The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-08-17

the room, 50 filed with reminders OF
bygone happiness. There was the
piano, where they had sung together.
the window box over whose blossoms
their hands had met, the coy corner
where the first words of love had been
spoken. But with her entrance, as
they stood together again. face to
face, yet so far apart, all the bitter
ness of the present swept back upon
him.
There was no touch of hands. NO
lingering Of eyes. Haynes bowed like
| q stranger. Miss Anterior glanced st
him and then at the card she held.
"You wished to see me on an urgent
errand?' she said. repeating the PEN
ciled words.
EYES," he answered, distantly. This
must be my excuse for troubling you"
holding out the open paper and the
monogramed note.
| Her first blank wonder was followed
by fash of comprehension, and-wasl
it amusement? Hayne bit his lip in
anger. but as she raised her head he
hastily banished all expression from
his face.
II am quite at loss to account for
this mystery" he said, formally. "Of
course, knew that you'll mean
wished to assure you that L" He
stopped, feeling that he was bungling
horribly.
"Oh, yes; that goes without saying
she answered, demurely. "But am
afraid it is net q mystery to me-"
"Not q MYSTERY" he repeated. II
can't imagine who"
| She smiled. Perhaps you never re.
allied what thorough scapegrace
that brother of mine is? You were al
ways favorite of Harry's," she went
on, composedly, though her color
came with this first allusion to the old
time, "and he has wasted . great deal
of argument since you went away.
Now that you have come back Well,
; suppose he took the opportunity to
play bold game" smiling again. His
diplomacy is rather crude"
Hayne was piqued by her seif-pos-
session, and that phrase about wasted
argument ranked. Was she entirely
Indifferent to him? She should not
guess how much he cared for her.
He forced laugh. "Then the little
comedy may as well end now-since
} you don't share your brothers pref
I erence--"
The defiant words were never fin
ished. For as he rose she looked up al
him, and he saw that her face was pale
and her lip quivering. The self-pos
: session he resented had been only on
the surface, and had given way under
the strain.
He caught her hands. "Doris, you
!, I, are not so heartless, after all! You d.
care something for me-Doris?
! She looked down at their claspet
hands, and smiled. 1t was answer
!, enough. and he was quick to seize hi
= advantage.
How could you let me suffer u
long, Doris?" he said, with not yer,
: reasonable reproach. you knew
would come if you sent for me. You
|. might have written"
81 did write-a dozen letters"
81 never got one."
Z mo, for 1 tore them all up"
+ "You tore them up? And you coul'
:, sacrifice me to your pride? Oh
DorisI'
]. 1T was not PRIDE" she declared. q
b forgave you long ago. But I wa
afraid of another such scene.
T. thought if you were left to yoursel
=, for awhile, you would see the folly o
it all, and come back in your RICH
II mind. For felt sure you would com
lie finally, whether sent for you or not,
r smiling.
"Yes; / should have found some pre-
text" he confessed. II don't think
n could have stayed away much longer.
He gave her hands tender, tr
le umphant little squeeze. "And no.
It that we have forgiven each other" b
T. said. magnanimously, 1--WE won't sa
anything more about Jack Wetherel
1t will we, Doris?'
IL II don't see why we should" sh
laughed. He is Mabel's exclusiv
er property. I told you that mont
u ago."
Eyes; but month ago was . jea
it Gus fool. Now"
1T snow even you can find no excui
for jealousyl Next week you ma
Z, read their engagement in the Calel
,e. dar."
!" "Bless the Calendar-and yot
We brother! Doris" he broke on with
is sudden laugh, II told Deering to col
TX tradict that notice! Now what shall
te do? Tell him it was premature di
closure, but that he can announce Il
p. engagement next week."
Is, And Hayne laughed again, rs he pi
te tured behring's face at this illogic
conclusion.
To Instruct Cuban Teachers.