St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-03-16
Longing with all his heart to ac-

j
doubtful Of the propriety of it, the
young man hesitated, and while he
did SO the rector came within sight
OF him and gave joyful cry of rec
ognition.
These two, it seems, had known
each other years before-indeed, the
versatile rector had himself coached
the young man for the army, and had
danced forjoy when his pupil came off
well-and the unexpected meeting so
delighted them both that they talked
and laughed like schoolboys at a pic
| mic.
@Run in, Cissie, and get Capt Clin-
ton some lunch" said the rector, fond
| Ily. Don't wait for an introduction;
you'll be like old friends when you've
known each other five minutes-take
my word for ii"
q hope you're true prophet, old
man." said Capt. Percy Clinton, as he
watched Cissie's slender figure disap-
pearing through the reetory door.
"JoEel how her eyes sparkle. Just
like fairy fountain when the sun
shines on it!''
The pleasant little lunch was al
most over before Percy spoke of the
errand which had brought him to
Briardale. Then he told the rector
that he had come to see the owner OF
Briardale Iiill, with view to pur-
chasing the manor house, a pretty
building which, for want of better
tenant, had long since been given over
to the rats and spiders
II want to live somewhere near
Briardale," he said, fixing his eyes, all
unconsciously, on Cissie, who became
suddenly interested in the pattern Of
the tablecloth. "The links are so
fine, and since jealous fuzzy wuzzy
made hole in my left foot COLTS the
only game I can indulgein with safe
ty. can't play a bit, mind you, but
it's nice TO pretend
The rector shook his head.
SYou never will induce old VIII
liams to let you have the Manor he
said. Indeed, doubt whether you
will even manage to secure an inter-
view with him. He is the most per
sistent hermit in the world. His own
servants despair of seeing him more
than once a week, and they say he
actually runs into the cellars every
time he hears the door bell ring. Ii
you stop among us, though, you can
have his pew at the church. Henever
uses it, and I hate to see it empty"
Il have only seen him once my
self since | came here, supplemented
Cissie, "but / rather liked him then.
He was standing by the garden gate
as / raced around the corner, and he
lifted his hat and blushed like boy.
He has a lovely complexion for so old
a man-one that makes you thing in
voluntarily of Strawberries and
cream"
Z am glad to hear you speak well
Of him, Miss Melville, said Percy, in
a voice which was intended for her
ear alone, because I mean to stay in
Briardale till I get all / want Every
thing is so very tempting and desir-
able here"
And there was that in his tone
which made Cissie's cheeks glow with
an enchanting color.
Percy Clinton paid a remarkable
number Of visits to the Melvilles after
that, and nowhere could he have
found more cordial welcome He
had always something fresh and anus
ing to report about his unavailing eff
forts to penetrate the hermit's retreat,
and as day after day went by and he
drew no nearer to the accomplish
ment Of his design, both the rector
and his neice-the former openly, the
latter secretly-began to entertain
the hope that he would be obliged to
stay with them throughout the sum
mer.
He brings a breath Of London into
the place said the rector, who was
a cockney at heart, "and the longer
old Williams delays the interview the
better | shall be pleased.
One beautiful morning in August,
however, the captain came into the
garden and sat down beside Cissie.
He seemed strangely excited. and the /
girls heart gave throb of apprehen-
sion as she looked at him.
Y ou have seen old Williams:s. she
said, as carelessly asshe could, though
she fervently hoped his answer would
be No..
Il have" he replied, with nervous
Little laugh, by climbing the wall
and dropping into the garden | man
aged TO catch him unawares, and when
he saw there was no possible escape