The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-10

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cigarettes. You find the house ii
rather confusion to-day. There's t(
be little dance Tomorrow. in honor
of the approaching wedding"
The other slowly lit cigarette 81
understand you are going to marry
one of Sir Geoffrey's daughters,' he
observed. slowly.
Yes, Constance" lie blew q ring
OF smoke into the air and watched i;
lazily. "Do you know Sir Godfrey S
daughters:" he asked. curiously.
The dark eyes watching him seemed
TO glow and burn.
81 used to-" he answered briefly.
There was pause. Dick began to
wish his father-in-law Qcct would
| hasten his return.
+Whcn is your wedding to beg was
the next question.
Tho stranger spoke rs one who has
right to ask. and Dick found himself
answering meekly.
Next week, the twentieth. I wanted
1t sooner, hut Constance said she
wouldn't be married until after the
sixteenth. The fact Is, she was en-
gagged before
lie stopped abruptly, vexed with him.
Gelf. What OIL earth could his affairs,
and Constance's, matter to this man? ?
| Il quite understand" replied the other.
in his level tones. Il have heard OF
Miss Merton's former engagement"
"Oh, l sec" Dick looked relieved.
He hated explanations. and reflected
that this was probably some cid family
friend. He lit another cigarette and
| resumed in more confidential tone.
You see, she had been engaged to
this chap for nearly a year: Forsyth
his name was. and then he went ABROAD
and forgot her. the brute
| "IIow DO you know he forgot hcr?'
The question was ono, apparently, Of
Idle curiosity.
Dick flung his cigarette into the fire
with energy. "Oh, we'll, when man
never writes, or answers letters. for
two years. you naturally conclude lie
has forgotten. And Con has waited
until just now. Why it's only two
months ago that she promised to marry
me. though I have known her oil my
life, and cared for her, too. You see,
she thought she was still bound by her
promise. And nothing would induce
her to be married until after the six.
teenth. because that was his birthday,
and he had once said they should be
married on that day. But that was
yesterday"
There was n silence, broken only
by the snow beating against the win
dows.
"Therc may have been reasons why
he-tbat man Forsyth-did not write.
In the depths OF the bush there are
many difficulties. Letters are lost.
people one has trusted prove unfaitll-
full"
There was an undcrcurrent of pas.
sion in his tone not lost upon his
hearcr. lie stood up, straight-limbed
and tall, OH the heartll-rug.
Il hope you don't think I'm not act
ing on the square by this chap For
syth." he said warmly. But it does
seem to me that poor little Con has
wasted two years over u gcod-for-
nothing chap. And I mean to make
it up to her now"
The other nan smiled oddly II be-
lieve you, Captain Charteris." he said,
slowly. "but If you won't deem it an
impertinence should like to ask you
one question" ..
"By all means"
Does she-COnstancc. Miss Merton
care any more? l mean, Of course,
she has forgotten the other mau?"
Dick smiled happily. "Quite, am
surc," he said frankly. Il fatter my
self that occupy his place iu her
thoughts now, lucky chap that l am"
Then, to redeem the last words from
any suspicion Of esotism. he added:
"Shc was SO young. you know; only
seventeen when she was first engaged
to Forsyth. and he was old enough to
be her father"
The other man made no answer. lie
looked the young man up and down,
his eyes resting curiously OIL Dick
Charteris's fair. boyish face. Some.
thing between sigh and a sroan came |
from his lips and startled Dick.
''Is anything the matter:" he asked,
quickly.
"No-tEanks:' the other recovered !
himself with an effort. "But I don't |
think, after all, can wait to see Sir
Geoffrey. IL will write
II am leaving England" he said |
with an obvious effort. "and 1t is un-
likely we shall ever meet again. Will |
You shake hanGs?" and Dick. obeying !
some strange impulse. grasped his !
hand and shook it warmly. J.,
He accompanied his strange visitor |
to the hall door and opened ii. The |
snow was falling very fast now. For |
one moment the man stood bareheaded |
Oh the steps. Goodbye. goodbye"
he murmured, but he did not. look at |
Dick. He seemed rather to be talking
to some one unseen. At the foot Of
the steps he paused. a solitary black
figure in white world.
John Forsyth is dead. dead" The
words came to Charters with an in
tensity that was very solemn.