St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-02-18

'Oh, l didn't mean that.' she said
hastily. Il mean, as we've known eacl
other SO many years" $500
81 see. Well, I'm glad you put it II
that way, because I have something
rather-rather delicate to ask you
something I couldn't ask a complete
stranger"
What is it," she said, IN low
voice, not quite knowing. whether SHIT
hoped or feared. He hesitated.
''The fact is, should rather like yor
to return me the ring once gave you
| er-you may perhaps remember -
ooh, certainly!.: she said. She. haG
forgotten all about it; it was still or
her finger. She handed it to him. 81
am sorry; of course, I meant to return
| it to you this afternoon. How foolish
of mel"
| She would have liked at least one
more attack upon her sense of duty
Not that she would have yielded, OF
course. r ~ gea. "a
NO" said BERTHE, cit was rather
strange Of me TO ask for it. But the
fact is, want it just now for special
reason" ss ss
z He held it between his thumb and
forefnger and looked at it. tenderly.
She saw that the attack was coming,
and rejoiced.
What reason?" she said, almost in
whisper.
WELL he said, "as we are on such
friendly terms, I don't mind confiding
it to you. You see that tall girl in
blue over there, under that scrubby
green stuff"
"Maude Merchant" said Eva, start
led.
EYES, Fact is, I've got the next
dance with her, and it struck me that
she's such ripping girl that I've de-
cided to ask her to marry me, and on
occasions like this it is always useful,
I find, to have the ring ready, you
know
"O!" said Eva. She could think of
nothing more to say. ~~
= '.As you are sort of sister, you
know" he went on dreamily, II don't
mind telling you how passionately I
love her. II is so nice to have some
body to contide in, in 2 case like this y
somebody sympathetic. You know
Maude" gg ~ Z &C
Yes" said Eva, in a choking voice.
isn't she dear girl? Isn't she per-
feet? Did you ever see such hair, such
eyes, such an outlook? And her dis
position is so sweet" w = ~ Nv
Il think you've--you've made very
good choice"
Eva was making a heroic effort to
see things in the common-sense light;
to a sister all this should be inter-
esting, nothing more.
I'm glad you are pleased" he said.
81 value your opinion more highly than
that of any other friend I've got. So
you advise me to do it?"
20, yes!" she said, with hollow
cheerfulness.
Thank you, thank you so much!" he
said, shaking her hand earnestly and
locking into her eyes. isn't that the
next dance beginning"
Eva had a headache She deter
mined to go home, and looked around
for her mother, but was claimed for
the next dance by an elderly gentle
man who would take no refusal. And
she was fortunate to have got rid of
a man who could see anything in that
horsey Noreham creature.
Her next partner, a cheerful young
man, said, "Have you heard the news
about Maude Noreham?" ''- e. :.
Her heart sank, n spite Of all her
determination. '"About-about- her en-
gagement?' she asked, family. gg
Eyes," said her partner. & Lucky
beggar, isn't he?" ..=.@
She didn't know what reply she
made, nor what they talked about for
the rest Of that dance. She only knew
that, in order to do this SO suddenly,
BERTHE and that-that person must
have had an understanding for months
before. >. must have simply been wait
ing for the opportunity. must have
oh, the villainous treachery of it all!
Mother, really think we had bet
ter go now" she began. when her eye
fell on familiar figure. BERTHE was
standing at the table. Though MUNICH
ing a sandwich, he looked the picture
of hopeless misery. s'y $500
Nonsense, nonsense!" said the
duke; II couldn't allow such a thing;
the next is my dance with Mrs. Row
en- And they went away and left her
helpless and alone.
BERTHE came slowly toward her.
rubbing crumbs on his
gloves. His step was heavy; it seemed
as IL the light had gone out of his
life.
% II think the next is our dance, Miss
he said, Offering his arm.
What was she to do? She took, it
and they walked toward the ballroom
In silence. ~* ra7sa'' s,sss' ss'Sea
do you want to dance this ?"zshe |
asked, in hollow tones.
Just as you like" she replied.
s'I do not feel" said BERTHE, 'as if |
l should ever want to dance again"
He took her to the conservatory and
they sat down in the same corner as |
before. He groaned and pu. his head |
on his hands. She waited, with some
surprise. sgs7
ttOh for a little sympathy" he
II should have thought you expected
She spoke with a
touch of bitterness.
Congratulations" he exclaimed,
sayagely. Congratulations! Listen!
| can come to you in my trouble, can
I not?".