The Opelousas courier., 1903-08-22

Miss Nelson. I'm afraid I told them
an awful ib; I said / should have to
go-I forgot where, but it was in the
direction exactly opposite to where
they thought of going. But it's a seri-
u matter / have in hand"
He drew a stool from a corner and
seated himself close to her. He looked
serious enough. but she had a suspic-
ion that he was laughing at her. A
peculiar pain shot through her, and
she asked herself why.
Miss Nelson, I'm o v man
where ladies' are concerned. I'll speak
plainly to you, because you are-that
is, you have always been SO superior
to the weaknesses of-of-Im afraid
I'm getting on badly, you know! I'm
in love! There, it is out! Don't laugh,
please; I know you are superior to that
sort of thing-love, / can So that's
why I've come to you for help"
Again that pain! Jennie felt that
she ought to smile, but that stupid
pain in the region of the heart took
away all inclination for mirth. She
actually felt inclined to cry!
What can I do for you, Mr.. Coyne"'
With a strong effort she forced an en-
couraging smile to her lips.
81 WANT should like you to act as
my proxy. I could say to you, Miss
| Nelson, what l really don't think l
| could say to an ordinary girl" (There
was an emphasis on "ordinary.") Il
mean this-knowing your opinions, I
| could speak freely to you, and should
like to say just what I would say to
the girl I'm in love with, and then l
will ask you to repeat it, as we'll as
you can, Dr. tell it in your own words,
to the girl of my choice. You know
I've been more attentive to you n
Miss Carron-I suppose I ought to say
| Miss Carron and you'-than any one
else. You must excuse my grammar.
What's grammar-what's mathematics
or anything to a man in love? Well,
I hope I've said enough to tell you my
secret. It's a S of your acting as
my proxy"
Jennie ought to have laughed out
right at the ridiculous situation, but
she could not. That phrase about
mathematics being nothing to love
struck her as strangely true. Her fav-
orite study seemed hollow and uEH---
viting. Was it that she had? She
would not complete the thought. She
bit her lip in order to repress a cry.
you are trying not to laugh at me!
I know it, because you are biting your
lip. Please don't"
81 am not laughing, Mr.. Coyne." Her
voice seemed strange in her own ears.
Could he not see by her face that she
was not laughing? Why was he so
cruel? But no! 1t vas better that
he should not read her thoughts; he
must think just the opposite Of the
truth.
81 am glad Of that" he exclaimed
earnestly. will you be my proxy?"
Certainly" 1t was all she could
manage to articulate. She felt her
face grow cold, and thanked heaven
that he was too much absorbed to no.
tice it. She was rightly punished.
Fate plays strange tricks, and she who
had laughed at love was to hear the
passionate speeches intended for ar
other, when-they ought to be for her!
Poetic justice, with a vengeance!
81 would tell her first of all that
love her." he began slowly, his eyes
turned slightly from the face Of his
proxy and fixed on a point in the farth-
er corner. Love her! The words are
tame, too tame to express the depth OF
my feelings. We have no word in our
language that will convey what I feel!"
His voice had been quiet, but his pas
sion was overcoming him.
"I love you beyond the power OF
tongue to tell" It was a passionate
outburst to the imaginary figure in the
corne The man was letting himself
go in front of his proxy in the hope
that his fire would be infused into her
being-the being Of a believer in the
superiority of the fair sex. Would she
be able to convey the message to Helen
Carron in a name that would do
credit to the passion Of the man who
was speaking so passionately to her in
spirit?
81 love you and will devote my life
to making you happy. l will watch
over you to guard you from trouble
and will tear away the thorns and lac
crate my own hands that you may have
the roses, only the roses! Life shall be
a walk among roses for you, If my love
can make that possible.
"To me you will be a true helpmate
cheering when troubles beset, encour
aging me to fresh effort, sharing in
the triumphs that your loving an6
tender nature will so greatly assist me
to win. I have watched you for
month, and I know I have judged you
Alright, though to others you may seen
different"
His voice had sunk into a low muir
muir of passion. There was no doubt
ing the depth of his love. But wa:
his judgment of Helen correct? Tina
was the thought of the unhappy proxy