The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-12-07

her arm. And a man don't like to cav
no to such! So l thought I'd iu:,
speak to you before"
Where are they?" said the squire,
rubbing the gold knob Of his walking
cane against his nose, and Simp pson
knew that the cause Of the forlorn
strangers was safe enough.
Mother, don't fret here comes the
gentleman now said clear. soft-toned
voice, and Squire Pendexter found him
self looking into pair of wistful, deep
blue orbs-orbs that belonged to a
slight, beautiful girl dressed in faded
fabric and worn shoes, who was lean
ing against the well-curb, for. while
Simpson had been gone On his ezra I'd Of
inquiry, she had drawn bucket of
clear. cold water out of the sparkling
depths Of the well, and given her mother
drink out of the silver bound gourd
which always hung there Sir" with
out a moments hesitation, might
have job Of work in your hop fields ,
We have come from the city-mother
and there's no living to be picked up
there, and my mother is ailing. and we
thought the smell Of the hops might do
her good. Please, sir. we'd work cheap,
if only we might sleep in the barn and
have bit of something to eat between
whiles!'
Il don't want you to work cheap"
said the squire. assuming an aspect Of
unwonted gruffness to cover the SYM
"a,hetic thrill in his voice. Il never
grudged moneys worth for good. honest
work. As for the barn, my housekeepcr
can put you up in one of the vacant
back chambers over the kitchen. and
there's always enough to eat at Pendex-
ter Farm"
"Pendexter FARM
The woman, who had been sitting on
the mos:y cattle trough. slowly lifted
her head here and pushed back her worn
sunbonnet
"Where are we, Isorao Whittier have
we come? l knew man named PEN
= once. who"
Eyes" said the squire. who had given
little start at the first sound of that
low contralto voice. 1T was l, Clara
Caprivi! To think that fate should
have brought us together again after
all these years."
The pale woman struggled to her feet
and clutclned at her daeghter's slim:
strong arm.
"Let lis 60, Isora." said she. I'VE
We have made mistake Give r1e my
shawl. Quick. Let us go!
"But, mother, why?' soohed the girl
who scarcely as yet comprehendcd all
this byplay. Don't you hear what the
gentleman says? We can have work
here. and food and shelter. Mother,
sit down again! You are embling all
overt"
Il tell you, child, you don't know
said impatient Clara, posses ed with
sort of wild. unreasoning terror. eve
we must go!"
"Clara," said the squire, he himself
assuming the direction of affairs, "tlc
child Is right. Let bygones be bysone.
You don't suppose would turn YOU
from my door,"
Clara looked into his face
Have you forgiven me, them" said
:he.
Forgiven you? Yes, years and years
ago. Let It's be friends again, Clara"
For his heart aclicd to see how paic
and wan she was-kow haggard were
her checks. ard how like snouldcring
fires the light burned in the s.!nken
eyes.
She told him all that afternoon. while
pretty Isora was stripping the clustered
hops from the vines. with a dozen girl
as pretty and as blooming as herself,
how her life had been an aimless wreck
how Carlo Caprivi had been no count.
after all. but lamcl1ss pretcndcr. with
neither honesty nor money: how he had
left her, with the baby Isora on her
hands to shift as best she might for her
self and was killed in a gambling
brawl; how she had struggled on for
years, constantly feeling herself less
able to wage unequal warfare with the
world
Clara" said the Squire, when she
had finished, "why didn't you come to
me?"
Because l had Wronged you SO deep
ly." she faItered.
"You might have known | would have
been kind. even to Caprivi's child. We'll:
it doesn't matter now You are here.
and you must stay here. Do you hear
me. Clara? Must! Bless my heart!
You'll grow strong in these country
brcezes, and that pale girl Of yours will
oct color in her face"
So they stayed at the Pendexter Farm
and beautiful Isora Caprvi grew farer
to look upon with every passing day.
"Clara," said the blunt squire one
day, that girl of yours is prettier than
ever you were.
Il know it," said Nine. Caprivi.
And as she spoke the words a pang
Of jealousy struck sharply through her
heart. Yet was it not natural enough
that Squire Pendexter she ID take moi.
of Isora's opening lovcliness?
And in her room mat night Clara
wrestled with her own heart and con-
quered it.
"He will marry Isora." she told her
self. "Isora is beautiful. and he is in