The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-03-10
Il obey. but why not:

was my fault"
mo, mine"
Il will not hear you say it
But | must speak to your father
about"
"And the sooner the better; he is in
good humor with you and the bridge
now. I have heard him speak well of
Won. l believe he will be glad 10 give
me to you"
"And if nOt?"
81 should hate to grieve my father,
but"
She turned and looked at him in the
moonlight. her glorious golden head,
her neck. her shoulders, her arms bare
and beautiful in the celestial illumi-
nation. He seized her hand and lifted
it to his lips as a devOtee, and she I'M
| derstOOd the reason for the little touch
of Old-world fOrmality and reserve,
when naught but his will prevented
him from taking her to his heart and
making her lips, her eyes, her face, his
own.
Now may God deal with me as l
deal with you" he said fervently, IF
ever fail at least TO try with all my
heart and soul and strength to measure
I'D to your sweetness and light"
"My prayer for myself, too" she
whispered.
you need ii not"
you must wait here" she said,
deeply touched, as they had now
reached the steps of the car, until l
have changed my dress; father would
notice anybody would - that tear.
When have finished l will come back
to you and then we will seek him and
tell him."
Accordingly Meade stood Obediently
waiting outside the car In the shadow
it cast. There was no one about. The
servants had gone to bed. The porter
of the car was nodding in his quarters,
waiting for the time to turn out the
lights. The engineer had the long
platform all to himself. After time
he chose to walk quietly up and down,
thinking. The future looked very fair
to him.
Bert" sweet voice came to him
out of the darkness. He turned to dis
cover her standing in the door Of the
car dressed as she should have been
for such an excursion had she at first
followed her fathers wise suggestion.
miliar name. Bert, I'm coming down
to you"
Hand In hand they walked to the
rear of the car, where the observation
platform was still brightly lighted. Alb.
bolt had gone and the other three men
were on their feet. They were about
to separate for the night, although II
was still rather early.
Father" said his daughter out OF
the darkness.
"Oh, you're there" answered the
colonel. II wondered when you were
coming back. l was just thinking OF
going to fetch you. Is Mr.. Meade?
I'm here, sir"
"Good night, gentlemen" said the
colonel as the others turned away
leaving him alone on the platform
He came to the edge and leaned ovel
the brass railing.
Are you two going to make nigh
, of it?" he asked loosely.
Colonel Illingworth," began Meade
Father" said his daughter Mt tn,
same time, 1--WE have something to sa.
to you"
Colonel IllingwOrth opened the gate
lifted the platform, and descended tn,
steps.
, Here am" he said as he stoppe,
l by the two.
5 His daughter took him by the arm
!, and they walked down the platform s.
;. as to be out Of any possible hearing
e from the car.
"Now," she said to Meade, who fol
l lowed her.
J. His heart was beating almost as RAP
d idly as it had on the bridge, and 70
e exactly the same reasOn-fe ar Of los
Y ing her. He tried to speak.
well, young MANI" said Illine
] worth, flicking the ashes from his ciga
and wishing to get it over, you sal
y you had something to say to me-"
l Its a very hard thing to say, sir.
i He looked helplessly at the girl, bu
she was speechless. 1t was his tasl
q If she were not worth asking for, sh
r was not worth having, she might hav
n said. "Well, sir" he began desperate
ly, 81 love your daughter, Helen.
u want TO marry her"
o "Umph," said the colonel, Il SUI
e posed as much. How long have 20
II and Helen known each Other?"
"Over a year, sir, but l loved he
e from the very moment l saw her.
did not dare hope, l didn't dream.
e never imagined, and strange as it ma
e seem. sir, she-seems to love me-"
u "Of course l do" said Helen, reali
t ing that it was now high time for he
n to come to the rescue of her love
d "and so would any other woman"
"You know, of course, that while
d am not rich, am not poor, and ca
support my wife in every comfort, sir
d urged the man, greatly relieved by ii
n womans prompt avOwal.
v "She1l need few luxuries beside
h I'm thinking"
, "Yes, of course, sir, I'll see that 81
gets them. This bridge is going