The Opelousas courier., 1903-04-18
A Love Story For
the

breakfast. If l don't get a high egg
| get salt bacon which a sailor would
kick at, and if l get neither of those
two things l have a piece of fish which
would disgrace an East End cook-shop
put in front of me-"
He shifted Indignantly, as, turning
in his chair, he picked up his discarded
paper and, fattening it out angrily,
commenced to read it's contents.
Every well, Leonard" said Celia, dig
nifty struggling with tears for mastery
in her voice. "Since you are as sorry
to have yer 1et me as 1 am to have
ever come across you I will ask Aunt
Clarissa when she comes here"
81 tell you she isn't coming here!!"
interrupted Vancourt peremptorily. 81
won't have the old cat in the house
so there! I'm master here, kindly re-
member"
"And I am mistress!" retorted Celia.
$50 Aunt Clarissa shall come and
"What?"
"And when she does I-I-shall tell
her that-how unkind you are-and-
and ask her to take me away" con-
tinued Celia in a ~faltering voice, un-
needing his interruption. I'll never
want to see you again-I hate you!"
ooh, very well, then" Vancourt rose
with as much dignity as he could as
sumo. GAS such is the case, and since
l am not allowed to be master of my
own house, we had better separate
amicably. I, for one, shall be very
pleased to be freed from a nagging
woman"
"And I, from a-brute!'
"That is a question Of opinion re-
marked Vancourt easily. II have been
asked by Carstairs to go for a cruise,
and as his yacht leaves Southampton
the day after tomorrow I may as we'll
go with him until I have decided what
I will do. OF course, I shall leave you
the house, will clear out" He
crossed the room to the door, adding,
as he opened it, "There will be enough
money paid into your account to sat
isfy your requirements" Then, with
out awaiting a reply, he closed the
door behind him, Celia gazing half dis
c%onsolately, half defantly, at the va
cant chair on the other side Of the
table.
Vancourt had not been gone long be-
fore he returned, dressed in faultless
style, a Raglan over his arm and q
bowler in his hand.
"Well, I'll say goodby," he said light
ly, extending his hand to his wife.
Give told Job to pack up my buds
and to bring them to me at the Carlton. |
I shall be stopping there till tomorrow |
morning, when I shall leave for South
ampton."
ST see."
"We shall be cruising about the
Mediterranean for about two months"
he continued, cycling his wife covertly |
ais he spoke. "After which I may 90
to South Africa for a few months to
do some big game shooting"
"You will enjoy yourself, I hope"
said Celia, placing her slim hand in
his. "Of course, if we ever meet in
we need not be dead cuts, need
we, Leonardo
Her deep blue eyes were raised al
most Wistfully to his.
"Of course not" he said, with a
strained laugh, as, pressing her cold
hand to his, he went toward the door.
little woman; it is a pity that
we should go our several ways, don't
you think so?'
Eyes, it is! Goodby." Her voice
faded away into a whisper, adding
luaveringly to herself as the door
behind her husband, she might
have kissed me before he went. /
lon't think that-he minded leaving
ne, and I-I-oh, / don't care" she
cried angrily, dashing away the tears
which had gathered ON her lashes. IF
he had tried to kiss me, I'd have
his face for him! I hate
Leonard, and now that / am free /
'hall be as happy as
The harsh clang Of the hall door
below caused her to sop abruptly.
Tor a moment Celia stood silent, then,
onto a sofa, she buried her
head amid a bevy of cushions,
ind cried as if her heart would break.
He's gone!' she muttered in a
ttrangled voice, broken by sobs. "And
i made-sure that he would come
Meanwhile. outside in the street,
leonard Vancourt hailed a hanson,
nd, stepping into it. was soon bowling
n the direction of the Carlton. 81 am
lfraid that I have made a fool of my
he soliloquized. 81 made sure
hat she would have stopped me before
left the house; of course, it's all most
heartily rot to think for a moment
hat ] could live without my little
ella. A day would be bad enough,
ut two months-I have half a mind to
urn back and say that / was only
only / should look such an
SIS If ! did. / might have kissed her
efore ! left, though! Poor little
irlie, she half raised her face to mine
Then I said goodbye and-oh, / am
Ding to chuck this fools game and
hall toddle back, and she can stodge
le with high eggs and salt bacon as