The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-23

opponent to anything savoring of matri
mony-a believer in catnip tea, tota
depravity, and the approaching end 0
the world. And, above all things, MIS-
Whistleton detested-a man
Little Elfrida Martin was totally dit
ferent. Elfrida was just seventeen
with a round, apple bloom face, eyes al
blue as wood violets, and mischievou;
dots of dimples. coming and going, like
the impress of Cupid's finger on hel
smooth pink cheek And Elfrlda wort
white dresses, with blue ribbon futterine
about them, and roses at her belt, aud
read poetry sub rosa, and believed ir
man-kind-particularly in Tom Castle
wynne
Consequently, it may be easily in
f-rreG that Elfrida led dolcrous life Of
it with her aunt Betsy and her aunt
Betsy's peculiar views.
This particular afternoon. Miss Betsy
sat bolt upright, engaged in hid 'ous
piece of patchwork, which had been
Elfridas black beast Z" ever since she
was tall enough to WELD needle, and
scolded her niece persistently.
Don't talk to me, Elfrida Martin !!
she said, energetically-which was quite
unnecessary, foS poor Ellie had not open.
ed her lips in quarter Of an hour,-
II 2know perfectly we'll that it is all
through your doing that Thomas Castle.
wynne, and his riotous, cigar smoking
friend, have come down to Merryfeld
and taken the room next to ours-the
very nert room! I should think you
would be ashamed of yourself, Elfrida,
to be walking about the piazza with
him, and the house full of respectable
boarders."
Ellie colored up here.
Il am sure, Aunt Betsy, Mr.. Castle
wynne is respectable
"A pettifogging, dissipated, good-for-
nothing lawyer-aud Frank Ermine is
no better. Elfrida, if you don't stop
taking such long stitches I'll make you
rip it all ont again. What I want you
to understand is this: that this love-
making business has got to stop. l
won't tolerate Thomas Castlewynne's
rresumptuous attentions-no, not for
another day I'll pack up, and leave
Merrifeld sooner! Do you hear me,
Elfrida ?"
"Yes, Aunt Betsy, hear you
{" Very we'll; then I'll trouble you to
heed me as we'll Perhaps you think
didn't see you linger on the very thres-
hold of their door this morning, talking
nonsense about the trumpery wild roses
you had been gathering. On the TIRES
hold of a young mans room ! Elfrida,
| don't know what you're coming to p
"But, aunty, the door was wide open,
and Mrs. Glenn was in the hall, and
Isabella Raymond, and Major Parker's
daughtt,s--"
Il don't care if the twelve tribes of
Israel were there, it makes it none the
less improper for YOU here Aunt
Betsy rolled up her eyes in fearfully
cataleptic manner.-" Now stop drop
ping those big tears over the turkey-red
joining of the quilt. never saw such
baby in my lire-never
What relief it was to poor, hunted
little El.rida when Mrs. Major Parker
came in, with her stiff, rustling silks and
her basket of knitting-work. and she was
allowed to steal away into the inner
room, with pricked finger, aching spinal
column, and eyes yet dewy with tears.
"I'il be married as soon as ever I
can,' thought Ellie, with an indignant
pout of the cherry lips. eff thought
[ should ever live to be an old maid like
Aunt Betsy I'd jump into the river-I
would I"
And Ellie crept away for walk, low
spirited enough.
The afternoon was we'll advanced be-
fore Mrs. Parker departed; and Miss
Betsy Whistleton, politely seeing her
guest to the door, stood looking after
her portly retreating form.
I" [ wonder where Elfrida has gone to-"
pondered the spinster-aunt Down in
the grove, flirting with that odious Cas-
tlewynne. I've no doubt-dear me, what
trial girls are! Castlewynne's out
somewhere, I know, for the door of his
loom is halt-open, Now I WONDER"
Miss Betsy Whistleton stretched her
long neck curiously towards the neigh
boring apartment-she looked up the
hall, and down the hall, but there was
not soul in sight.
II don't really believe they exchange
notes." said Miss Whistleton, but afthey
did-and it's really, a very excellent
opportunity"
She paused again and listened still
no sound, save stray footsteps in the hall
below.
"I think it's my duty" said Miss
Betsy, setting her colorless lips togeth-
er, and advancing on tip-toe into the
apartment of Messrs. Castlewynne and
Ermine.
:" [ never was in a man room before. :,
thought the lady, xia1na1 ! !
simper, - what variety of
boots aHs sfppers, right in the middle
Of the floor! Is this brandy-and-water ?
No, it's lemonade-and box full of se-
CARS, as I live, and novel! Oh, the
aepravity of young men! I really hope
| shan't be contaminated by this awful
atmosphere. And what's this curious
wooking taing2 Oh, l suppose it must
be a bootjack! A dressing-case, too,
with chased silver shoppers to all the
bottles--dear me, this cologne is really
very nice.a | wish 1 had brought that
empty parcgoric bottle with me. I don't
believe they'd ever miss few drops.
fink Iomatnm, too, as live and breathe
and a housewife all fitted up with
needles and spools Of thread. Ny good
ness me, if it isn't lined with the yerv
brocaded silk that belonged to my grand