St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-03-30

She got into the room somehow, |
Eumbly, in tumult of emotions-of |
relief, strangely allied with some |
Chagrin, that he had not recognized
her; of modification because of pow |
ertys Haunting signals in her attire. |
Well, it was bread for The Boy, at |
least.
Upon the understands low wood |
en- affair some FIVE or six feet in dia-
meter-she was aware of an assured
isolation. Had Mrs. Thorne been a
chair or table she felt that Cartons
interest in her would have been of
the same nature, of no less and no
greater intensity.
It is the artists attitude to his
model; but at times she found herself
resenting it duly. She had come reg
uIarly now every afternoon for over
a week.
AS for Carton, she felt that she
would have known him anywhere,
| Just as she had been startled by the
unchanged quality of his voice, by the
tfmbre of his football, after so long a
| time. How long? Could it be only
eight years since he left their native
village to study his art; but seven
since her marriage, only four since
her husbands death, which had left
her, with The Boy, dependent upon
| her own exertions, penniless and
without friends?
Once Carton asked her advice about
| some small detail of tea he pro-
posed giving.
"Tm afraid" she told him, "that I
have been out of the social life for
so long a time that / would hardly
know"
ooh, well, it's a slight matter, after
all. Only l wanted everything to be
Just so. Women are particular, you
know"
And his unostentatious invitation to
tea she was careful to decline, al
though on the afternoon following the
function she could not refrain from
asking, archly, did she like it,"
"She?" Carton echoed the word in
alarm. Mrs. Thorne saw the color
rise to his forehead; she thought his
manner confused, boyish, ardent.
"She? didn't know I mentioned"
} "You didn't" she FASTENED to reas-
sure him: "but women-old married
Romen like myself-feel privileged to
rave intuitions, you know" She fin
lshed with a little laugh, that even to
ter ears rang hollow.
YES" he assented, II suppose sc"
TAT least he might have contradicted
Elat phrase, "old married women!")
sYou-you're right" he stammered;
t and then, his face fell, as did her
, .opes, which she had based on his ex-
ected denial. "But she didn't come
A-for some reason"
, "But she will?'
"Oh, yes, I'm sure she will" He
vas quite too enthusiastic.
He seized his brush, and began to
lap paint upon the canvas furiously
Indeed"
!. "a fellow likes to confde in some
ne, you know, Mrs. Thorne." He
/ dgeted, very i'll at ease. We've
+ re to be married next week"
l Married? You? Next week?" She
D at bolt upright.
"Why, yes; I've just arranged it."
; At the end OF the days sitting he
aid down the tools Of his trade witt
! sigh of relief. "There!" he added
) A couple of days more, and then
lie paused.
Carton rose and walked to the win
low, where he stood looking out
Z Now, there's the matter of gowr
0 hat stumps me-" he said, slowly
t T'ye been to every costumer in town
s nd can't get what I want. Maybe
GU could help me out-Mrs. Thorne.'
1t seemed as though he had placed
G he slightest emphasis on her name.
:, In what way?" she asked
f "Why, the time of this story is tel
ears back. Now, what manner o
ress would young girl have BEEF
8 pt to wear at a simple evening part.
! those days?"
= She considered. AN organdie,
link" she announced.
Good! Have you such dress tina
q GU could wear to pose in?"
II q Yes; but it would be so insult
BILE to me now
J, What is it like?" He faced hel
gain with that glowing gaze.
1T Is an organdie- maize owe
aaize silk, with insertions of Waller
eennes, with gsrdle and chou OF We
low satin ribbon
g Indeed, he asserted, with warmth
II should think you'd look yely splel
aid in it. 4 know You would
Y and late that night, while the Bo
. slept. the little woman rose and wei
9 to an old sgsank, from whose depth
ane drew that sole abiding relic Of be