Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-05-23

fearful lest the fragile vase shout
tall. Melanie regarded them a mt
ment, and then said she thought the
would do better in the drawing-room
sometimes think the little garde
pink quite as pretty as an orchid"
Ihey aren't so much In Mr. LloyC
Jones style as these" replied Madam
heynier. She had a faculty of com
mentlng pleasantly without the leas
mint or criticism. This remark de
lighted Melanie.
I NO; l should never picture Mr.
Lloyd-Jones as a garden pink. Blu
tnen, Auntie, you remember how elo
} quent he was about the hills and the
stars. That speech did not at all in
olcate dollhouse nature"
Nevertheless, think his senti
ments have been cultivated, like his
orchids"
Not a bad achievement" said Me
LAME.
There was an interval of silence
while the younger woman stood look
Ing out of the window and Madame
heynier cut the leaves of a French
journal. She did not read, however.
and presently she broke the silence
1 doRt remember that Mr.. Van
camp ever sent orchids to you"
Mr.. Van Camp never gave me any
KIND OF flower. He thinks flowers are
the most intimate of all gifts, and
should only be exchanged between
sWeethearts. At least, heard him ex-
pound some such theory years ago,
when we first knew him."
Madame smiled-a significant smile,
II any one had been looking. Nothing
rurther was said until Melanie unex-
pectedly shot straight to the mark
with:
How do you think he would do,
Auntie, in place of Count Lorenzo?"
Madame Reynier showed no sur
prise. He is sterling man; but your
cousin would never consent to it."
And If / should not consult nv
cousin?"
my dear Melanie, that would en-
tall many embarrassing consequences;
and endorsements are worse than
crimes"
Melanie could laugh at that, and
did. I've already answered a note
from Mr.. Van Camp this morning.
Auntie. No, don't worry" she play
tully answered a sudden anxious look
that came upon her aunt's counte- |
nance, I've not said yes to him. But
mes coming to see me at twelve. I'll
don't give him chance to say what
ne mas to say, he'll take one anywhere.
He's capable of proposing on the
street-cars. Besides, have something
also to say to him."
Wen, my dear, you know best: GER
talnly think you know best" was
Reynier's last word.
Mr.. Van Camp arrived on the stroke
d. twelve, an expression OF happiness
On his lean, quizzical face.
I'm supposed to be starting on a
cruise" he told Melanie, but luck
s with me. My cousin hasn't turned
lp-or rather he turned up only to
disappear instantly. Otherwise he
would have dragged me of to catch
he first ebb-tide. with me hanging
back like an anchor-chain."
is your cousin, then, such a ty-
anti"
"Oh, yes; he's a masterful man, is
Jimmy"
And how did he disappear instant {
" 1t sounds mysterious" 6
1T is mysterious, but Jim can take 8
are Of himself; at least, hope he
an. The message said he had sailed
n the Jeanne dare. whatever that 7
), and that l was to look after our I
bred yacht, the Sea Gull" 4
Melanie looked up, startled. "The e
eanne dare, was it?" she cried 2
Are you sure? But, of course-there s
lust be many boats by that name. are a
here not? But did he say nothing y
lore-where he was going, and why n
e changed his plans?"
mo, not a word more than that. h
Thy? Do you know of a boat named d
lie Jeanne DArc?" {,
Eyes. very we'll; but it can not mat b
IT. 1t must be another vessel. sure Il
. Meanwhile, what are you going IL
do without your companion? h
Aleck rose from the slender gilt h
lair where, as usual, he had perched a
mself, walked to the window and "
rust his hands into his pockets for h
contemplative moment, then he Al
rned and came to a stand squarely
fore Melanie, looking down on her la
18th his quizzical, honest eyes. We
That depends, Melanie," he said v,
owly. upon whether you are going W
marry me or not" d.
For second or two Melanies ewes n,
fused to lift; but Alexis firm-pIant- In
figure, his steady gaze, above all,
5 dominating will, forced her to look ci
= There he was, smiling, strong. yc
3, kindly. Melanie started to smile
t for the second time that morning "s
r eyes Unexpectedly filed with al
ars. IN
I can't talk to you towering over sc
like that she said at last softly. pc
smile winning against the tears. to
Aleck did not move. Il don't want
to talk to- me about IT; all l want tn
for you to say yes"
But I'm not going to say 'yes;' at ag
st, | don't think am. Do sit
wn." Ar
resent From Grateful Convert.