The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-09-01
SUMNER.
SHE TRIED TO BE TRUE
BY EMILY v. WINDSOR.

was beginning t. ict}k bright Wit
the green ot 'Hriy .,:.!g .. down her
by the cove al was gray sand, rock
sky, even The water had I'll" SAM
drcary tint. Not gieam Of 9th"
color, except that of the crlnso:
shawl which the girl, sitting On :
ledge Of rock, had wrapped aroun! her
Laurence Dare, coming along tn
road which ran above the b ach, saw
the patch of red and paused
"That is Monica" he muttcr"d.
He stood still few minute, 5, watch
Ing the slender figure leaning bach
against high range of rock. the. shaw
drawn close around her shoulders
the little black hat pushed back on the
dark hair, her gaz" fixed Oh the gray
water. At sight of her Darr'S heart
had given great thiob of joy. 1t was
so long. 50 long since ho had seen her.
He made few long strides and stood
beside her.
"NIonica." he said softly.
The girl turned her head with a
quick movement.
"Oh, Laurence"
There was displcascd tone in h"r
voice and her brows came together in
a frown as She regarded him. He put
out his hand.
".irc you not going to shake hands
with me. Monica? 1t is SO long since
have seen YOU
The girl gave him her hand with a
reluctant air, withdrawing it quickly
from lis warm clasp, and turning her
face again scaward.
After a glance of some moments.
which Dare spent in deyouring eager
ly with his eyes every line OF her pro
file, he began:
Monica, you are cruel: you have not
let me seeyou once this long winter. |
have been down from the city so often,
and tried again and again to see YOU,
but each time that | called you had
just gone out. l feel sure that you
saw me coming and went away pur-
pcsely. Last night it was tie same
thing. But chance has been good to
me; have missed my train this morn
Ing, and so have caught you; you had
10 opportunity to avoid me-"
The girl made no answer.
He went on: Last summer you gave
me faint hope that in time you
would listen to me. What have you
to say to me now? Have you not
thought OF me all these long monthsY'
f,,r, n
full Of tears
Il was wrong to let you think you
might hope, Laurence. for | can't do as
you wish. Don't you understand? 1t |
seems wrong for me to listen to You.
Think, belong to Allen: was to have
been his wife. He was always talking |
OF Cousin Laurence; you seemed |
Cousin Laurence to me- too. Don't |
you see? l belong to Allen: l can't |
marry you"
But Allen IS not"
She Interrupted him quickly.
Hush; we don't know; he must be
living"
Monica" he said with great gentle
ness of voice, think, it is four years;
he was to have returned in .ten
months"
Il must be faithful to him."
Dare flushed. This is nonsense,
Monica" he said, half angrily. IF
Allen is living" he went on, why have
We not heard from him all these years?
are you going to waste your life in
ihls little village and give up all
chance of happiness for fancTul idea
Oh being bound to him? And think Of
me! l have loved YOU so Ions Come
10 me. l shall love you 50 much that
you must love ne in return: come, |
swear that you shall never regret 1t,
Monicar'
Il can't, Laurence"
VIII you spoil both Of orr liycs:'
l must not listen, Laurence. | wish
that you did not care for me-"
! can't help caring fer you. think
nave loved you since the first day l
saw You, and now that you are free"
! am not free
Monica, listen-'
|
iry 10 forget me. lam going home; do
not come"
And before he could stop h~r shn hal
darted away.
one went along swiftly until she
anew that she was out CT view from
uie cove. Her thoughts were in Il
"hifi. Why should size n9t vielI? She
hiie" that Ler happiness would be Sc
.ufe with this strong, tender man.
iio" h-de he guessed her struggle to
i.s!st his pleading. lie thcuSht she
uiu isot care. IN the cid days she had
.oinparad Allen with linn, and always
" t'e formers disadvantage. Ter
aitef the first glamour OF their g
nie.t sic had seen tie shallowness and
seiHShRess OF Allens nature. and i'll the
eiose relations into which through her
sasement she WIS brought with
0Aeh cousin Laurence she had rec