The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-09-01

T.: Of the latter.
And these last years how the tend
erE"ss Of his nai,lre had shown out
ilit care he hnd given to Aliens dcs
olate mother. He had almost nile,
u" place CT hcr son. Stlll at first. hrl
feeling for him had been only a stron.
admiration. In spite Of her recOrni
tlon of Aliens weak nature. the fas
cinalloil OF his glance and soft voc,
had held her captive. But now
hen Allen had gone west on the pros
| rectinS tour, which was to occ,,py Ten
months, she had promised to marry
nm upon his return. But the ten
months had passed, and other months
hau grown into years. and he had not
returned. They Ind no news OF him
after that last letter. written seven
months from his departure. Laurence
had employed every means ut his com
mand to find some trace Of him, but in
Nalh. lie appeared to have vanished
utterly. The only reasonable solution
OF the mystery was that he was dead.
lifs mother believed It, but Monica d!d
not She could not She had promised
to wait for him; she dared not break
that promise. Allen had loved her
She must-she would-be faithful. She
would not yield to laurence.
fafe dld not again see Monica,
although at each visit he had made
his aunt during the spring he called at
the parsonage. But Monica had
always been out. The minister ana
his wife received him most cordially.
They would gladly have seen their
daughter his wife.
One day in June Monica was return
ing from walk down to the cove. Her
way was In the neighborhood of
Aliens mothers. AS 1t was still early
IN III" afternoon, she decided to 60 and
pay her call. She had not gone to see
her often of late, through fear of meet
ing Laurence.
She felt that she would run no risk
OF meeting him this afternoon. he
having visited his aunt the previous
week. On reaching the house she
found the ha!l doCroDcn. She knocked
lightly and without waiting for Il re-
sponSe walked into the little rarlor
where she knew Mrs Dare was in the
habit of sitting.
But Mt the threshold Monica paused.
for there stood Laurence by the Win
dow, an open letter in his hand. His
aunt sat near him, apparently In n
state Of great excitement.
AS she saw Monica she cried out:
"IIe lives. Monica: he lives: my boy
lives: my own Allen is living. Come in
and hear the letter"
Then she fell to weeping, and re-
peating over and over: My boy is lv.
ing
Monica looked from her to Dare in
ucWilderll@nt. She had turned very |
White. Laurence went up to her ana
drew her to Il chair He. too was pale.
''Is it true!" gasped Monica, ut
length
'Y"s.' But he did not look at her.
"N'hcn:"
Il received the letter this morning,
and came down by the first train"
''IIc is wcll!'
"YeS'
"Whorc is he? I don't understand"
"In California;"
Monica looked at him confusedly.
"Why-why haven't but l have
been out all the afternoon. | suppose
that l shall find letter at home"
Dare did not reply. Ills aunt was
still crying. She now looked up at
Laurence.
'I'inish the letter. Laurence.
Listen, Monica; our Allen is still
living"
Dare had folded the letter and was
putting it into his pocket.
"Thcra is little more of Importance,
lear aunt
But Monica must hear it, Laurence.
Monica, dear child, We'll be happy
low. Read the letter for her
laurence
My dear aunt. you must try to
,alm yourself or you will be i'll
Monica was puzzled hy Dare's evil
lent desire not to read the letter to her.
She went over to Mrs. Dare and en-
,raced her.
Laurence is right; you must try to
,e calm, dear Mrs. Dare"
Joy never kills, child. l must cry
or pure happiness
Il shall 90 home now," said Monica.
Perhaps there IS a letter for ne"
"Weil, child. but come early to-
morrow. We'l count the days till we
&c the boy
Laurence had left theroom and stood
It The entrance dOor.
"I am coming with you he said. as
IOnica came cut.
Dare regarded the girl stealthily as
hey walked along. lie maTycieu at
he unimpassioned manner in which
he had received the news of Aliens
,eing alive. She was still Very white,
md there was Strainnd inniS in her