A Lover in Homespun | Page 5

met at before he
went away. When, presently, he asked her about a certain little present
which he had sent her a few months before, his voice grew very tender,
as also indeed did his eyes. It took considerable questioning before she
admitted that she had not parted with it. After this slight admission he
grew more chatty than ever, and failed to notice that her manner was
growing a little constrained.
Finally the floor was cleared, and Magloire Meloche, with much
dignity, took down the doughty fiddle, seated himself, cast his eyes
calmly over the expectant guests, and began slowly to tune up. From
the expression of his face, it was quite apparent that he had a keen
appreciation of the important part he had been called upon to occupy in
the evening's festivities. Besides constituting the entire orchestra, he
was floor manager, and called out the figures. The gusto with which he

cried out, "Swing your pardner! Now tak de hand all round," etc., and
beat time with his huge moccasined foot, added in no inconsiderable
degree to the excitement.
It being well known that Vital did not dance, no comments were passed
upon his absence. The poor fellow had tried to stay and watch the
dancing, but the pain at his heart had grown so, on seeing Zotique's arm
around her waist, that he really could not endure it, and so had gone out
to the little garden at the back of the house, and was sitting on his
favorite seat under a huge birch tree, whose thick foliage the inquisitive
moon could scarcely pierce.
Through the open kitchen door there floated to him at intervals the
playing of the fiddle, and the commanding tones of Magloire Meloche.
Finally the music ceased, and some of the dancers came out into the
garden to view the beauty of the night. Vital was just in the act of rising,
when a couple, whom he recognized as his brother and Katie White,
came within a few yards of him. Where he sat, the shadows were too
deep for them to see him.
Before he could escape, they paused for a few moments near the outer
branches of the great birch, where the lavish moon beamed clear as
noonday. Their faces were distinctly revealed. Zotique's bore an
intensely eager look, while Katie's was strangely agitated. They were
talking earnestly. Dreading they might think he was eaves-dropping,
Vital was about to make his presence known, when they began slowly
to move away, and there fell upon his ears words that bereft him of
speech. It was his brother's voice, low and pleading: "Before I went
away I loved you, and I have loved you ever since. I was so anxious to
see you, that I came back. You are surprised at me telling you to-night;
but I can only stay a few days. If you will only give me your promise,
I--"
The voice died away in the distance.
The shadows where Vital stood suddenly assumed a more sombre hue,
and widened and deepened and spread, until the whole garden was

enveloped in a funereal pall.
The ancient garden seat groaned audibly as he sank back heavily upon
it; the shock drove the gathering blackness away. Never in his life
before had he been so sorely moved; his pale face had almost a ghastly
hue, while his hands shook painfully. He rose mechanically and passed
out into the moonlight, and looked around absently. There was no one
in sight, and all was quiet. He began to move in the direction of the
house. He appeared to have forgotten all about the festivities; he was
simply weary, and was going home to rest.
"Tak your pardners for de nex' waltz!" A moment of preliminary
scraping, then the tune, and finally the muffled scuffling of feet fell
upon his ears. Then it all came back to him, and turning hurriedly, he
walked away from the house to the far end of the garden. Resting his
arms on the fence, he stood bathed in the moonlight, trying to think it
all out calmly, and get courage to return and act as though nothing had
happened. While he stood battling with his rebellious heart, he might
have noticed, had he been facing the house, a young woman, dressed in
white, come to the door soon after the dance had started, and look
around the garden as if searching for someone. Finally her eyes
travelled to the far end of the garden, where a lonely,
despondent-looking figure was standing, and then she started eagerly
forward. Very lovely was the color in her cheeks as she sped toward
him. As she was about to lay her hand on his arm she appeared to grow
irresolute. She paused and looked back