St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-11-02

right down. You look tired"
Felix Garde dropped into the quain
garden-seat YEARLY, and, holding hi
hat in his hand, let the cool breez,
play across his forehead. His eye!
had sad and somewhat tired look.
How sweet it is here" he said.
Mrs. Splint looked at him keenly
Then she made a bold move.
i should think you're gettin
about tired Of Twin alone" she re
marked.
The doctor glanced at her quickly
but she met his gaze without finch
ing.
What do you mean?" he asked.
What / say; you'd be happier Il
you could make up your mind tC
marry again"
The man sighed
"You knew Madeline, Mrs. Splint,
he said at last, land you know thai
my heart died with her."
Mrs. Splint gave vent to an internal
"Humph!" Aloud she said nothing
1T would not be right" he said
slowly.
What would not?"
Suddenly he faced her.
Would it be right? You are q
woman; tell me, would I be justified
in marrying when there is so little /
could give in return for any woman's
companionship?"
Mrs. Splint looked at him steadily.
She wished he could see what was in
her mind without her telling him.
He sat very still for a while and
Jane Splint, being a wise woman, did
not interrupt his thoughts. At length
he rose and put his hat firmly on his
head.
Il think I will go and bring Hester
home" he said.
When Hester Maxwell entered her
sant's sitting-room an hour later
there was a glorified look in her eyes
which lent a strange beauty to her
face.
Aunt Jane" she said quietly, 81 am
engaged to be married to DR.. Garde."
For the lands sake!" Mrs. Splint's
knitting dropped in her lap and sew
eral stitches slipped. She had not ex.
pected this so soon.
Say you are glad, aunt!''
Indeed / am that lady replied
truthfully, while she gently stroked
her niece's soft hair.
The engagement was a short one
II she missed anything in his manner
during their engagement or the early
months of their married life, no one,
not even the doctor himself, ever
knew it. And SO the weeks slipped
away and winter drew near.
It was late in December. Hester
sat alone in her small neat sitting
room with some soft, white stuff on
her lap, but she was not sewing. She
was thinking of her husband, and of
the fact that, though she had been his
wife nearly half a year, she had never
yet heard the words of love from his
lips which Should have been uttered
before he asked her to share his life. !
She rose with an unconscious sigh
and went to the front door, for some
one had turned in at the gate, and
though she tried to greet her visito.
cordially, Nettie Mixers presence
Just at that time grated on her.
Come right in and lay off your
things" she said.
Nettie stepped into the warm sit.
where large stove gave
out genial glow, her small eyes tax
ing in the details of the room with
quick, enyious glance.
My! but you're gettin' quite fixed
up" she remarked tartly.
Hester drew chair nearer the
stove for her visitor. and resumed her
own seat by the window.
You're gettin' ready for summer
pretty early, amt you?" Nettie said
That a lawn waist9'
No" The color rushed into Hes
ter's face.
I'm most forgettin' what ] come |
FOL" her visitor resumed: mamma |
wants to know il the doctor could
step round and see her tomorrow;
she's got that pain under her shoulder /
again.
I'm sorry to hear that; I'll tell |
lim." Hester said.
oh, say, Miss Hunter was in to
see us yesterday, and / most died
learin her tell NAV about Mrs.
splint's tellin' her what a time she
lad gettin' the doctor up to the
scratch"
Hester gave her a puzzled look. The
small, dark eyes encountered hers
With a vindictive CLEAN.
Mrs. Splint said he never'd have
,ot to the proposin' point if she
hadn't given him a push, as good as
old him. In fact, that he could have
on for the askin. Well" rising
eisurely, II must go. Come round
DON. Hester. and bring your SEWN"
Hester Garde shut the door directly
er visitor had stepped outside. There
rere no prolonged good-byes. She re-
urned slowly to her seat, near the
Window and looked out at the bleak.
threatening day. The hands holding
ne garment in her lap trembled until
be small, lace friils quivered as if in
ear. Many things. she thought. were
1ade clear in the light of what she
al Just heard. She never for min
te doubted the truth of it.
Her husbands step aroused her
It'll start she had a dim recollec-
on that the clock struck six some
me ago and that she had forgotten
Il about supper. f.
She was standing up when he came