The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-04-13
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while Horton. waving his hand to tw,
faces looking out the window of tn,
qwckly-disappearing train, jumped in
his trap and followed.
Come over and spend the evening
now that your friends have gone" Miss
dAu0ert called to him as they left.
How time fies!" remarked her
aunt, with a 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 so abroad, and your uncle and
l 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 cnfant. to be
unhappy. There is so much in the
/ years to come TO gild lie for you into
happiness; our affection and Roberts
devoted attachment Will quickly chase
away all the shadows il you will only
be 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
take 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 l left his only
daughter alone and unprotected in this
heartless and cruel world"
With half sob Aurore threw a low
ing arm around Mrs. d'Aubert's neck
and declared with loving rcproach 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 undle and ].
1--WE will visit together the old Ger
man towns you are so fond of, and
when winter comes we win soe."
But her aunt shook her head with
smilingpersistency, while fondly strok-
ing AuTore's brown hair as il 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- /.
cious and immovable and rarely ever /
abandoned her point.
But, cherie, poor Bert is wearing his I
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 a kind
er or better man than Robert Horton.
And his untiring devotionl Does that
count for nothing? BE reasonable, ma
petite. Let us say-the last ten days of
May. Let me tell Bert"
"Nol no! no! Not yet. Not in May"
pleaded Aurore. a poignant anguish
clutching at her heart strings.
There was a long pause, while a car
riage swept up the avenue and stopped.
"Ah, les jeunes files" sighed Mrs.
d'Aubert. Every well, cherie, we will
speak of II later"
Her aunt was placidly unmoved as
Horton sprang out 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 a 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 a slightly embarrassed laugh,
refusing the help of his outstretched
hands and jumping on the marble steps
Of the porch, where Mrs. d'Aubert
stood.
"Tn be over about eight" Horton
said, rather shortly. as he turned,
swung himself in his trap, took the
lines and drove Off.
'Tu mes pos gentille," Mrs. d'Aubert
said. with gentle reproach, as they
went In the wide hall.
And Aurore asked herself while go
ing up the broad winding stairway
why it was that she could not greet her
cousin, her old playmate Of those sweet
,arlv years, of whom she had always
9een so fond with even ordinary cor
liality, but instinctively repelled and
-epulsed him. Why she dreaded every
approach to that one thought which
he so well knew was dominant in his
mind and why she felt so miserable, so
Utterly wretched, when he looked at ,
Ter with that appealing air of devotion I
he knew so well. 8
The March evening was warm and /
pleasant, and Aurore slipped into n
lighter gown before going down TO S
upper, only partly conscious Of how s
is clinging transparency frightened 4
he brilliance of her beauty. {
where's Bcrt?" queried her uncle.
oolsing at-her admiringly as they sat t
b their handsome dining-room while p
.urore deftly handled silver tea +
ervice centuries DID, family tradition o
declared. il
This was always a pleasant time Of
he day, and her uncle loved TO linger h
nd chat before adiOurning 10 the H. h