The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-03-29

"Ah. Mademoise!le ees in re grand
deestress. Celie exclaimed: Mad
emoiselle ees ILL Mademoiseile as
nevaire-''
| | knew Celie was in re grand dee
| stress herself when she lapsed into
| English. | sat up again. wiping the
tears from my eyes and the grease
from my face
Get me my dinner, Celie." said
between sobs. I'm so hungry. III
feel better when l eat something"
She looked at me astonished She
knew l was not quite hopeless as long
as was hungry
"Mademoiselle will not faint?" she
inquired.
I'll not faint unless you fail to come
with the dinner" | assured her Now
hurry"
When the door closed upon her I
looked into the mirror and smiled, not
at what | saw there, although it was
funny enough, but l smiled because
l closed my eyes ecstatically. He
loved me; he had kissed me!
l sat there a long time, how long
don't know, dreaming had never al
lowed myself the luxury of such
thoughts. | had pushed them back
and trampled them down, and refused
to listen How dear was that express
sion about his mouth, and how beau
tiful his eyes. | loved the forelock.
| had touched 1t. | covered my face
suddenly. My throat was tight; l was
suffocating with happiness.
| had loved him from the first.
knew that now. wondered that
didn't realize my danger from the
minute Mrs. Hazard made her pro-
posal to me. | remembered perfectly
how he had looked at me that first
meeting; silly, unromantic place 1t
Was-a crowded street, and l had
Wisps of hair dangling about my ears
r'unny. Silly things like that to come
sneakinS into cne's thoughts at such a
time. l had learned the sound of the
gray car; | admitted now that | had
listened for it. l knew his step from
the first. | knew, too. that he had al
ways been near; and l had to talk
baseball to him, it was part of my
job. Baseball? Pshaw. An excuse
Natalie? Gracious, she never had
chance, after he saw me, l must not
think that! How awful. But ne had
said so; his lips said SO. his eyes said
so. He loved me, And l cried about
it to my hearts content.
l rose suddenly and went to the
window. with my unfastened gown
falling about me. | sank down and
put my arms upon the easement. His
mother must not know. l couldn't lose
her love and trust. I'd have to tell
10. OF course, couldn't marry him;
| knew that. knew it, knew it! Be-
sides, Natalie had said l had taken
her silly ruby l must prove didn't.
But how? 10 would know. Poor 10.
happen to me. She knew from the
beginning l was going to fall in love
with somebody!
The air was cool and salty and
good against my hot face. Everything
was still and the trees cast long.
placid shadows on the grass from the
dying sun Vincent, tinkering with
the engine Of. the limousine In the
driveway below, was talking softly to
Henri, the boy who looked after the
tennis courts, but the conversation
reached me plainly. Vincent was try
ing to speak French, and Henri trying
to answer in English. Funny! The
slang they used, although Henri ex-
pressed himself fully as well as His
Grace. could hear Winthrop yelling
to a fisherman. A moment later a
sounded-Winthrop boat
and a searchlight family pierced
the fast-falling twilight.
l discarded the evening gown and
put on the white flannel dress in
which l played tennis. l knotted
blue scarf beneath the collar and tied
a blue ribbon around my hair. He
loved the ribbon; he had said SO
once l wore it when l played tennis