The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-03-15

1A'o 1lERRlLL COMPANY . |
/ What do you frighten a man like
that for?' he cried. What l was go
ing to say :.
Fortune"
What was going to say. Fortune
was this: Here is the cable from Nor
timer. I'm not going to open it til
after dinner tonight Well go up t
the Bertolini to dine You'll stay
there for the night, while put up al
the Bristol, which is only little ways
up the Corso. I'm not going to ask
you a question till coffee. Then Vel
thrash out the subject till there isn't
a grain Left
She made no protest. Secretly she
/. was pleased to be bullied like this It
! proved that among all these swarming
/ peoples there was one interested In
/ her welfare. But she knew in her
heart what she was going to say when
the proper time came. She did not
wish to spoil his dinner. She was also
going to put her courage to its SUI
preme test: borrow a hundred pounds,
and bravely promise to pay him back.
If she failed to pay it, 1t would be be-
| cause she was dead For she could
not survive comparison between
herself and her mother. Here in
Naples she might find something. an
opportunity She spoke French and
| Italian f1uently; and in this crowded
season Of the year 1t would not be diff
ticult to find q situation as a maid or
companion. So long as she could earn
little honestly, she was not afraid
She was desperately resolved.
Such dinner! Long would she re-
member it; and longer still, how little
either Of them ate Of it! She knew
enough about these things to appreci-
ate It. It must have cost a pretty
penny. She smiled, she laughed, she
jested; and always q battle to dam the
uprising tears.
The dining-room was flied; women
in beautiful evening gowns and men
in sober black But the two young
people were obliytous. Their fellow
diners, however, bent more than one
glance In their direction. Hitting.
CLOTHES, to be sure but it was OBJ
served that they ale to the manner
born, The girl was beautiful in a
melancholy way. and the young man
was Well-bred and pleasant Of feature,
though eddy burned
Coffee. George produced the cable.
It was still sealed
you read It first" he said, passing
it, across the table.
Her hands shook as she ripped the
sealed flap and opened the message.
She read. Her eyes gathered danger
ously
BE CAREFUL" he warned. you've
been brave SO long; be brave little
longer
Il did not know that there lived
such good and kindly nen. Oh, thank
him, thank him thousand times for
me. Read it." And she no longer
cared II any saw her tears.
Bring her home, and God bless you
both MORTIMER"
Il knew it," he cried exultantly.
He and my father were the finest two
men in the world The sky is all clear
now
Is it," sadly "Oh. do not wish to
pain you, but 1t is charity; and l am
too proud
"You refuse?" He could not believe
it,
Yes. But when things grow dark,
and the day turns bitter, shall always
remember those words | can see no
other way. l must fight it out alone"
Love makes a man dumb or elo-
quent; and as George saw all his
treasured dreams fading swiftly, elo-
quence became his buckler in this bat
tie Of love unspoken and pride in arms
Each time he paused for breath, she
shook her head slowly.
The diners Were leaving in twos and
tours, and presently they were all !
alone. Servants were clearing up the |
tables, there was a clatter of dishes |
and a tread Of hurrying feet. They
noted it not.
We'll, one more pIea!' And he
swept aside his self-imposed restric- |
lions. Will you come for my sake?
Because am lonely and want you?
VIII you come for my sake?'
This time her head did not move.
Is 1t pity?" she whispered
Pity His hands gripped the
linen and the coffee cups ratified. mo!
{ Is not pity. Because you were lone
y, because you had no one to turn to,
could not in honor tell you. But now
do. fortune, will you come for my
:ake, because love you and want you
always and always?"
i shall come"