The Worthington advance., 1900-03-23
| ENHANCEMENT
BY 8. Rhett Roman.

1F7gE ~ IF '9gE 'lll' IS u ~ Il 7lE7ls
THE carriage turned and the horses.
y pampered and spirited, started
rapidly down the hard, winding road,
while Horton, waving his hand to two.
faces looking out the window of the
quickly disappearing train, jumped in
his trap and followed. =.
"Come overland spend the evening,
now that your friends have gone" Miss
dAubert called to him rs they left.
Beyond the limits Of the village they
drove through the beautiful, peace
ful 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 whitewashed
cottages and green pastures, where
cattle browsed in content that the day
was done and the pleasant spring night
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. wildly 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
Ups into lines of exquisite beauty.
"How time flies!" 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 60 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 overshadow 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 oil the shadows if you will only
he reasonable and consent"
A look of keen distress settled over
Aurore's face, and although her lips
parted as if to speak no sound came.
1T 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
<ake us old people away from you
who would protect and care for you?
Your father was my dearly loved
brother. We're to die, Aurore,
, could not meet him if I left his only
daughter alone and unprotected in this
heartless and cruel world"
With half sob Aurere threw 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 hut shadows -
"You are trying to frighten me. Let
s, me stay with you and dear old uncle,
and let us frame no plans, or, if you
Nvill, let us three go abroad in June
you and uncle and I.
1--WE will visit together the old Ger
man towns you are so fond of, and
when winter comes we will see."
R11f I, oh hor will h
smiling gpersistency while fondly strok-
ing Aurore's brown hair as it rested on
her shoulders.
Like most gentle and placid natures,
Mrs. d'Aubert. when once her mind was
made up on a question, became tena-
-tious and immovable and rarely ever
abandoned her point.
This her husband we'll knew. "Celeste
est inebranlable!" he would say laugh.
Singly.
But, cheric. poor Bert is wearing his
heart out" she continued, gently
"You are unkind and not fair to him
And your father wished It. So why put
it off? Nowhere would you find kind
CIR or better man than RobertrHorton
And his untiring devotion! Does that
count for nothing? Be reasonable, IN,
petite. Let us say-the last ten days oil
May. Let ME tell Bert"
\>,"No! no! no! Not yet. Not in May!'
pleaded Aurore, q poignant anguish
clutching at her heart strings. r., =,
There was a long pause, while a car
riage swept up the avenue and stopped
"Ah, les jeunes files" sighed Mrs
d'Aubert. "Very we'll, cherie, we will
speak of it later"
Her aunt was placidly unmoved Il:
Horton sprang out and came forward
ito help them aligh+. Mrs. d'Auber
hooked with fond approval at the rath
= er melancholy, dark, refined face: o
D her nephew and thought with:a sigl
what handsome and attractive mar
he was. She was almost put out as sh'
kaned on his shoulder in getting out.
When I'm auntie's age" Auror'
h said with slightly embarrassed laugh
i refusing the help of his outstretche.
hands and jumping on the marble step:
of the porch, where Mrs. d'Auber1
M stood.
s$ "Ill be over about eight" Horto1
said, rather shortly, as he turned
Y swung himself in his trap, took tn,
lines and drove off.
"ru mes pos gentille," Mrs. d'Aubert
said, with gentle reproach, as they
y went in the wide hall.
.S, And Aurore asked herself while 20
55 ing up the broad winding stairway
s why it was that she could not greet he1