Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-05-23
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MS decision suddenly or impulsively
9 nor, having arrived there, was he I
! be turned from it easily. True as
was that he sincerely and affectionat,
~ desired Melanie Reynier for a wifi,
yet on the whole he was a very COG
Romeo. He was manly, but he wa
calculating; he was honorably dis
posed toward matrimony, but he wa
not reborn with love. And so, in tn
sober bedroom of the club, he quickl
Tell into the good sleep induced by ia
tigue and healthy nerves.
Morning brought counsel and a dis
position to renew operations. A not,
was dispatched to his Diana by a pr
vate messenger, and the boy was b'1
den to wait for an answer. 1t cam,
presently:
Come at twelve, If you wish.
"MELANIE REYNIER."
Aleck smiled with satisfaction. Here
was wise venture going through hap
PLY, he hoped He was pleased that
she had named the very hour he had
asked for the night before. That was
Ike her good, frank way of meeting a
situation, and 1t augured well for the
unknown emergencies of their future
life. He had little patience with IT,
nudity and traditional coyness in wom-
en- and great admiration for an open
and fearless spirit. Melanie's note
almost set his heart humping.
But not quite; and no one under
stood the cool nature of that organ
better than Melsnie herself. The la
dies IN the apartment at the Arch
angel had fingered at their breakfast,
the austerity Of which had been miti-
gated by center decoration Of or
chids and fern, fresh-touched with
dew; or so Madame Reynier had de-
scribed them to Melanie, as she
brought them to her with the card of
Mr.. Loyd-Jones. Miss Reynier smiled
family, admired the blossoms and turn
ed away.
The ladies usually spoke French
with each other, though occasionally
Madame Reynier dropped into the
harsher speech Of her native country.
On this morning she did this. telling
Melanie, for the tenth time in as many
days, that in her opinion they ought
to be going home. Madame consid-
cred this her duty, and felt no real
responsibility after the statement was
made. Nevertheless. she was glad to
md Melanie disposed to discuss the
matter little further.
DO you wish to go home, Auntie. or
Is 1t that you think ought to go?"
Il don't wish to go without you.
child, you know that; and | am very
comfortable here. But his Highness
your cousin, is very impatient; I see
that In every letter from Rrolyetz.
You offended him deeply by putting
on your marriage to Count Lorenzo.
and every day now deepens his indig-
nation against you. / don't like to dis
cuss these things, Melanie, but sus-
pect that your action deprives him of
very necessary revenue; and | un.
derstand, better than you do, to what
lengths your cousin is capable of 60
Ing when he is displeased. You are.
by the law OF your country, his ward
until you marry. Would it not be bet.
ter to submit to him in friendship.
rather than to incur his enmity? Aft
er all, he is your next of kin, the head
u your family, and very powerful
nan. II we are going home at all. we
ought to go now"
But suppose we should decide not
o go home at all?"
You will have to go some time. dear
hid. You are all alone, except for
ne, and in the nature of things Won
ant have me, always Now that Won
re young. you think 1t an easy thing
o break away from the ties of blood |
nd birth; but believe me, 1t isn't
asy. You, with your nature, could !
ever do It. The call of the land Is !
trong, and the time will come when ,
GU will long to go home, long to go
ack to the land where your father g
ID his soldiers, and where your moth {
r was admired and loved"
Madame Reynier paused and watch. r
d her niece, who, with eyes cast @
own, was toying with with her spoon. h
a crimson flush rose and n
pread over Melanies cheeks and fore b
cad and neck, and when she looked b
p into Madame Reynier's face, she h
as gazing through unshed tears. I,
he rose quickly, came round to the
der womans chair and kissed her n
eek affectionately. h
Dear Auntie, you are very good to
e. and patient, too. It's all true. Y
ppose; but the prospect Of home is
ID Count Lorenzo together-ah.
ell!" she smiled reassuringly and le
ain caressed Madame Reynier's d,