The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-04-05

| iStie but NanQulSned 1t would not
be. and all around its masses stood In
close array. The farm itself, encir
cled with roses that gave place in
overwhelming rings to blossom-laden
orchards, seemed an oasis in the
gnarled and rugged hill-sides on which
it lay.
Angelo, a dull, only partially com
pretended misery in her heart. was
dressing for the ceremony. She had
asked to be left quite alone in her
little white room on this last morning
at home, and now she stood by the
window looking out blankly at the
white, misty wall that shut out the
view of the vineyard nome to which
she was soon to go, and the columned
Verandas Of Seymour's house. She
was listening, too, half-heartedly to
the sounds below, to the mother and
| sisters busying themselves about the
| preparations for the wedding feast.
| She heard her father talking to Jim
to Jim who had driven over early hop
| ing to see her. hoping that he could
| find words in which to tell her all that
he wanted to say to tell her all that
he lonSed for in life was to make her
happy; that even now he would give
her up If she did no, feel that she
could be content with him. For the
honest. stupid, plodding boy had seen
the shadow on his sweetheart's face.
and. although he could not know it's
substance, he was unwilling to stand
between his beloved and the sun of
her life. But Angelo had refused to
see him; there would be time enough
for all that afterward, she told her
self; and that, too, was the message
she sent to him.
She leaned forward to caress a rose
that blossomed just beyond the green
shutter, and then she saw him-Sey-
mour-riding slowly down the trail.
A sudden rush of blood from her heart
to her head deprived it of all sense.
of all reason. He had come, He
would save her! That was the mess
age that flashed along the crimson
stream. He was on his way to the tryst
under the great cathedral trees. She
must meet him there. With feverish
haste she dressed. rejoicing in the
pretty details of her travelling gown
Were they not all for him? Had she
not known all the time in reality that
they were for him? Poor Jim! But
he would get over it. They always
did, and She stopped suddenly,
and looked in the glass at the scarlet
lips, brilliant like Japan's quince-blos-
SONS, at the blue-black hair so like the
summer night. A quick rush of tears
dimmed all the vision. Poor little
mother! Would she get over it? The
girl tore a scrap Of paper from the
box that had held the wedding hat
and wrote a hurried note to her moth
er. Then once more she went to the
window. The fog was again shutting
down and enveloping like bridal veil
the green trees under which even now
Seymour must be waiting for her
Hurry! She must hurry to him.
And then she. saw that Seymour
himself was standing by the gate, and
that her father was walking down the
path, his long, white hair cleaning
like silver. Courteousfy enough, the
Englishman greeted him, adding:
About that boundary line Mr.. Della
mater. Couldn't you come with me
now to look over the land? We may
as well come to terms about 1t today"
But not today" The cid French |
peasants voice had lost its cringing
tone in his broadening American life,
but he understood that the rich land
owner knew nothing. cared nothing,
about the personal affairs of the poor. |
Still he explained: "It is Angeles
It is my daughters wedding day, and
-"
"Oh. Miss Angy's wedding day.
Surely, 1 had forgotten" Seymour's
tone held note that might almost !
have been an apology, SO kindly were
his feelings toward these, his poor
neighbors. "Of course business has
no place today. Give my best wishes
to the bride Thorne is fine fellow,
| think. and | am sure that Miss Della
manter and you are both to be con-
He rode away into the fog, never
at the shutters behind which
the white face was hidden, never
dreaming that in the brides heart or
mind there was place or thought for
him.
The Lares and Penates in the little
white room watched her through her
lalf-hour of agony, through her hour
If conquest. and then saw her pass
out from among them forever. ready
% face her little world, ready to take
Up the honest burden of life.
The ceremony was over, the toasts
we're all drunk, and the bride had driv-
IN away. Such fine wedding! Such
| pretty bride! These were the COM
nents of the simple country folk. and
,nly the mother eyes had seen the
vain and. seeing it, had known that
Ter uneasy fears had been realities,
hat Angelo had married the one, low
ng the other with her whole heart
Through a rain of tears she watched
he dust-cloud move slowly down the
nA@s IL 4. |