The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-07-21

| his bronZed and bearded face look
| very much like the face of the Joan
! Cramer she had known years ago, and
| he came up the path, and said, as he
ran up tne steps and held out his
Nand in the old, frank way:
You have grown to be little gray
nun, Margery. | hardly see you at
all. | am half inclined to think you
hide away when | am here. You are
not afraid of me, hope?"
"Oh, no." she answered, quietly,
though the touch OF his fingers sent
a strange, swift thrill Of fire in her
veins. Il am never afraid of an old
friend"
An old friend" he repeated, soft
ly, with his eyes upon ner face. Have
you ever thought that that might be
a sorrowful word to listen to-"
Friendship Is never a sorrowful
word" she answered, her eyes falter-
ing little under his earnest gaze.
1T might be if we cared for some
thing more than friendship" he said,
and there was something in his tone
which made her lift her eyes in
sudden, questioning way to his face.
There was strange, grave tender
ness in mis- eyes that she had seen
there long ago.
JAS then Fife came up the path
with her hands full CT roses
See these white hoses, Aunt Mar
gerT,' she cried; your fayorites, you
know. You must let me put some in
your hair They Will make her look
like bride, won't they, Mr.. Cramer?'
Perhaps" he answered, with his
eyes on the blue line of the hills.
NO, | don't want any in my hair"
Marscry said, and she would not have
them there. She took one, and let it
lay against her eyes while she closed
them and thought Of many things.
Presently John woke from his rev.
erie and came back to earthly things
Il believe promised You a rev this
morning, Elfie," he SAID, turning to
the girl, as she stood braiding the
roses into chain Il am ready to full
til ny promise if you are
III be ready in a minute she |
said. and ran away for her nat.
Somehow can't make it seem that |
fifteen years have been added to our
lives since We used to go drifting |
down the river together" he said,
coming to Margery's side Are we
q 1yx-G TO Ir;f
life alone, Margery?''
She lifted her eyes that were al
most frightened ones for a moment
Was he trying to wiring her heart? He
was cruel, cruel
Yes. | suppose So" she answered,
in tone that was full of the weari-
ness she could not conceal. And it
is better so, perhaps"
You don't mean that" he said, bend
ing to pick up the rose she had let
fall Drifting alone is dreary,
1reary thing
do you think sou she said, WITH
an effort to appear at ease. Perhaps
here is some one somewhere in the
world who would drift with you. if
you could find ner."
DO you know where she isl" he
lsked, bending down till she could feel
his. breath upon her cheek. as they
heard Elites step upon the stairs.
Who is she, Margery?"
How SHOULD I know" she answer
ID, with a forced gayety. "You must
seek her, if you would find her. II
knew, though. would tell You"
He looked at her in a puzzled way.
lie could not understand her. A mo-
nent ago he would GaSe sworn that
he loved him. Now her face was
ike a mask. and apparently she was
as little Of him as Of the
Sphinx.
Il am ready" Ellie said, and then
lie turned and joined her On the steps.
md Margery watched them with a
weary pain in her eyes. she believed
e loved this girl.
The SUI was shining on the river
S if the clouds were sitting geld dust
'ver each ripple. as Margery sat
own upon the bank and began to
cad 1t had been a lonesome day for
err. Ellie had come home with
eadache, and everybody else .ld
one away. she had tried to read ,,
INDOORS, but the afternoon languor
her to take her book and
eek some spot where there was less
( a lotus-spell on everything She
pened her book at little poem of
hilip Marston's called. 'Ungathered
ove.' 1t was a quaint, sweet little
as winds in autumn time,
nd in perfect accord with her :,
loughts AS she read, the tears crept
;hed it the river and the world be-