Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-10-14

Stone, waiting In the drawing room
for Nancy, where everything suggest.
ed her, that they had come to the part
ing of the ways. Yet. on balancing
his love and poverty against the lux.
ury and power that enwrapped the
girl, he had to acknowledge the fulfil.
ity OF his hopes, and had finally &C
cepted a position with his cousin. q
mining magnate in the West, deter
mined to conquer the paralyzing sense
| of loss.
Pacing the room with quick, ner.
vous tread, his Thoughts dwelt on the
previous evening. when, with Jealous
pang, he had seen others more eiigi-
BILE preferred.
As he impatiently kicked a foot
stool aside 1t brushed against a cur
tain, exposing to view a glove, hither-
to concealed beneath the drapery.
With whimsical smile for his folly,
the young man pressed 1t to his lips
AS he did SO there dropped from the
palm faded boutonniere.
1t was a tiny spray of jasmine, with
white leaves yellowed, its perfume
nearly gone, but undoubtedly the same
that he had taken from his buttonhole
when Nell, Nancy's small sister, had
begged a pin. How came it In the
glove-Nancy's glove that she had
shown so much concern at having
lost? Hope rose again in the young
fellows soul.
Wheeling sharply around he found
that Nancy had entered and was
speaking. my aunt regrets-last
night fatigued her greatly"
1T doesn't matter-not at all" he
stammered. still dazed by his discov-
cry. Then he smiled on Nell, who
leaned against her sisters knee.
Did you enjoy the dancer" he in.
Qufred. and the child nodded in assent,
adding regretfully:
But only for q little while-four
dances-then Nan made me 20 to
bed"
Il wager you enjoyed those four.
I enjoyed only one"
Nell shifted incredulously. Hes
pretending, isn't he?" she demanded
of her sister.
"On my honor, no! There was fun
last night-though a trifie one-sided."
Stone threw a reproachful glance tow.
ard Nancy's bent head. you see
Nell, dancing takes two-and I missed
my partner"
Therefore criticise my dance az
uneven" Mischief lurked in Nancv.s
dark eyes. when We paired OF for
supper, ! was reminded of Noah's ark.
The animals went in, two by two"
with the decimal stands an empty
ought-admit 1t fell to my share"
Scorning reply, the girl twitcbed
teasingly at her sisters curls. until
the child shook herself free. Stone
devoutly. If silently, prayed that she
might return to her dolls. He wanted
Nancy alone for this last hour.
Selecting a long-stemmed rose from
vase on the mantelpiece Nancy
stood, half-pouting. tearing the petals
apart. Stones eyes followed each fall.
ing leaf. his thoughts on the faded
jasmine.
= Nan, here's your glove!" cried
Nell, from where she had been finger
Ing books upon the table, but Nancy.
without mounting flush, commanded
her to put 1t down.
Hannah must have found II" per.
sisted the child.
Hush. Nell!"
1T was l who found 1t, Nancy-is II
to be an omen Of happiness-are you
glad?"
What does Nan care about gloves ..
derided Nell, busily thrusting her fin.
gers into the glove. There's a box
full up stairs!" But she addressed
dull ears. her companions we're intent
only on each other.
81 came to tell you that I am soins
West, to bid you good-by. 1 never |
meant to return, butt found that
glove-I found"
"What~
MY jasmine-it was hidden in your
glove" he stammered huskily.
With angry gesture, Nancy cast her
rose into the fire. You are so bold
as to hint that ! kept your miserable
fower?" she demanded with imperious
scorn. We'll. / did not-I did mott"
~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~.~.