The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-01-17

membered himl Hadn't something
happened to John Hartley
They had mandolins and guitars,
They wandered through the rehn-
cry, then passed out and all sat down
on a log of wood under the cane shed
and sang choruses, "Annie Lauria
and 'sWay Down Upon the Suwanee
River, Aurore leading.
Then some one said she must sing
them a serenade, because the night
was so glorious. So Aurore sang,
How very beautiful it wasl He sat
near her. Tt was growing cold. He
drew her fur-lined coat around her
throat, and fastened it and was
clumsy and slow about it, because
some Of her perfumed laces got
caught, and she laughed, and began
to button it herself.
Why, yes, he held her hands, OF
course. And the music, and the de-
light of having her there in this glo-
riously unexpected fashion, made
him lose his head and plunge into all
the wild absurdities which had been
gathering in heart and brain all
these past months.
No one knew better than the chem
ist himself how ridiculous it was for
a man struggling to get a foothold
on a rung of life's ladder in the hope
Of climbing up to prosperity, inhu-
Eence and ambition gratified, to pour
out his tale OF passion and devotion
into the ears Of a great heiress who
was engaged to Tom G~atherwood.
: He realized the absurdity Of the
proceeding, and said 50.
} What was it she answered? TO
repeat it all to her a year later, when
I, he had accomplished great things,
-iand held his future in his grasp2"
4 OF course, she was joking, and
turned it off that way, and would not
: take his wild speech seriously, so as
i, not to spoil their gay evening with
n sentimental nonsense.
G By what right could he, whose only
possessions were a pompous old name,
f some long dead and gone ancestors
a tumble-down rookery and a few
acres, which poverty prevented him
s from c~ultivating, to lay bare his secret
e to those dancing gray eyes-those
d wonderful eyes, in whose depth a mar
S could so easily lose his soul?
1t John Hartley's banjo was inspiring
It led them on a fantastic "cake walk
from the toreh-lit cane shed arounc
the refinery to a cozy room IN th'
S, corner Of the big building near thu
entrance door, the superintendent
d Office, where there was a table and
10 punch bowl and glasses.
Is All, it was a merry evening; one t.
be ever remembered
The chemist, looking into Aurore'
glowing face and great honest eyes
il forgot everything but a wild hope AM
III ambition, of which she was the center
in And when the hours had fed by, an
at they went reluctantly to the door t
say goodnight, and Aurore jumped j
I'd the trap, while he folded a rug overhe
al gown and held her firm, small hand
adj ia his BEFORE she drew on her gloVei
tn and again murmured foolish thing
ly and she cd not check him, but gay
ed him a slow, sweet smile, which wOul
n always linger in brain and memOr!
ny SO long as his heart beat, the horizo
". of his life seemed to widen out int
he infnitudes of blissful possibilities
he There seemed to be some confusion
he What were these %troublous years d.
he ing here? What was all this sorrov
he this unhappiness, this anguish? WhG
lis had they to do with him and Aurore
IN Who was it who came between them
ut And what was the wearing grief whic
lis drew line on his face and gave a deepe
look to Aurore's great, proud eyes,
let The field hands we're putting car
to on the carrier, the lamps were fla.
IT'S ing under the can shed, the creaku
az and rumble of the rollers was audibl
to and they we're all sitting on a log SIM
ed ing "Way Down Upon the Suwan'
in River once more.
III He was close to Aurore's dear sid
nd because a sweet scent of the violet
.ch came to him from her hair and lace
Ill and the moonlight fell full on her fac
as she turned it toward him. He sa
I'D the soft glow rise and mount as 81
, a listened, but her sweet, brave ey,
never left his as she gave him th'
di- inefRable smile, which contained 1
os- greats promise.
be How could he ever forgetit? He hs
nd treasured it through those hideol
years, those years of deepest unha.
Ia piness, and the latest recollection
of fade would surely be that look {
Aurore's face as she turned andlook'
Ter up at him.
How do you do? We've come
IN see you" Aurore's mellow voice sal
,h0 you've come back, sweethear'
ne. How good of you! How heaven
ate goodl Now, you must never leave M
OF Never! For all time and eternity y,
ich must
his -
"Mr. Thompson said I must give u
these samples, sir. He would like
ol5- know if the lining is all right. III
de. a heap Of trouble with that juice. i
old B~oudreau's cane, and it's green
grass"