The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-10-08


to tea with us. We live In fiat near
the station. It's easy for mater, and
better for me-"
For you?"
"Oh, yes; I'm an artist, you know.
or, rather sort of an artist"
So they chatted becoming more at
ease. Kennaby told her his news:
how he had prospered. I'm awfully
glad" said the girl in her jolly way.
Il have only been contented for
the last ten minutes" said kennaby,
only since met you. That's
really why came back"
She looked at him again with per-
picked eyes, but said nothing. Yes.
II was in the hope Of seeing you, dear,
that came back"
You've said that to ever 50 many
American girls, Douglas, haven't
you?" Her eyes smiled into Ills.
mo, honestly, l haven't" he pro-
tested. Il have simply worked dur
ing these years. You. at the end Of
long, dreary probation. That was
my uSdTL 5 dIuDlllOH.
when did you come back?" she
asked. quietly, almost drily.
Last Tuesday. You see, l have
lost no time. But scarcely expected
to find you SO SOON
You speak as if you were disap-
pointed" she cried merrily. Il be-
lieve you are. Here we are"
Lead the way and III follow you
to the sky, if need be-" cricd Ken
| naby.
AS she slipped her latchkey into the
lock his arm went about her. Il 90
deserve just one" he pleaded hastily.
and bowed his head to hers.
The girl hesitated and was lost.
"Oh-oh!" she murmured. fighting
nim. I'm paying for the chocolates.
after all! It's too bad OF you. Doug
las; you're changed dreadfully-ter-
ribly."
She twisted the key ard slipped in
to the passage. 1--WE a good mind to
shut you out" she cried. Then. re-
lenting, stood on one side for him to
enter.
tits all very tiny. you know" she
explained, as he took off his hat and
coat.
Kennaby settled himself costly in
an arm chair beside the fire. He felt
at peace with the world. Well, 1t had
been worth waiting for this.
The light fell revoalingly upon her.
The vision of that dear face which
had been with him s. cften in dreams
Gas now glad reality. How pretty
she was-how pretty!
He almost bounded out CT his seat.
What-what? Her hair was waved
in black, shining masses about her
head. Black as the ravens wing,
black as night itself. why, Maude,"
he stammered, what ever have yoI
done to your hair?" Dismay and sus-
picion shone in Kennaby's eyes, the
former taking utter possession CT
them as the meaning Of the girls re.
ply went hcma to him. My hair? It's
the same as it has always beer. Only.
you know, my name doesn't happen
to be-Maude."
Kennaby's brain worked laborious-
ly. NO" he said, at length, you're
Marie"
EYES,"
"Yes, OF course. It was only in the
light that l mistook you
Then, or nOW?"
He compromised. Il should have
known you at once, only
only you didn't. quite under
stand"
ANY way" retorted Kennaby, you
must admit that was very glad to
see you!"
you were," she assented roguish-
ly. very glad, SO long as I was
Maude l shall eat her chocolates
just to spite YOU"
Il really bought them for you, after
ALL" he argued. 1T was you I saw
in the shop trying to buy impossible
cake"
The girl laughed again, and at men,
ory Of his kisses burned. Its not
very nice Of you, Douglass, for all
that, to have forgotten me so entire
ly. . Maude used always to
give me your violets. 1t was only the
chocolates that she kept"
He smiled at this. Il was q bit
young in those days.
"You were rather nice, I thought"
she told him.
She was gone ere she had finished;
her last word coming to him from the
darkness OF the passage. Kennaby
called after her. Don't be long, Ma
rie; l have a heap to say to you"
Somehow that comfortable feeling
which had been his today ever since
he had had speech with Maude's little
grown up sister, remained with him.
Suppose-suppose Maude to be mar
ried. Such a thing might have hap
pened. She was pretty enough, and
charming enough-although she had
never written him a line since the en-
gagement had been broken off-by
herself. His notion of coming back
wealthy in order to marry her had
been quite Kennaby's own.