Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-05-22


after banking hours, kissed his daugh-
ter-in-law, and delivered an ultimatum
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 1t
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 1t 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. It would not have
surprised him in the least II she had
declined the invitation, feeling. a. he
did, that he had In q way come to her
with white nag or an olive branch
or whatever 1t il that q combative
force utilises when 1t 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 90 without me!
Tell them that ! am ill-suddenly Ill.
IL 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.
II know, my DEAR" said Sara gently.
IF they should ever ind 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
Sera-so very wonderful" cried the
girl. with Q look Of worship In he,
eyes.
Sara regarded her In silence for Z
moment, rejecting. Then, with . swift
rush of tears to her eyes, she crie<
fiercely:
You must never. never tell me III
that happened, Hetty! You must no
speak 1t with your own lips"
Hetty's eyes grew dark with pail
and wonder.
THAT il the thing I can't under
stand in you. Sara" she said slowly.
I'VE must not speak Of it,"
| Hetty's bosom heaved. Speak o
Ill" she cried. absolute agony in he
voice. Have I not kept It locked II
my heart since that awful day"
"Hush!"
Il shall 60 mad II I cannot tall
with you about"
mo, no! 1t II the forbidden sui
ject! I know all that should know
all that care to know. We nave 90
said 20 much a. this IN months-il
ages, 1t seems. Let sleeping dogs "
We are better on, my dear. coul
not touch your lips again"
II can't bear the thought o
that"
kiss M now, Hetty."
II coulo die for you. Sara" crie
Hetty. as she 'impulsively obeyed Ii
command.
Il mean that you shall live for ma.
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 met. I Al
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 q PARKWAY look In he
eyes. About your size and figure.
said she. and Hetty did not compr'
bend.