The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-09


While Mark Sedgewick was by no
means taciturn, he never gave Susanna
Brown any information about himself.
Though she sounded him covertly at
times, his righteousness was too much
for her.
Fancy the perturbed state of mind
Miss Helmerton was in as she sat
that September evening in expectation
Of the young lumberman's visit. She
must leave at once, she told herself,
and there was no room for procrasti-
nation.
She figured out with herself that she
must tell this very nice young man
in way that would not hurt his feel
ings that she was forced to abandon
Challoner and in going she would al
ways reserve place in her memory
for the times they had spent together.
From her knowledge of him she did
not expect a scene, but she was pre-
pared to act with great fortitude and
remuneration IL he did
She felt so sorry for herself that
there were tears In her eyes when
she rose. to meet Mark Sedgewick
when he came up the walk whistling
an air that was reminiscent of some
thing, she could not remember what.
She selected a secluded corner OF
the veranda as the most fitting place
to hold the obsequies of their AZ.
fections. Mark was unusually enter
tanning and cheerful during the fore
portion of the evening. so Miss Hell
merton did not have the heart to begin
the ceremonies. At last, in sheer des-
peration, she opened the subject
Il am going away tomorrow" she
began.
Il thought you would be going
soon," replied Mark, without any great
show of emotion. Does school begin
MondayT
Miss Helmerton gasped. The pros
pect Of her departure did not seem to
be making many large riffs in the
young lumberman's heart. She felt
very much hurt.
II do not think I shall teach" an
swered Miss Helmerton.
That's good" said Mark. in q voice
that told of satisfaction. Il have an
old-fashioned notion that girls place
is at home. am glad you are going
to be there"
Il hardly think that SHALL" said
Miss Helmerton. very truthfully.
You're not going to make a try q
the city," cried Mark. Don't do 1t.
The city is no place for country girl.
With all consideration for your intel
lect, for which have the greatest re-
spect, you would have a hard time.
You must get that out of your head"
Miss Helmerton was having hard
time to keep her face straight. She
was glad that the veranda was mod
erately dark.
Il don't see how / can keep from
going to the CITY," replied Miss Hell
merton, in a subdued tone that seemed
to tell of world of trouble.
To Mark her voice seemed to say
that fate was at her back driving hes
relentlessly towards the wicked me-
tropolis. Then, to Miss Helmerton's
utter surprise and terror, the big fell
low reached down and drew her from
her chair to her feet.
Nov, Susanna" he went on, tax
ing her firmly by the shoulders, 81
want to be honest and Straightforward
with you. To begin, am so much in
kAak a.
worth while to begin to tell you how
much. / hardly thought that should
ever come to the point of speaking so,
because school teachers have never
been very much in my line, and may
as well be honest in saying So"
AS Miss Helmerton's senses began
to collect she made out that, as she
feared, this was proposal, no matter
how indirect, and she had to meet 1t
some way. She pictured this big lum-
herman and his heavy boots in the
Helmerton Fifth avenue home and
would have shuddered had her Shout
ders not been held too firmly. She
was unable to make any reply, though
she felt she should. Mark did not
seem to think any was necessary.
Susanna" she heard him say soft
ly, more softly than she imagined such
a big man could ever speak.
Then Miss Helmerton, as she felt
herself drawn closer. forgetting all
about Fifth avenue mansions and re-
Numbering only such little snatches of
poetry as she had read in times gone
by about love in a cottage" and "a
mans a man for a. that" threw her
arms recklessly about Marks massive
shoulders and met his down-turned
lips with a genuine plebeian kiss.
You see, We can go to the city any
how" she heard him saying. Il have
been up here IN the wilds about long
enough. Old Helmerton said he
thought it was good thing to have
year or so of practical experience, and