The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-09-24
ally told faIsehood. for the first time IA

ceased TO file them with the business
correspondence. A sob rose in he
throat, but she choked it back, Th'
truth of her heart had grown very ap
parent to her in that half hour.
Dull days followed, wherein hel
work dragged. She grew thin and pale
despite her whipped-up interest in ths
healthful pursuits that had hitherto
been a delight and inspiration. Nc
one but Mabel Rogers guessed the Sc
cret; and, at the end of miserable
half year. Lina's people sent her, 9
dispirited ghost of herself, to recuper.
ate at the summer home Of friend.
There. Lima protested in vain that
rest and quiet were all she needed.
Il don't want to be entertained,
she begged; but the lady turned a
deaf ear. so
You're living demonstration OF
my theory that thinking is injurious"
she declared. fiippantly. Nov. the
corrective principle is stirring up, ex-
element, pleasure" So she issued in
vitations for lawn party.
There's friend of Fred's coming.
to whom you should be particularly
NICE" said Mrs. Mayfield, teasingly, on
the evening in question. He doesn't
dream know it, but he purloined a
cut of you out of my Writer'S Journal
once when he was here"
Lima flushed scarlet, remembering
other things. She laughed a little, but
with an internal sickening sense Of
loss, and heartily hoped the unknown
pilferer of her picture might have .
toothache and stay at home. He had
slipped her mind entirely. when. three
hours later, sweet and bewitching in
her pink organdie, she stood among
her friends guests. Oh! 1t was all
very dear of Maud. But she would
have given every pretty dress she
owned to be out of it and away.
Past fluffy crepe-de-chine Shout.
der, presently, she saw Mrs. Mayfield
plotting tall, dark-haired, fine-look
ing man directly toward her. Even
then she did not recall her hostess
warning. A moment later, the group
about her fell back, and Mrs. Mayfield
presented her companion, whose
name. however. Lima failed to catch.
"Fred's friend, dear. Don't be too
long getting acquainted. l want You
both on the ices said the lady as she
slipped away.
The stranger offered his arm, and
Lima moved mechanically with him
across the grass. She had caught one
hasty glimpse of glowing eyes and
suppressed lips that half-frightened
her; trite speech died in her throat,
and she dumply suffered herself to be
led.
I'D like to know!" burst forth the
stranger, impulsively, at safe distance
from the others, what is your opin-
ion of a man who jumps at conclu-
sions, and then rushes madly of with
out even testing them? Miss Radford
-Lina'-his voice softened with sud-
den, shaken gentleness-"Cany you con-
ceive of greater bIunderer than
have been?"
A swift terror took possession OF
Lima. Who was this--a well-dressed
lunatic? or She paused and drew
away, facing him in the light of the
overhanging lanterns. With deep
breath, he reached out, taking forcib.s
possession of her hands.
! God knows what I've suffered all
these wretched MONTHS" he went on,
For 1t was only this
| learned from Mayfield what
q monstrous mistake I'd made. Tell
me, dear, that shall not wake in
few minutes and find it only mock
ing dream, after ALL"
With smothered, hysterical cry,
Lima snatched away her hands as he
would have lifted them to his lips. A
quick change, that cut her to the heart
IN spite of herself. passed over hias
face, leaving it white
How dare you!" she quavered.
What are you saying to me. an utter
stranger?"
He stood quite still, bewildered.
when a man has written a woman
such letters as mine to you, he hardly
merits that title, does, he, dear?" be
asked, trifie huslxily.
The lighted lawn surged round Lima
She put out one hand, grasping moth
ng.
"Your-lettersg' she gasped; and the !
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