Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-06-19


floor. She was very pale, but there
was a logged, set expression about
her mouth.
Come in, DEAR" she said, IN a
manner that showed she had been
expecting the visit. Have you seen
him."
Sara closed the door, and then stood
with her back against it, regarding
her agitated friend with serious, com
passionate eyes.
Yes. He is terribly upset. 1t was
a blow to him. Hetty."
Il am sorry for him. Sara. He was
SO dreadfully in earnest. But, thank
God, it is Overt" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. THAT
horrible, horrible nightmare is ended
| suppose 1t had to be. But the mock.
cry of it-think of it, Sara!-the
damnable mockery of it,"
Poor Leslie!" sighed the other
Poor old Leslie"
Hetty's eyes filed with tears. "Oh,
l am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
1t. God in heaven, If he really knew
everything! II he knew why l could
not listen to him. why l almost
screamed when he held my hands in
his and begged-actually begged me
to oh. 1t was CHASTITY. Sara!"
She covered her face with her
hands, and swayed as If about to fall.
Sara came quickly to her side> Put
ting an arm about the quivering
shoulders. she led the girl to the
broad window seat and threw open
the blinds.
Don't speak Of it. dearest-don't
think of that. Sit here quietly in the
air and pull yourself together. Let
me talk to you. Let me tell you how
deeply distressed l am. not only on
your account, but his"
They were silent for a long time,
the girl lying still and almost breath.
less against the others shoulders. She
was still wearing the delicate blue
dinner gown. but in her fingers was
the exquisite pearl necklace Sara had
given her for Christmas. She had
taken it of and had forgotten to drop
1t in her Jewel box.
Il suppose he will go up to the city
early" she said monotonously.
Leslie is a better loser than you
think, my DEAR" said Sara, looking out
over the tops of the cedars. HE will
not run away"
Hetty looked up in alarm. you
mean he will persist in-in his atten.
tons" she cried.
"Oh, no. l don't believe you will
find him to be the bugbear you imag-
inc. He can take defeat like a man.
He is devoted to you. he is devoted
to me. Your decision no doubt wrecks
his fondest hopes in life. but it doesn't
make a weakling of him."
Il don't quite understand"
He ie sustained by the belief that
he has paid you the highest honor a
man can pay to q woman. There is
no reason why he should turn his back
on you. as a sulky boy might do. No,
my dear. ! think you may count on
him as your best, most loyal friend
from this night on. He has Just said
to me that his greatest pain lies in
the fear that you may not be willing
to accept him as a simple, honest, un-
friend since"
"Oh, Sara, II he will only be that
and nothing more!" cried the girl won
deringly.
Sara smiled confidently. 81 fancy
you haven't much to fear in that direc.
ton, my dear. 1t isn't in Leslie Wran.
dalls makeup to court a second re-
pulse. He is all pride. The blow 1t
suffered tonight can't be repeated-at
least, not by the same person."
Il am so sorry 1t had to be Leslie"
Hetty.
BE nice to him, Hetty. He deserves
that. much of you, to say the least. /
should miss him II he found 1t impos-
sible to come here on account Of"
Il wouldn't have that happen for
the world" cried the girl in distress.