The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-11-30
UTILITY.
FOR ELIAS SAKE
BY II. MACKENZIE.


Nothing"
why did you send for me?'
A nush OF red rose to her face, 50
honght, yesterday, when wrote, tina
had something to say, but now"
You have changed your mind, Mis-
AUSTIN! That is woman's priviIeg,
ana you have used it ruthlessly,"
Yes, l know. Forgive me.
meant to do my best"
He frowned and his expression was
not good to see.
Her best" And this is what she
had done
Last spring he had thought himself
one OF The happiest men alive, engaged
To be married to this girl, Eva AUS
TIN; he loved her passionately and be-
Geved her to be the ideal type of
Womanhood, high principled, truthful,
gentie--in fact, almost faultless.
One day, few months ago, she
had written to break off her engage
ment, short letter which was mas
terpiecc of polite reserve and femi-
nine cruelty. She regretted if she
bad caused him any pain-Oh, yes. re-
'srcts cost nothiDg-she was conscious
OF the honor that nc had paid her g
- she wished to remain his friend
she returned his ring.
Captain Humphrey travelled manv
miles to demand an explanation of HE
alhanced wife. He was refused admit
aance, his letters were returned I'M
3 opened by her sister-Eva was i'll and
could not write. The truth stared him
IN the face; in plain English he had
been hopelessly Tilted. Then he vowed
10 forget Eva Austins existence and
congratulated himself upon his free
dom from domestic ties.
Today, as he stood in the parlor ne |
the hotel to which she had summoned |
MIN, he had so far overlooked his |
determination to forget her existence
mat his anger was waxing fierce
against her Why had she brought
him here? To be made a fool of q
second time? No, and a thousand
times no.
IF you did your best, Miss Austin
may | ask what your worst would
have been?"
she moved quickly, almost IS III he
had struck her.
cannot explain. If you knew how
IL all happened you would perhaps
pelleVe-you might perhaps think lit
tie better of me-"
He stood bolt upright, speechless
He was struggling with his pride: in
MS heart of hearts he was longing to
take her in his arms. to tell her that
Tor him she was the only woman in
the world, with all her faults. 6
Her faults. They were unpardona- ,
BILE :
should be glad to think well of ,
any lady" he said at last, lightly. ,
more especially of a lady who once t
honored me with her friendship" y
es," she said gently at was he =
cau4 of that friendship that | wrote. +
20 favor to ask you Now-it is O
not necessary. l am sorry" n
Tnere was a brief silence, then she n
said: :
Ihere are changes in our. family. +,
Ella is going to be married: the en- a
'agement is very sudden, it was only ii
ettled this morning" cl
(Ella was the younger sister of 81
Vhom he had so often been Jealous
n those forgotten days) W
Allow me to congratulate" Ii
He bowed and turned to go; the in cr
erview was a farce. -
AT the door she stopped him. do he
on start-tomorrow?" 10
Yes" st
"Goodby. We, that is Ella and I m
ish you happy return" ar
considering their former intimacy tn
lis was barely the farewell that good ia
anners demanded, nothing more. co
His hand was on the lock. Some on
ing else she said, her voice was al tel
ost inaudibie, Il will pray for you" gu
lie shut the door quietly, there In
ould be no melodramatic display of De
mper on his part Arrived at the sit
'ttom of thea stairs. he missed his att
II. Had he left his purse or his wh
atch In that room. no power on earth en-
ould have sent him back-but his wa
t. It'll
he ran back hastily and knocked. sol
lere was no answer. So much the peg
uer He entered the room and L
lzed his property. Turning to 60 eye
heard the rustic of draperies She aga
Is there, standing on the spot where any
had left her, with her hands fao
lsped to her face. cite
des
Under the cold star lit sky he had sen
lor hours. The fight was over ina
ohe distance he could discern the "hs
ures or the wounded and the dead Oh
me victory was with his men-so ran
ch ne knew before he fell. And
" patience. They would find him
and by. II not, then the end couId tt
be far off, not very far. Patience beer
g stars flickered and faded. He Gov, or
Dom, with pale pink walls f1oworr NOR,
YORK basket on the table-nothinp nave
aped his notice. Eva was there but
had on a gray dress and a gold tere'
in round her neck. suits
we're there tears in her eyes? There In
e tears in his Il will pray for asas
:" an a
hat is what she said at parting. op quo
ne had pretended not to hear. He = .
her again praying for the man -
had not condescended to accept Ter
good wishes. win
the old days he had often smiled ooo
her earnestness, and called her a - \
e Puritan; in later times he had anno
= b,snaa-,,H -, = ~ pocii,e' The
-hot a., - :. iooN iiAe 'hat! the
, Ir,S - '.,o.i what ne caiied Italy
ia 1.. "'sn now was that she it wi
!, 60, e" 'nnI ne uiea oiessing her into
.a4tan u'Aicuity he FOUND his Bostt