The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-06-29

4
remembering all these years. You
| know how l Went out. Mother could
not, or would not, come with me.
/ She would have hated to give up her
visits, and the Riviera, and all that.
| So she just packed me off with dear
old Downey the governess, you re-
member Downey had always been
my abject slave, and never dreamed
of interfering with me at all.
Il had a good time at Davos when
| first went, but did not do anything
the doctors expected l don't believe
there was much the matter with me
| when l went, but l know felt rather
bad after I'd been there a month; but
the air had got into my head and !
did not care. l firted and behaved
generally badly all round, until one
day l met man I had never seen
before. He was not patient but
! had just come up for the scenery.
Il don't know how it was, but we
began to talk; and liked him. Some
how wherever l went I met him, and
if | missed him the day seemed blank
and miserable He lectured me as to
my carelessness about my health, and
all that; and to please him l obeyed
orders and took care. Oh, there was
nothing particularly; it all went on
smoothly, and l suppose stupidity,
enough. We never even knew each
| others names. | used to call him
lie PEASANT, and he called me his
Incognita But l was idiotically, I'M
reasonably happy, until one day the
doctor said l was well enough to go
home, and that he would write the
good news to my mother.
II had been crying when | met
| him. | had realized at once what it
all meant. and what it would be like
to 60 back home and never see him
again, I told him the news-we were
everything glittered white in the
moonlight round us. When l had
finished I turned and saw his face.
tried to stop him, but it was too
late; his arms were round me, and
loved to hear what he was saying.
But | would not answer then; l would
tell him tomorrow.
Il shall never forget that night.
loved him, but l was afraid. He was
not a rich man, l felt sure of that.
Would my love last? Could I face
the life before me if l married him?
was a coward, and l did not dare.
woke Downey, and told her we must
start by the first Il ain. l knew if l
saw him again should yield. 1t was
only when Davos was behind us that
would have given anything in this
world to be back there again; 70 keep
my word. meet him, and give him all
my life"
And them"
Nothing. We never met again;
how should we? But I did not for
get; how could l? l was miserable;
nothing mattered any more; and ]
married Lord Elmsworth."
"And-"
"Oh, was as happy as I deserved
to be. Peter was good to me, and
always in his way; but I cannot say
that his death was great blow to
me- It's awful to say, Phyllis; but
could not help thinking, If fate would
be kind! If should meet him now"
But if you marry
Il lose nearly all Peter left me.
Yes, / know; but / am wiser now.
One grows wiser in five years, Phyl.
when one has only to remember and
regret. If-oh, but it is so unlikely!
If we met now nothing could keep US
apart"
But suppose he"
HE had forgotten, you mean? No,
dear; he was not a man who forgets.
Oh, if we could meet"
"Mr. Franklin announced the ser.
want, and a tall figure advanced into
the room.
Lady Elmsworth went to meet him.
Il am glad" she began; and Phyllis
wondered why her sister stopped
shor. and turned so white.
mot more glad than l." put In
Mark, as he held out his hand. Then
he. too, stopped. and the two stood
in the middle of the dainty drawing
room looking into each others eyes
for what seemed to each an age, and
the air around them seemed suddenly
to grow cold and sharp and gilt
ter Of moonlit snow was upon every
thing. Glare recovered herself first.
ard turning to her sister, who was
glancing from one to the other ii
astoniShment
"Mr. Franklin and / have met be-
fore! Long ago; before l went to
Madrid. You will excuse me a mo-
ment," she continued, turning to