The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-09-05

were concentrating, ssroslly' as USUAL IL
the end of my nose.
"Then it is yes ?"
'"Of course it is yes!" I said, archly
"You are fond of children ? My two
girls will be among the claimants toi
your time and aft 'ction."
"They shall be daughters to me-"
answered with enthusiasm.
"And what time could you--'
"At any time that you please to
name"
"Ahem-yes-the first week in Sep
tember would, 1 suppose, be preferable.
Such, I believe, is the usual CUSTOM"
"I will be ready then" faltered.
"And I will ascertain the particulars
and let you know as early as possible.
I told the trustees thought you could
be persuaded to accept the position
"What trustees %
1.-The trustees of the St. Genevien
Seminary. The position of which I
speak, is that of English teacher.''
] dropped my work basket with a
crash Teacher in the St. Genevien
Seminary when had all the while sup
posed myself to be sought in marriage.
Oh, my countrywomen, what fall was
here And there sat the fat Squire as
complacent and smiling as ever
"You see," he pursued the hateful
topic, II have very special reason for
wishing to send my daughters to board
ing school just nowl I don't mind tell
ing you, in confidence, my dear Miss
Hetty, that I m-ahem-m-m-
short [ am contemplating speedy mar
riage with Lucy Hooper,
Lucy Hooper, indeed! pink faced
little chit OF eighteen, who knew no
more about housekeeping than I did
about the Chaldee verbs. Lucy Hooper !!
"And," went on the absurd old wild
over, smirking like lover of twenty
one, Il should like to feel that gour
improving influence was brought to bear
upon my dear girls, tor Malvina is a
little inclined to be- sullen, and Sarah
Jane"
" Yes, I know" I interrupted, with an
impatient little toss of my head, "but I
don't like teachingr'
Don't like teaching! Why, I
thought"
" l can't help what you thought" /" I
interrupted tartly, Il don't choose to
accept the placeh'
The Squire stared, with eyes like
miniature full moons.
" Ny dear Miss Hetty--'
"I'm not your dear Miss Hetty ~ /
burss out, ready to cry with rage and
Ing any furthear" ri Words on the matter.
won't teach in the St. Genevien Female
Seminary! And dare say Miss Lury
Hooper is wondering why you don't
come over there this fine evening!'
- Am | to understand"
YOU'RE TO understand just exactly
what you please " | exclaimed jumping
down from the window seat, and beat
ing a retreat with my work basket.
Good evening. Squire Dutton."
And that was my first offer-or at
least the first offer that I came near
having. Lucy Hooper has married him
now, and hope she has good time of
it
It was two years after that, when l
was boarding in Madame Rocheparde's
fashionable establishment in Sylla Place
for | had got tired of the country aud
wanted to enjoy glimpse Of fashionable
life-that | became acquainted with
Gustave Emile Dupin, the dearest, dark
eyed foreigner in the world, with lisp,
and moustache like black silk And
the first I knew, M. Dupin was at my
feet in that charming foreign way--all
abandon and devotion.
4I me felicitate that Mademoiselle has
not yet heart surrendered to other aspi-
rants" he said, "for is it not that may
hope ?"
I didn't know what to say-but Gus
tave caught my hand in both of his.
.sThe charming Mademoiselle-why
does she hesitate Z" he calculated, Il
am her slave-ner faithful dog-the dast
beneath her tiniest Of tiny feet I! Shall
! my brains explode with the pistol p
for life without my Henriettc's devotion
were but heightened misery r
Dear Gustave, how frightfully you
talk" said /, beginning to be quite ter
rifed.
You viii then be mine ?!'' @
Yes," / faltered-what else could I
say?
I Uas engaged this time, fairly and
squarely; and how the widows and
maidens Of Madame Rocheparde's board
Eing-house did envy me. to be sure. The
Countess Dupin-for Gustave had hint
ed at title to which he was next heir.
How delightfully."- it would sound d-and
how I should enjoy sending my we'd
Iding-cards to Lucy Hooper, mean to
Mrs. Squire Dutton!
The wedding was fixed for the next
month. It was rather precipitate ar
rangement, but Gustaye told me. in his
pretty chivalric phrase, that he could
not exist without me any longer. And
i really didn't see The necessity for any
more delay; SO I got the dresswhite
dress silk at seven dollars q yari--and
began upon the trousseau with two
Eseantresses and machine.
It was the day before the eyentful
Thursday, and ] was busy packing my
trunk, when Gustave came ID with dis
heveled hair and cravat tied all on one
Iside.
sDear me, Gustave, what Is the mat
tier ~
It is that your Gustave is Wretched
that he seeks but to bid his Henriette
|adieu ere himself annihiIates. Weep
mot, my angel! but forget that thy poor