The Opelousas courier., 1905-06-10


acquaintances-so lost that this was
the first time Margaret had crossed
the old familiar threshold.
A portrait catches her glance
across the room, and she rises softly
to look at it.
1t is John Marston! Older than she
knew him, nine long years ago; and
yet, she says to herself, those years
have dealt with him far more gently
than with her, if this is like him
now; and as she thinks this, there
comes a step behind her, Untitled in
the heavy velvet carpet, and with a
hurried start she turns and faces
| him.
Has he stood for full FIVE minutes
in the open doorway watching her,
before he approached? Has he seen
the clear-cut profile turned to him,
which he once knew SO well?
If he he's, she does not read any
thing Of all this in his face; as she
turns slowly round to him.
She is handing him his ADVERTISE
inent, which she has clipped out of
the newspaper. 1t can speak for her
as we'll IS words, after her little bow,
and then she aids
Il have come at once, sir; hoping
/ may answer for the place. l have
These arc NFr initials, Mrs.
Brown, the serva& told me. What
does the A stand fol?"
Anne" 4
He looked at heNquickly. But she
is not looking at@nim; and presently
he asks her qGetly to take apseat.
"You are inSneed of the place at
once?" he saysSgently, breaking the
pause.
Sore need, sirsI've two little girls
dependent On meN' Not that I'd be
wanting to bring them here she
added.
1.-TWO little girls!!" he repeats, and
his voice sounds hard and harsh.
1.-TWO little girls! How old are they?'
They are eight years old, sir.
They are twins"
If she could have seen his face.
and the strange flash that spread like
d glad light over it! But she did not
see, until he came back quietly, and
drew a chair for himself in front of
her. And then he says, somewhat
abruptly and u~nfeelingly. it might
seem:
"You are a widow, Mrs. Rrown?'
Strangely enough, the sudden
twitch round Mrs. Browns delicate
mouth reminded one more Of aughh-
ter than of tears. She w him,
to the point certainly, yet not with
simple yes. She saysi
II have 10 husband, sir"
"Well, then, l think, Mrs. Anne
that OF may suit my place,
If my place will suit you. First, then,
must know something about it.
n the first place. if you accept my
offer, l do not propose to pay you any
Observation-Disclosures" she
SIN the second place, l must ex-
plain that this advertisement here
loes not set forth my want alto
clearly. l want a house
it is true; but l war. to en-
gage her as my wife, not as a SER
1t is said very quietly and coolly-
much as he might, if he chose, have
dvertised for a wife in that same
But Mrs. Anne Brown is not cool;
he is not quiet. She has started to
.er feet, her face in one bright, angry
low. !
"You had better advertise again, t
nd this time for a wife. For me, ,
1r. Marston, l will hire my strength, {
life, to the last drop of blood that {
5 in me- but not my lovo-not even
Or the children's bread!"
Her voice breaks there, but she
eeps back the sobs.
He catches her hands in one of his, =
7hile with the other he deity draws q
way the spectacles. And when she L
'oks up, in a tremble of indignation, l.
he meets his earnest, honest eyes, .
18th something in them that she I'M L
erstands as we'll as his words.
"Madge, Madge! you thought you Il
ould deceive me with a pair of spec
acles and a pair of twins! AS if / [
i'd not hear Of the twins when l Il
or,o hoo3y fror, tl~ Tor+,r-r+ oe+>,
II. Testers failure, and tried to find I
III out. But when / came back to
ok for you, no n could tell me U
about you" :
Margaret force herself to look up
him steadily. "
eve left London for some time n
ter the failure" she explains. /!
Papa tried hard to get something to L
but he could not, and his health
'oke, then Mammals
Tears fill the soft brown v II
And you would have really come Il
re as my housekeeper? You would u
we been a mental here, under my II
of, Madge?" h
Why not?' she asks. 81 wanted re
cad for the children. Won't you
ally listen to my application for the -
ace?"
1--we made my offer,' he replies, in
e same tone. why, Madge, my
rling!"-as he sees the hot blood a
me up to her brow again-"you d
think that those words-you fl
Mt doubt they were meant for you, O.
d meant for you because | love p,