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

face-not the expression. Of Joy h
would have expected to see. Sh
walked rapidly. paying no heed
Dare.
He put his hand gently on her arm
do not walk SO fast, Monica. Yo
will tire yourself out"
She did not reply. but went NOR
slowly.
Monica" began Dare, hcsitating!y y
do not think that you viii lind
| letter from Allen"
She stopped still and looked Mt him
What is it. Laurence: You ar
hiding something. What is the mys
terry: Why did you not wish to rca,
the letter."
Monica, l believe You are n BRAY,
girl. Call up al your pride now"
She gnZed at him with wondering
eyes.
Laurence, what IS it?'
He looked around hastily. It was
but a short distance to the rocks at the
cove and the place was deserted
Let us 20 down there. canno,
talk to you here
Thoughts OF their last interview at
this place came to her mind How
miserable she had been then, and how
miserable now. Allen was alive, and
she, wrctched girl, was not glad. She
did not love him. 1t WAS Laurence
that she loved, but she must he faith
full to Allen. Laurence must never
guess what wicked girl she was.
Allen alive, and she not glad. and
what was Laurence going to tell her!
Dare seated her in sheltered
position and stood looking at her, a
world Of compassion in his eyes
Monica, l would give my life to
spare you this. Allen is scoundrel."
He drew the letter from his pocket,
opening it slowly.
What is it, Laurence? Why do you
speak so:'
Then. as he did not answer. she
said with a touch of imperiousness in
her voice: Let me read it,
He gave it to her and she read She
passed hastily over the preliminary
lines. But what was this:
Il shall wait until later,
Laurence, old boy, to give yoI the de-
tails of these years. Briefly. the en-.
terprise upon which l came ont here
to achieve some measure Of success be-
fore returning home. but one failure
succeeded another. Finally | was TAX
en- i'll with rheumatic fever. The
woman at whose house | was staying
nursed me through 1t. and her
failed. l kept on trying others. hoping
one of the sweetest girls i'll
the state. helped her. Call me all the
hard names you wish. but | fell in love
with her and we We're married. l WAS
n coward, l know, but She loved me to
and we were very happy.
Believe me, I have not been very easy
when l thought Of my mother and
Monica. But l met Melton last week
rs he was passing through to San
believed me dead. and that Monica WAS
to be engaged to YOU. so she !
IS consoled and will forgive ln@. That |
Is why l am writing to disc.Hsr my |
l am fairly prosperous |
and shall have mother come out here |
l know she vii! forgive |
ne. and she will find the sweetest |
title daughter-in in the country. |
You will suit Monica far better than
should have done. You have the
ame high ideals of duty and all
hat sort of thing. l confess to living
III a lower plane"
Dare stood looking at her sadly,
.urSing Allen in his heart.
"My darling. if l could have spared
-ou this" he said.
Monica looked at him and said, trem-
llously:
Laurence. l tried all along to be
aithful to Allen. but"
but what, Monica?'
She stood up and looked into his
yes a ticeting glance, but it was
nough for Dare.-Chicago Record.