of southern Louisiana
through broad stretches Of cultured
land, handsome houses in the midst OF
@towering-trees, thick shrubbery and
flowers, past groups of whitewashetl
cottages and green pastures, where
cattle browsed in content that the day
was done and the pleasant spring nigh.
close at hand.
Aurore leaned forward and looked
silently at the calm and beautiful land
scrape, while the continuous crunch OF
the wheels on the gravel and quick
beat of the horses hoofs seemed an ac-
compartment to her confused and
whirling thoughts and emotions.
The wave of brilliant color which had
swept over her face with keen, joy
GUS surge as she recognized the clear
cut features, fine eyes and firm, pleas
ant mouth SO vividly remembered, re-
mained like blushing roses in her
cheeks, while look of startled ten
derness, undiscernable in the dwind-
ling twilight, forced the curves of her
lips into lines of exquisite beauty.
How time fiies!" remarked her
aunt, with sigh of placid content,
weaving certain plans for the near fu-
ture, in which her handsome niece was
to take prominent part.
do you not think May is very
charming mouth, cherie? Why not
listen to reason, and let Robert per-
suade you? June is the best possible
time to go abroad, and your uncle and
could join you later in Paris. We
could spend the winter there if Robert
can spare the time, and your sorrow
will cease to oyershadow you, my dear.
You are too young. mon enfant, to be
unhappy. There is SO much in the
years to come to gild life for you into
happiness; our affection and Roberts
devoted attachment will quickly chase
away all the shadows if you will only
be reasonable and consent"
A look of keen distress settled over
Aurore's face, and although her lips
parted as il to speak no sound came.
ut is for your welfare and happiness
press you, Aurore," resumed her
aunt, with kindly emotion. Robert
Horton is your only close relative,
child, and should the accidents of life
take us old people away from you
who would protect and care for you?
Your father was my dearly loved
brother. Were to die. Aurore,
could not meet him if l left his only
daughter alone and unprotected in this
heartless and cruel world"
With half sob Aurere threw q low
ing arm around Mrs. d'Aubert's neck
and declared with loving reproach that
she would not listen to words so sad,
and to eventualities too distant to be
anything but shadows.
"You are trying to frighten me. Let
me stay with you and dear old uncle.
and let us frame no plans. or, if you
will, let us three go abroad in June.
you and uncle and /.
I'VE will visit together the old Ger
man towns you are SO fond of, and
when winter comes we will see"
But her aunt shook her head with
smiling persistency, while fondly strok-
ing Aurore's brown hair as 1t rested on
her shoulders.
Like most gentle and placid natures.
Mrs. d'Aubert. when once her mind was
made up on question, became tena-
cious and immovable and rarely ever
abandoned her point.
This her husband well knew. "Celeste
est inebranlable!- he would say laugh
ingly.
But, cherie. poor Bert is wearing his
heart out" she continued, gently.
.You are unkind and not fair to him.
And your father wished it. Sowhy put
it off? Nowhere would you find a kind
And his untiring devotion! Does that
count for nothing? Be reasonable. ma
petite. Let us say-the last ten days of
May. Let me tell Bert"
No! no! no. Not yet. Not in May!"
pleaded Aurore, poignant anguish
clutching at her heart strings.
There was long pause, while car
riage swept up the avenue and stopped.
"Ah, les jeunes files" sighed Mrs.
d'Aubert. VERY well. cherie, we will
speak of it later"
Her aunt was placidly unmoved as
Horton sprang oot and came forward
to help them alight. Mrs. d'Aubert
looked with fond approval at the rath-
er melancholy, dark, refined face of
her nephew and thought with a sigh
what handsome and attractive man
he was. She was almost put out as she |
leaned on his shoulder in getting out
when I'm auntie's age" Aurore |
said with slightly embarrassed laugh. |
refusing the help of his outstretched
hands and jumping on the marble steps
of the porch, where Mrs. d'Aubert |
stood.
"I'll be over about eight" Horton
said, rather shortly, as he turned.
swung himself in his trap, took the
lines and drove on.
Tu mes pas gentille," Mrs. d'Aubert |
said. with gentle reproach, as they
went in the wide hall.
And Aurore asked herself while 60
ing up the broad winding stairway !
why it was that she could not greet her
cousin, her old playmate of those sweet
early years, of whom she had ALWAYS
been SO fond with even ordinary cor
diality. but instinctiveiy repelled and
repulsed him. Why she dreaded every
approach to that one thought which
she so well knew was dominant in his
mind. and why she felt SO miserable. SO
utterly wretched. when he looked at
her with that appealing air Of devotion
she knew SO well.
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