The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-02-17


longing to finger. Chaperoning pref
t. girl was all very we'll. but a trip to
Monte Carlo or a flutter in circles
where little debutanteS We're out OF
place and distinctly in the way was
more to Lady Cheyne's taste. Neither
however. as long as the heiress re-
NAMED on her hands.
AS for Violet, the girl rose from her
chair with a feeling Of undisguised
pleasure. She had danced with him
| onCe-it was the occasion of their in
PRODUCTION and now, as he clasped her
small fingers and bent low over them,
she noted afresh his handsome feat
ures, dark, well-trained mustache and
deep-fringed eyes, and her heart gave
a little throb.
And when he drew a chair close be-
side her and devoted himself to her
amusement, beginning in a witty, i'm
personal vein, and then gradually low
ering his mellow voice and talking on
topics nearer to the heart of each. her
cheeks burned at the thought which
came to her unbidden-the thought
that, if this man loved and wooed, how
terribly irresistible he would be.
Meanwhile the man beside her was
congratulating himself on the prog
| resS he seemed to be making. She
would be an easy conquest, he told
himself; even now she could hardly
meet his gaze without dropping her
eyes. What an unsophisticated miss
she was, to be sure! 1t seemed al
most shame to deceive her
He took his leave at last, but that
visit was only the first of many. Lady
Cheyne was wise in her generation
She never mentioned his name to her
charge, never preached the subject of
marriage; but always kept a seat at
the opera and place in her carriage
ter the young man whenever he might
choose to avail himself of them, which,
to be candid, was not seldom.
Thus the weeks sped on, and Maui
rice Dayenegh's bill at the florists
grew by almost daily items His
friends, Of course, congratulated and
his particular temperament; but one
and all envied him. He was in for
good thing, they said; with scarcely
thought for the fair, young victim
who was dreaming her first love
dream.
All! Heaven. How sweet it was.
Oh. that she need ever awake.
And it is for me?"
The girl caught her breath as she
looked at the star of brilliants lying
in It's velvet case, and her eyes spark
led. They were sitting out" in the
conservatory; within the dancing was
in full swing.
For YOU" he said. "You think it is
pretty?"
1T is perfectly lovely But
She stopped abruptly and averted her
face
But not of any great value, eh?"
He laughed. She turned swiftly.
'fou say that because l am a mil
lionaires daughter, and can buy what
choose; but one doesn't always value
thing according to it's intrinsic
worth"
Thank you for that speech" he said,
earnestly. Then you accept my offer
ing?"
"Willingly," she answered. "My only
regret is that l can give you nothing
in return; at least, nothing that you
would care for"
"Nothing?"
Maurice took the white fingers in his
own and compelled her to meet his
gaze Was the time ripe? Should he
try his fate tonight?
Nothing that you really want" she
half whispered.
And if l really wanted-some-
thing?"
He frightened his hold on her fingers
and bent lower till his breath famed |
her cheek. What an emotional little
soul she was! Quite different frcm
any Of those other girls he had made
love to. He touched softly with his
lips the hand he held
IF l really wanted this, would you
give it to me-sOme day."
do you really mean it? Do you
really mean that you love me?"
Their eyes met. There seemed to be
4 wonderful story, story that was
written for him alone, on that face.
It fascinated the young man, and for
The first time he discovered that the
girl was really beautiful. Her words.