The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-03-16

money grubbing. Well. III grub to
beat the band"
He laughed harsh. sardonic and
dissyllable laugh, the sound Of which
reminded him of a villain in a black
cloak whom in happier days he had
guyed from gallery seat He felt
that he had misjudged that villain S
art, but at the same time he ceased
his soliloquy and lit his pipe again.
1t was easier to stop talking than to
keep from thinking. and his thoughts
went wandering of to the little home
they two had planned. There prob
| ably never had been a house built
| just exactly like it. and there prob.
ably never would have been. but Il
had grown very familiar to him in
the first half-waking hours Of morning
| particularly the room where they
would sit together. Her face.
| Castles in Spain! Money grubbing
now; deadening Of human feeling, a
self-contained. self-sufn cling existence
| that would harden his heart and set
his face In lines that would scare chill
dren. He took savage satisfaction
In the contemplation Of his future self,
but caught himself softening at the
picture OF this adamantine millionaire,
yielding to the appeal Of the love Of
his youth and raising her from power
ty to affluence; SO he picked up the
newspaper again AID tried to interest
himself In the partition Of China
The door bell below suddenly rang
and Percival started to his feet.
Could 1t be the messenger? He half
opened his door and listened. He
heard his landlady say. Il think he's
upstairs in his room now. You can go
up and see; it's right at the head of
the stairs" and then he retreated to
his chair. choked with emotion.
1t was the laundryman with his
weekly bill.
Would she have written that note,
after all? Suppose she could have ex-
planned. And would 1t not be better to
give her the opportunity to explain? OF
course she could. She could make
him look like a fool in one sentence,
but he was not the man to allow any
girl to twist him around her little
finger. He would show her that A
trivial cause. perhaps. as some people
might look at 1t. but what could there
be trivial in their intercourse. Look
ing back he could remember other in
stances, slight in themselves, but
<Havy ~ a. In o%r cho~
ing the ebbing tide OF love?
But to return to the Chinese ques-
ton. Oh. hang the Chinese question.
Yet 1t should be matter " human in
terest. Great nations wsre playing q
great game there; armies were gather
ing. How would it be to enlist. Here
was a subject worthy Of serious con-
sideration. What could life offer him
here but the prospect OF dreary slav-
ing over account books. Was that a
career for a man with blood in his
veins and strength in his sinews? On
the other hand, strenuous activity, the
joy Of conflict. the thrill Of danger
and then a glorious death. She would
hear Of it and perhaps her binding
tears would fall fast upon the printed
page where his name would appear
in capital letters in the list Of the
slain. They might perhaps bring his
mortal remains back in metal cas-
ket. They have done that for the
boys who fell in Cuba. and while Per
cival thought at the time 1t was
piece of idiotic sentimental extrava-
gance, now it seemed only the proper
and decent thing to do. The services
would he held at the church, OF course,
and there would be pathetic illusions
to the young hero. who animated by
sentiments Of the loftiest patriotism,
responded gladly to his country's call
and laid down his life on the sacred
altar of-er-Of that country. The
chances were good for a swooning at
that.
But after all it would not be well to
20 away with bitterness in his heart.
She must understand that though Fate
had spoken and an eternal separation
must be-that it was his unalterable
UeLCIuludllOu ludt SAouAu ~
he would be faithful to her memory.
He would release her formally from
her engagement-very formally. She
should understand. yet he would
place an icy barrier before her-and
then he would bid her farewell for
ever. Perhaps a letter would be the
best way.
No. Letters were only letters. la
BILE to misconstruction, and there
should be no mistaking his firm in
tention.
Yet it might be put better in writ
ing.
But then there was always the dan
ger of a letter falling into the hands
of a third party. The old man might
open it. Just as well to call tomor-
row evening.
Where was the sense Of putting it
off? If it had to be done 1t might just
as we'll be done at once.
Percival put on his coat and went
out.
Perhaps ten minutes had elapsed
since the eternal farewell had been