The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1902-07-04

AhOio Was SIlll the freshness OF tn
dawn in the air, and in the grass ant
fern that fringed the woodland roac
along the ridge was studded with glob
ules of dew that flashed and spanked
In rainbow tints as the sunlight fel
upon ther.a through the trees. A littlj
to one side of the road girl with
brown hair was plucking scarlet anc
black lilies and throwing them into 8
basket and young man with black
hair was watching her graceful move.
ments with obvious admiration as he
leaned against the rough parked trunk
OF hickory tree. They were both
well looking, she in a placid, gentle
way and he after the fashion of the
southern man of the best type.
The girl looked up. 81 should think
you might help me, now that you are
here" she said, reprcachfully.
I'D rather look at YOU he replied,
and l couldn't do that if / were pick
ing flowers. Besides, l want to talk
to you"
She coIored under his ardent gaze,
but her eyes met his bravely. "That
sounds selfish" she said, as if you
would rather do what you wish thasl
help me-"
that" he returned, "but Pm not go,
Ing to take it to myself. I'll put you
in the wrong-and pick flowers" He
knelt in the patch of lilies and began
to gather them and she smiled at him
gratefully.
And you'll be reasonable in every
thing else?" she asked
1T depends upon what you call rea-
sonable," he replied. eff thought that
you didn't care for me I'd be as rea
sonable as you please. 1 wouldn't get
up at an unholy hour in the morning
in spite of orders and wait for you to
come out, and then follow you and
infict my detested presence
"Oh, Dick!" said the girl, 'and you
know how glad I was to see you. But
you mustn't. You must be patient"
81 think 1 am" he said, ''but why |
you won't let me go squarely to your
father and ask for you 1 can't think.
The war is over now and it oughtn't
to take man more than thirty years
to realize it. 1 know that my dear dad
made up his mind to that long ago.
You'll see him at the Decoration serv-
ces to-day with a bunch of flags and
/ basket of flowers and he'll be there
because he feels like it,
tits different with him." said the
sirl. you don't understand, Dick.
they were all secession people where
We used to live and 1t seemed as If
hey couldn't be unkind enough to him,
vhen they found that he was for the
Inion. All his friends deserted him
nd when he left they destroyed all
is property and all through the war
e suffered so much, and he came out
t 1t broken and crippled and altered
0 much. They think that he is
cured, and I heard someone say once
hat he couldn't talk about anything
ut the war and abuse the South and
he Democrats. 1t wasn't true"
"Of course it wasn't" said the young
ian, and he added, rather lamely,
He's all right. That's what I say ]
.e's too sensible at heart to have pre- :
ldlces You just let me talk to him" ,
e tossed the flowers that he was
olding into the basket and took her !
ands in his. She made no effort to
'lease them, but shook her head sor- .
at would kill him." she
i'd.
He dropped one hand and his arm
ole around her waist and she turned
r. face to his and their lips met
a long kiss.
Suddenly she broke away from him.
)h, you should not have done that"
e cried. "It can't be and you must
must not meet again,
ok. No." as he moved a step to-
ard her, eff you do I shall hate you. :,
III should understand. 1 am all he
s and it would be the greatest I'M d
ppiness of his sad life If he thought
at l cared for one of his enemies" ="
why, Good Lord!" calculated the T.
ung man, I'm no Johnny Reb. / d