The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-10-10

friend.r The Maid couldn't have beer
snyone's very old friend. "I-when die
she say yes?"
II The Bachelor besitated. The Maid
was terribly wise for her "a years.
"Some girls are too eager" he par.
ried. "They have yeses all prettily
prepared and tucked away just out OF
sight. One has suspicion"
"Yes," said the Maid. with scorn, zone
Ihas-quite suspicion"
at isn't true" The Bachelor had de.
parted, and the Maid stood, one foot
on the fender, her strong, young eyes
on the Goals. at isn't true, but it will
be-some day. Perhaps-no," sternly,
as if to an invisible culprit; you'd
be Gagged bird-you'd be the starting
that wanted to get QUITO get out.
And" dimpling, "he'll still drink your
tea"
The first of May found the Bachelor
Maid in the country. She swayed in
hammock and gazed at an orchard
that was white and perfumed mantle
flung on the hillside's shoulder. Mar
riage was not for her. If she had been
meant for marriage she wouldn't have
stayed content through q years. She
found it good to be young, strong,
beautiful, and as free as the air she
breathed.
AT the end of the first week tele-
gram came from the Bachelor. 1t
read: TOO busy to come down."
Much Of the Maids second week at
the farm was spent in the hammock.
She didn't sway it, though. She was.
thinking hard, and she wanted it still.
One couldn't keep from thinking when
ones very best man friend was going
to get himself married--such a dear,
dear fellow, too; one couldn't help
from wondering if the girl would prove
the right girl.
AT the weeks end another telegram
1t said: "very much Engaged"
The Maid got restless. 1t is, oh,
very serious thing to get restless when
you are bordering>on 20, and woman.
She deserted the hammock and took
to tramping the country over-long,
lonely walks.
The Bachelor came the last week in
May. He was as cordially glad to see
the Maid as man very full of him.
self, his own plans and his coming hap
piness, of which he talked at tiresome
length, could be. The Maid rose to
the occasion with exaggerated cheer
fulness. They discussed houses and
their furnishings, floors and their fill.
ings, servants and their failings.
The moons round wavered on the
hill when the Bachelor said good-by.
He whistled as he went down the lane,
and past the fragrant orchard.
The Maid couldn't deceive herself
she wanted pillow. There was one
in the deserted hammock. 1t smelled
like smoke, and, with something not
far from sob, she buried her face in
its deeps. Down through the ages a
pillow has been woman's Geth.
semane.
The Maid sat up to find the moon.
mans grin an evil thing; the shadows
we're creepy, and, by some mysterious
Observation-Disclosures process. the glow
ing, sumptuous Bachelor Maids all over
The Land had shrunk and shriveled.
From the little corners that didn't be-
long to them they looked out-pale,
patient, hungry-eyed. The Maid shiv-
cred. She was having bad half-houl
And suddenly the Bachelor stood be.
tide her. He said his train was late;
he Maifsaid nothing.
"Shall We go in?" his voice was so.
icitous. He extended his hand; nc
can get out ora hammock alone
With any show of grace, and said: "The
ew is falling. Isn't it just little i'm
'rudent-young people have rheuma-
ism earlier than they once did,"
The Maid buried her face in the
friendly hammock and laughed hys-
erically. The Bachelor fell to his
nees.
Its beastly dull down here; it's got
gu nervous, dear. Come away with
ne, dear. l know just the place for
oneymoon," he pleaded. :,
Silence.
Wont you-my beloved" The Bach.
lor's voice was past recognition. T.
Silence.
The Bachelors face paled.
you are-you are" came in a :
boxed voice from the pillow.
A flash of triumph was in the Bache-
'r's eyes. al it again, as usual"
aid, in very humble tones. "Say YES.
earest; and III quit it,"
The Maid sat up.
isn't there anybody?" she asked,
lgrily.
There's you, and you again-iust
Oh in the whole wide world" more
lmbly.
81 ha--hate you-that is-I-E ,
ve-you- You dear, a-bom-abomi- ,
lble-thing, you" walled the Maid. !
The Bachelor drew her up into his {
ms.
And you have acted abominably! 8
on kncsv always meant to say yes- !
at is--if was ever asked decently. 8
wanted to say yes; i wanted to he :
oo-wooed in a beau-utiful-old fash. =
ned-wa-way. IL ha-te-hate- =
w ways"
The Bachelor. having wisdom a
rsight from the gods. held her close 3
ID said nothing. q