Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-27
Which VaSthe Coward;
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES,

Margueritas"
Handsome? yes Marguerite Lee
answered, with curve of her scar
let upper lip, after an effeminate
fashion. like a man who has some
manliness about himl"
And do you mean to say that sgd.
ney Delatour has not?"
Marguerite laughed, and only held
her handsome head a little higher
than usual.
AT all events" persisted her cousin
Nina, "he loves you, Marguerite, and
you ought not to treat him with such
icy coldness. / am very much mis-.
taken II he does not regard you with
tfdef devotion than that felt by Ger.
aid Markham
: What an enthusiastic little advo-
cate You are. Nina said Marguerite.
But your arguments will scarcely
convince me. Were my two SWANS
Knights of old, you would soon see
which would enter the field of combat
most valiantly and do battle most
bravely for the fair name of his lady
loyel" -
Gerald Markham"
Marguerite nodded. with kindling
cheek.
"And all this" said Nina, reproach-
fully, because Mr.. Delatour is slend-
er and quiet, and rather pale, not
gifted with a braggart tongue. lille
Gerald Markham, nor given to lauda.
ton OF his own exploits. Rita, have
no patience with you"
Then let us change the subject"
said Marguerite, with provoking calm
ness. See how gloriously the sun
is sinking in a perfect sea of golden
vapor. And-ean It be? Yes, that
is Uncle Rudolph climbing the path
from the depot. ! did not expect he
would be home until a later train
than this!"
She sprang up from the rustic seat
In which she had been reclining on
the piazza, and went in to give the
requisite orders to the maids concern.
ing prompt refreshments, for Rudolph
Lee was strange, eccentric old man,
who W I'd permit not a single domes-
tic inn house. wealthy as he was
known 10 be. and scarcely tolerated
the p Pp"~ Of his niece's visitors,
Mr.. pr and Gerald Markham.
"YoW ; earlier than we expected.
uncle. " laid Nina, running down the
walk to meet him. Let me relieve
you Of your parcels
mo, child. no." said the old man,
YEARLY, as he resisted her efforts to
take from him the little leather bag
he carried In his hand; "this mustn't
60 out Of my possession. It's money,
Nina"
Money, uncle!"
The Ave thousand dollars l drew
out OF the bank to invest tomorrow,
child. Ponce & Redtape wanted to
take charge of It. but / thought 1t
would be safer In my own hands"
Uncle, we're you wiser"
"Of course / was,' said the old man,
pettishly. What do women know
about business? Let me have my
supper directly, and then I'll find
snug place for the money until to-
morrow morning.
And Uncle Ralph did not make his
appearance that night again, prefer.
ring the quiet of his own apartment
TO the moonlit veranda where Mr..
Markham and Sydney Delatour were
sitting talking with his two nieces.
I'm glad they're in the house,
though" thought Uncle Ralph. IF
anybody should have tracked me from
the bank-although 1t is the, most i'm
probably thing in the worid-it might
be Just as well to have somebody
here besides helpless women and a
feeble old man, who isn't much bet.
ter. OF course. there Is no sort OF
likelihood of danger. but 1t makes one
feel safer"
Meanwhile cruel Marguerite was al
ternately torturing and encouraging
the hearts of her two devoted cava.
Hers, and Nina. sitting quietly by, with
her pure, transparent complexion,
looking paler than ever In the moon.
light, marveled to herself over the
wonderful spell which beauty has
power to exercise; while handsome
Gerald Markham. conscious of HIS
Apollo-like perfection of face and
form, ratified carelessly on, and Mr..
Delatours low, calm voice sounded
now and then.
Il don't half like that Markham"
thought Nina, with the observant
which is often discover.
ed in people who are unusually quiet.
Il wish Marguerite would make up
her mind to prefer Sydney Delatour."
YES" Marguerita's voice was say
ing at the same instant, "of all faults.
I detest cowardice the most heafti'v
in a man."
so do l." chimed in Markham. "A
coward-faugh, The creature has no
right to exist"
is not timidity sometimes constitu-
tional?" asked Delatour, "and in that
case. should We Judge it too severe
W"