Old Creole Days

ntered his parlor in response to the announcement of a visit

e Delp

a corner, looking very much alone, and clad in dark attire, which seemed to have been washed a trifle too often, was Delphine Carraze on her

roat, smiled weakly and commenced again, speaking, as before, in a gentle, low note, frequently lifting up and casting down her

en they had taken seats she

hould have said this in

derstand; you did not want an ora

shining with tears, a

d and shook it despondingly-"a cruel thing." The te

sently she turned again, with the ev

d lifted, fell lower than ever, her brow and neck were

and by and by Pè

an smiled upon you; and if it was not, I cannot say you have nothing to answer for, and yet I think God may have said 'She is a quadroone;

me property, which really the strict law does not allow. He loved our little daughter very much. He wrote to his mother and sisters, owning all his error and asking them to take the child and bring her up. I sent her to them when he died, which was soon a

er-heart conquered

no

cape the reproach of her birth and blood, and when she asked me to let her come"-Th

through her hand

o was with you

es

not know what

?a oui!-t

like you, Mad

never believe she was my daught

which is your main diffi

s! y

his knees with his arms bowed out, and f

et, good daughter?" sai

hout changing

to raise her ey

lanet." He suddenly looked up with a brightness which almost as quickly passed away, and then he looked down again. His happy thought was the cloister; but he i

enly die," he said; he wante

and buried her head in her han

ve, my d

me, more buoyantly, "one thing is sure:

, looking heavenwar

t be!" said

t be?" asked the

Jerome, with a s

ne, with a quick sparkl

ld tell anybody, H

t smiled

l, leave me to think

She rose and gave her hand. As she withdrew it she smiled. "

es

with your sermon. I dreamed I made th

smiled also,

n in this country, on land or on water, is a pirate, and of

earily, still withdrawing backward. Père J

h brow, fair where the hat had covered it, and dark below, gently stroking back his very soft, brown locks. Madame Delphine slightly started aside, while Père Jerome reached silently, but eag

undertone, "I am just going to say Hail Mary

ll be soon, Madame Ca

raz

and extended both hands, saying, in the same familiar

playmate! After

iest playing with the other's hand, and talked of times a

r door ajar. She passed through the one and with downcast eyes was standing at the other, her hand lifted to knock, w

e was saying, as his face appe

l_," said Madame D

er her general timidity, that, against a fierce conventional prohibition, s

turned and

irection in which the lat

phine, you

his f

me iv I tell you w'at

so, Père

n' to hop

ine, seeing she was exp

heart had to say something. He threw forward one hand and looking pleasantly at Madame Delphine, with his li

wn banker, Mad