The Opelousas courier., 1900-07-28

gone 10 you. IL all flashed yer M
then, and I said to myself, That
part of the story!' Say, Nell, yor
and I are contributing o pretty in
~teresting little serial to the world,
don't you think?"
With a wrench she brought herselt
to raise her eyes from the fire anc
look at him steadily. III there was &
film of moisture over them he did moi
notice it.
"We have both had great good for
tune, Bob," she said. "We never
dreamed of anything quite SO grand as
this, even in our story. Think of me
with servants and a chaperone-no one
ever doubted that I could take care of
myself as long rs I was poor, but now
it is quite different. And a home
think of me with any kind of o home!
I had lived In rented houses oil my
life, and very poor ones at that. And
here I am, my own MISTRESS"
Sand that reminds me-you haven't
heard the best of my fortune yet"
cried the man, growing more radiant
as he came to the piece Of news that
would please her best. He was feel
ing for something in his breast pocket,
and he drew it forth presently--a pho.
tograph of a girl, with apetted, baby
ish face and o pert upward tilt of the
chin.
'There she u.s." he said, smiling and
reddening with pride and pleasure be-
meath the tan. 'sHer father is presi-
dent OF the company, and she and'her
mother have been out here most of
the fall on o visit to him."
She held the photograph with q
steady hand and gazed at it for q long
time-so long that he grew tired OF
waiting and went on with his iubilant
explanation.
"She doesn't like living at the
mines." he said, $50 l have sold out
my interests there. They are all COM
ing on in a week or two, and we are to
be married next month. You are to
be first bridesmaid, Nell-I have told
her all about you. YOU'LL never be-
lieve that at first she was inclined to |
be iealousi"
"Poor, silly little girlt". said Nell,
laughing softly at the idea.
"Yes-that's what I told her, If
she could.only know you, I said, she'd
never have another feeling OF that
sort. But OF any rate, she's over it
low. / am going to try to get o home
somewhere near this, where you can
be with her most of the time-unless
you'll come and live with us, Nell,
which would be the most delightful
hing in the world. She's such q
'hild, you know, and she must have
company most of the time
She stirred OF last, slowly and pain
ully. and laid the photograph down
N tho table. The fame had died
Town in the CRATE, and it's glow had
uddenly slipped from her face.
"You were so kind to think of il.
5ob," she said, with a smile on her
'allid lips, '.you know that would be
ovely. ! couldn't have dreamed of
nnything better myself. But-didn't
rsAa you? I am going away next
eekEAto-morrow-and will not be
ere when she comes. Give her my
est loRs won't ron? and tell her that
know Sell be happy with the best
elbow in }ae world"
"G9ng awayl" cried Bob, in dis
why, Nell! And leave your /,
homeland just when I have /,
0me back, too!'' !,
Selfish, isn't ito" she replied. !,
lsingea as he arose, and leaning one :
and lightly on the mantel-not for !
apport surely? "But I was always :
elfsh. Bob; aud the passion for travel ;
on me. You can't expect me to re- :
lember friends when / have worlds :
money and am my W mistress. T !
. off TO California-Japan, perhaps :
haven't decided yet" :
And ! had been planning such O :
'yely continuation Of our story" he :
i'd, dejectedly. "You might STAY :,
While for my sake, Nell. Away out : :
lere in the mines I have been think !
g what jolly times we'd have to- !,
sther-with her-and how we'd
ugh over old times-and over that
DRY Of ours
Yes, they have been so amusing
le said lightly, yet with a thread OF &
,ony running through the note OF il
.iety. Il shall never think Of them Il
lthout laughing. You can always "
cture me wandering around the old g,
orld-always with my chaperone- Ii
d laughing to think Of the old v
mes. But the story is at an end, fl
1b.n :,
She shook hands with him, and he tn
mt away with . puzzled frown on 3:
l,foWs. She stood where he had +
y her, white faced, and yet with d il
lile on her lips. The cat came to 10
= and rubbed against her delicate o,