The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-04-05

| C1al position what his mother eY-
pected Of his future; a gulf so wide
across that II would take a great deal
of unselfish love and affection on the
part OF Mrs, Hazard to bridge it.
| | unlaced my fingers and struggled
free Of his arms. His mother never
intended anything like this.
stop, Please stop" | pleaded
The tears ran down my checks. and
I'm fright when cry. Il can't lis
ten; | must not"
l started to go back up the steps.
He caught my hand and held it press
ed tightly In both his own; and he
was the strongest. | only reached
the step above, and sat down again.
louie. this is the first thing I've
been serious about in my life" he
said earnestly. DO you believe me.
dear? Don't you see I'm serious?
| wouldn't kiss you lightly" This time
he kissed the tips Of my fingers with
in his own. II didn't rush you. dear.
because II was afraid, I've always
done that. rushed but it's because l
was never serious"
He smiled up at me and crushed
my hand against his cheek. l laughed
to keep from crying but the silly
tears would keep coming. | was cry
ing because he was serious | had
never seen him serious before.
II love YOU" he whispered. Il
loved you from the moment l saw
you. | knew you were my Fate. or
whatever it is you are, my sweet
heart. What Is that: The bolt OF
Cupid fell?' I've forgotten. | never
could remember Shakespeare, but it's
beautiful. and l think it's what
mean. If l could only tell you. Do you
remember how my mother said: This
is Miss Goldman You smiled at me
and ! grinned back at you. wouldn't
have missed that luncheon for all the
Peabodys in the world | was hard
hit. sweetheart. We talked baseball
when | wanted to tell you how beau
tiful your eyes were, and how loved
your lips when you smiled-Loulie,
read that, but it's what | mean I've
been loving you every blessed min
ute since. I've almost told you
thousand times. Haven't you guessed
it,"
brushed aside the forelock over
his eyes-how weak women are.-
and just that touch upon his forehead
was my undoing leaned forward to
surrender my lips to him, to kiss the
fingers that held mine. when suddenly
| remembered | must not Frantically
tried to get my hands away from
him
Let me go. Hap" pleaded. Let
me go! Let me go. And don't. II
you love me, ever speak of these
things again"
He twisted around upon his knees.
Look at me. dear I'm afraid don't
understand, Why are you not to lis
ten?"
THAT awful accusation" | began.
| could not go on.
ooh. piffle."
How do you know it isn't true?" I
cried brokenly Il was there. the ruby
is ,nissing-how do you know 1t isn't
true?"
How do l know the skies will not
fall, my sweetheart? Because they
won't. That's how l know Natalfe's
accusation isn't true-because 1t
isn't" He smiled at me, wonderfully
pleased with his silly argument.
Your mother" | reminded him
tragically.
"You think she would object?"
Il think she would at least be. terri
bly, disappointed"
He compelled me to meet his eyes
His were steady. and there was
sweetness in the expression about his.
mouth that played havoc with me.
Perhaps you don't know it. my
dear little girl" he said. but there's
nobody in this world can keep me
from marrying you"
got up to go. | had to dress Tor
dinner; so had he. We were both
crazy and Mrs Hazard was SO par
ticular about her dinner hour He
looked at his watch.
1--WE have fifteen minutes yet" he
persuaded Fifteen dear. precious
minutes haven't told you all.
haven't said
tried to 20. 49,
1T takes Celie ten minutes t.
hook me into my gown" I
told him desperately. and she'll
shrek if only give her five minutes
for my hair: then five minutes TO get
to my room and five minutes"
Cant you coax Celie down to three
utes for your hair, and-come down a
step lower, please. or our heads will
be above the wall when | kiss VOL"