The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-05-02


secondhand from the power at home:
she was to come to dinner and bring
Miss Castleton. A little quiet family
dinner, you know, because they were
all in mourning, he said in conclusion.
vaguely realizing all the while that It
really wasn't necessary to supply the
information, but, for the life OF him,
unable to think of anything else to
say under the circumstances. Some
how II seemed to him that while Sara
was in black she was not in mourning
in the same sense that the rest Of
them were. 1t seemed only right to
acquaint her with the conditions in his
household. And he knew that he de-
served the scowl that Leslie bestowed
upon him.
Sara accepted, much to his surprise
and qualification. He had been rather
dubious about 1t. 1t would not have
surprised him in the least IL she had
declined the invitation. feeling, as he
did, that he had in way come to her
with a white flag or an olive branch
or whatever 1t is that a combative
force utilities when II wants to sur
render in the cause of humanity.
AS soon as they were alone Hetty
turned to her friend.
"Oh, Sara, can't you go without me
Tell them that | am ill-suddenly Ill.
II don't think 1t right or honorable
of me to accept"
Sara shook her head, and the words
died on the girls lips.
You must play the game, Hetty."
'It's-very hard" murmured the
other, her face very white and bleak
81 know, my DEAR" said Sara gently
IF they should ever find out,
gasped the girl. suddenly giving way
to the dread that had been lying dor
mant all these months.
They will never know the truth
unless you choose to enlighten them.
said Sara, putting her arm about the
girls shoulders and drawing her close
You never cease to be wonderful
| Spra-so very wonderful" cried the
girl, with q look Of worship in bel
eyes.
Sara regarded her In silence for 9
moment, rejecting. Then, with a swift
rush of tears to her eyes. she cried
fiercely:
You must never. never tell me al
that happened, Hetty! You must moi
speak it with your own lips"
Hetty's eyes grew dark with pair
and wonder.
That is the thing l can't under
stand in you, Sara" she said slowly.
I'VE must not speak of it,"
Hetty's bosom heaved. Speak o.
it," she cried, absolute agony in hel
voice. Have l not kept 1t locked II
my heart since that awful day"
"Hush!"
81 shall go mad II I cannot tall
with you about"
NO, no! 1t is the forbidden sub
ject! know all that should know
all that care to know. We nave 90
said SO much as this in months-il
ages. it seems. Let sleeping dogs lie
We are better of, my dear. coult
not touch your lips again"
II can't bear the thought o
that"
Kiss IT" now, Hetty."
II coulC die for you, Sara" crie'
Hetty. as she impulsively obeyed tn,
command.
u mean that you shall live for me.
said Sara, smiling through her tear
How silly of me to cry. 1t must b.
the room we are In. These are tn
same rooms, dear. that you came +
on the night we met All, how old
feel!"
old? You say that to me? I ar
ages and ages older than you." erie
Hetty, the color coming back to he
soft cheeks.
You are twenty-three."
And you are twenty-eight."
Sara had a far-away look in he
eyes. About your size and figure,
said she, and Hetty did not comprt
bend.