Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-06-26

the porch.
She seemed to be taking Brandy
out for his morning exercise" said he
surlily. Far be it from me to
Umph!"
Sara repressed the start Of surprise
She thought Hetty was alone.
She. will bring him In for luncheon
suppose" she said carelessly, n
though there was Q slight contraction
Of the eyelids. He Ii q privileged
character"
1t was long past the luncheon hour
when Hetty came in. flushed and
warm. She was alone. and she had
been walking rapidly.
"Oh. I'm sorry to be 30 late" she
apologized. darting q look of anxiety
at Sara. I'VE grew careless with
time. Am I shockingly late?"
She was shaking hands with Mrs.
Redmond Wrandall as she spoke. Les.
lie and Vivian stood by. rigidly await.
ing their turn. Neither appeared to
be especially cordial.
What IL the passing Of an hour.
my DEAR" said the old lady, ito one
who Ii young and can spare it,"
Il did not expect you'll mean to
say. nothing was said about luncheon,
was there. Sara?" She was In q
pretty state of confusion.
mo-" said Leslie. breaking in; I'VE
butted in. that's all. How are your"
He clasped her hand and bent over 1t.
She was regarding him with slightly
dilated eyes. He misinterpreted the
steady scrutiny. "Oh, 1t will all peel
on in a day or two" he explained. 20.
ing shade redder.
When did you RETURN" she asked.
Il thought tomorrow was"
Leslie never has any tomorrows.
Miss Castleton," explained Vivian.
He always does tomorrow's work
today. That's why he never has any
troubles ahead of him."
What rot!" exclaimed Leslie.
Where is Mr.. Booth?" inquired
Sara. Wouldn't he come in, Hetty p
IL didn't think to ask him to
stop for luncheon she replied, and
then hurried OF to her room to make
herself presentable.
Hetty was In q state of nervous ex.
element during the luncheon. The
encounter with Booth had not resulted
at all as she had fancied 1t would. She
had betrayed herself in q most discon.
certing manner, and now was more
deeply involved than ever before. She
had been determined 1t the outset.
she had failed. and now he had q
claim-an incontestable claim against
her. She found 1t dificult to meet
Sara's steady. questioning gaze. She
wanted to be alone.
After luncheon. Leslie drew Sara
aside.
Il must say she doesn't seem espe.
cially over5oyed to sec me-" he
growled. "Sbe's a. cool ~ ice."
What do you expect, Leslie!" che
demanded with some asperity.
Il can't stand this much longer,
Sara" he said. Don't you see how
things are going? She's losing her
heart to Booth"
Il don't see how We can prevent
it."
by CAD. Ill have another try aa
it-tonight l say. has she said-any.
thing?"
She pities you," she said, q ma
licious Joy in her soul That's akin
to something else. you know"
"Confound 1t all. don't want to be
pitied!"
Then I'd advise you to defer your
try at it." she remarked.
I'm mad about her. Sara. can't
sleep. l can't think. 1 can't-yes. I can
eat, but 1t doesn't taste right to me.
I've just got to have 1t settled. Why.
people are beginning to notice the
change In me. They say all sorts of
things. About my liver, and all that
sort Of thing. I'm going to settle 1t
tonight It's been nearly three weeks
now. She's surely had time to think
1t over; how much better everything
will be for her, and all that. She's
no fool, Sara. And do you know what
Vivian's doing this very instant over
there in the corner? She's inviting
her to spend a fortnight over at our
place. II she comes-well, that means
the engagement will be announced at
once"
Sara did not marvel at his assur-
ance in the face Of what had gone be-
fore. She knew him too well. In spite
Of the original rebuff, he was thor
oughly satisfied in his own mind that
Hetty Castleton would not be such q
fool as to refuse him the second time.
1T IL barely possible. Leslie" she
said, that she may consider Brandon
Booth quite as good a catch as you.
and infinitely better booking at the
present moment"
IT'S this beastly sunburn," he la.
mented. rubbing his nose gently. think
ing first Of his person. An instant
later he was thinking of the other
half of the declaration. That's Just
what I've been afraid Of" he said. Il
told you what would happen il that
portrait nonsense went on forever. It's
your fault, Sara"
But l have reason to believe she
will not accept him. II 1t goes SO far
as that. You are quite safe in that
direction"
Cad, I'd hate to risk It," he NUT
tered. Il have q feeling she's in love
with him"
Vivian approached. Sara, you must
let me have Miss Castieton for the
first two weeks In July" she said Sc