St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-08-30
And he rested his head in his hand

And he rested his head in his hand
in despairing way.
The girl smiled behind her fan.
81 am sorry came here. Twas DULY
content before. Now-now--why you
know yourself how impossible it will
be for me to go back to the old way
and be happy! Not to see you any
more, that's the worst of the whole
business, hang i'll"
you'll forget all about it sooner
than you think. Summer affairs never
last long
manner which would have amused any,
one but a lover.
It irritated the man.
eyes, that's your idea of it. Sum.
mer affair! 1t hurts me to hear YOU
talk like that, because-because-look
here, little girl" he broke off sudden
ly, taking her hands gently in his.
Don't you understand that care for
you ten times more than is good for
me? Don't laugh; answer mel"
His keen, anxious eyes looked into
hers and she shifted her glance to tho
shimmering water.
II think II understand" she am
swered in low, soft little voice,
gently freeing her hands.
Its as we'll that I'm going away to-
morrow morning. I may make a
worse fool of myself if I stay. Oh,
yes, I'll admit it! I have made fool
of myself. You know it,"
II shan't allow you to be slandered
like this. I'll punish you. this very in
stant!"
Deity she slipped thin crepe scarf
from her shoulders to bind his wrists
with it.
"There!" she cried gayly, 'if you say
another word about yourself, I'll COM
mand you to walk into the hotel corr
ridor with your hands tied. How
would you like that?''
"Oh, I'd do it, presume, if it pleased
you. To think that l should come to
this!"
Il wouldn't let you go!" she cried
impulsively. Il merely threaten. It's
to make you behave"
And she smiled most entrancingly
as she unwound the bands. He was so
tempted to kiss her, there. as she
leaned to him ever so slightly. In
stead, he merely passed his face across
the folds of her scarf as she sat idly
twisting it between her white fingers.
When calm wave returned to him
he said:
"You have fascinated many men,
just countless dozens, isn't it 500"
II have never thought of it. l don't
know"
"But I know. Anyhow, it's jolly
consolation to think that am not the
only one. There must have been other
chumps. When did you stop count
ing?"
Again his face was very near hers,
and she answered, hesitatingly: "Not
I really liked-ever."
The water splashed softly against
the steps. The gentle sound came to
them in trebled volume as they sat
there, intently silent. At last. she lift
ed her head with quick, young move
ment.
"What are you thinking OPP she
asked, sprightily.
"You! That's all I can think OF,
these days"
Silence again.
''Why don't you ask me the same
question:" she cried with a dainty
show of petulance.
SWELL, tell me-"
"Ask me. first"
"Of what were you thinking?"
"You! That's all ALL can-think
of-these days!"
"Sweetheart!" Then, half incredu-
lous, he turned to her. He longed to
take her in his arms and kiss her for
an hour, without cease. But he feared
that it might be new sort of torture
she was practicing upon him.
aren't you glade" she pouted.
'But you don't mean it!''
II do! I do! I do!" she sobbed.
he embraced her in most
dazed fashion. He wondered how she
could care for him, and why she should
weep over it.
But when the hour was up, he
thought he understood.-Natio |