The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-06-27

| self:"
ION the contrary. she said a grea
deal. Che said was wilful and pas
sionate, and everything that was con
Trajectory and unmanageable. ant
there was only one way of dealin,
with me, and that was by punishin.
me and making me do as 1 was told
1.-THE dear old vicar didn't admit that
hope?"
''He was angry with her. He saii
there were more ways than one il
which l could be managed. He sai(
l was high-splrited and self.willed ant
obstinate-''
what dear old friendv'
"He told her I was one of those wht
could not be driven, but l could very
easily be led, and all that was neces
sary was n little tact"
II hope it did the nurse good?"
"Only for a few minutes. AS soor
as we turned bend of the road, and
were out Of his sight. she shook hei
finger at me. and said she didn't care
for the vicar, he was an old donkey
and the next time. I disobeyed her she
would make me remember II"
"What did you say to that?"
Nothing; but ran away. with Char
Icy at once"
II knew you would" .-.. ..
II suppose I am naturally perverse
1t is always the same-if anybody is
anxious that 1 should do anything,
feel a natural, wicked impulse not to
do it; and If anybody does not want
me to do it then somehow don't want
to do anything else. 1t was this feel
ing that made me run off with Charley
almost before nurse had finished speak.
ing"
did she punish you again?''
"She couldn't catch me?"
II guessed as much. Who can?"
He gazed at her meaningly. with a
wry shake of the head, and she blushed
and laughed, as understanding him.
II ought 10 know" he sighed.
"Now you are going to be silly
again."
"No; I've given It up. I've been silly
twice. but I'm trying to be sensible
now" ,s.,..,.~;.,
"You find 1t diff1cult:'
"It's not as easy as being silly. I
suppose It never is. for any one. But
I've got to persevere-I've got to make
the best of my miserable lot. some
how. you know" .,:-
$50 very unhappy is it?'
"At present-yes. But I daresay
shall get used to it. When one has
been living in the tropics. and is ban
ished to the North Pole, he feels at
first like perishing in the cold; but in
time he becomes so thoroughly acclima-
tized that If ever he were allowed to
return he would certainly die Of a
sunstroke."
"And you are thinking of going to the
North Pole?"
He gazed at her reproachfully.
II am there already" he said. II
have been there for some weeks. and
am beginning to get reconciled to the
climate. l am making up my mind to
marry and settle down there, and try
to forget how happy l used to be
before was an exile. You have heard,
no doubt?''
Heard what?"
"These things generally get about
fast enough. l made sure you would
have heard"
perhaps 1 had. When you tell me
what you are referring to"
II thought had. To my marriage.
OF course"
She gave him quick, startled look,
but said nothing.
"You had heard?'
mo" .-------
Her speech and manner had under
gone a sudden curious constraint; when
she spoke her voice had such far-off.
alien sound, she could scarcely believe
1t was her own.
"well, now you have, you don't con-
gratulate me-"
II do. OF course I do"
"Thanks-I had hoped"
"That 1 wouldn't? Why shouldn't I
congratulate you, as much as any one
else. on your happinessT
Because am not happy"
"Not? Then why are you"
"For that very reason-because l am
not happy. How can be while I am
always in suspense. and hoping after
the impossible? If I definitely cut
myself off from that happiness. and
my last hope Of it. I may be able to
settle down into some sort of resigned
peacefulness, you see. l can't hope
for more than that now. There was a
time when I hoped-but you know
what"
She remained silent, clasping and un-
clasping her hands on her lap In a
dreamy bewilderment.
"When I first told you that l loved