The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-11-28

of sending a dispatch to my friend
George Meyers, the artist, who i'm
plored of me to join him instantel
at West Point, where he had pitched
his tent for the purpose of doing a
picture or two of the scenes enacted
in that romantic locality during
glorious War of independence.
/ am a lawyer, and in rs was a
"rising Junior" l had been tagging
cruelty, sparing myself no amount OF
labor, and when on that July day my
lOnged-for vacation was at hand,
felt like a schoolboy about to get
away for the real genuine holidays.
AS l approached the grating and
awaited by turn to pop in the mes
sage, I became interested in young
lacy. richly but plainly attired, whose
svelte figure was simply perfection,
and whose golden hair was wound
round the back of her graceful head
in massive and luxurious pleats. OF
course any man Of certain age Obeys
the impulse which bids him gaze on
a fair face or faultless form-it is
but natures tribute to the beautiful
and in mere obedience to this mys-
ferrous law, strained eagerly for
ward to obtain glimpse Of h. : fea-
lures, but without success.
when will this message be for
warded?" she asked, in a low and
musical tone.
The clerk muttered something that
I could not hear.
"Oh, l hope it will go at once.
How much am to pay?"
The phlegmatic employe proceeded
to count the words, ard announced
that the message would cost two
dollars.
The young lady put her hand in her
pocket, started, colored violently, be-
came deadly pale and palpitated:
Il have left my purse at home,
what am to do?"
The clerk bit his pencil and said
nothing.
Il live out Of town and the mes
sage would be too late" and in her
perplexity she turned and faced me-
She was perfectly charming. Lus-
trous violet-blue eyes, and long,
sweeping lashes-eyes sad yet joyous,
bright, tender. A de,icately formed
nose, slightly retrousse, which i'm
parted a piquancy to the face such as
one only sees in G1euze's portraits
Her golden hair came low upon her
forehead, and she wore a hat sur
mounted by a rich dark-blue feather
that almost swung across her Shout
ders.
My voice was scarcely audible as l
said:
Il beg your pardon. inadvertent-
~ heard your conversation with the
clerk. Will you permit me to relieve
you from any embarrassment by al
lowing me to pay for the Dispatch"
She started as I spoke, and, be-
slowing upon me a naughty glance
that almost amounted to defiance, ex-
claimed:
I'VE are strangers, sir, and l can
not accept your offer, however cour-
teously meant" and she turned from
me.
l felt nettled and strangely irri-
tated. A keen sense Of injury smote |
me. resolved to act. Plunging my |
hand into my pocket, seized upon |
two silver dollars. and, fnging them
to the clerk. grufiy cried, "Send that |
lady's message" and, striding from
the building. sprang into y passing
stage.
What fool" / muttered, as we
rumbled along. What a blooming
idiot to indulge in two dollars worth |
of chivalry!" And then her defiant |
loneliness came back to me, and l felt
elated, triumphant.
r She might be Lady Clara We're de |
We're for aught l knew to the con-
trary; but be she gentle or simple. she
owed me two mighty dollars
George Meyers met me at the dock |
at West Point.
You never beheld such charming
ranch as l have dropped on" he ex-
claimed, as we strolled up the hill.
Its all honeysuckle and sunshine,
birds whistling. and a rustic porch
over every window, and a summer
house instead OF stoop. and a land
scape in every corner, and such food
ah!" And he joyously kissed the tips
Of his fingers as he waved them in the
direction Of our temporary home
stead.
Our ranch was all that George
had painted it, commanding a view
Of the lordly Hudson, with its glori-
ous and varied scenery. AS we sat on
The stoop lazily smoking our cigars,
related my adventure with the Fair
One With the Golden Locks"
why, / used to think YOU a hard