The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-02-27

d the quantum of business talent that
/ possessed.
+ Have you any crochet-cotton 7"
Down came half a dozen boxes
tape about Mr.. St. Johns ears-ths ma
t ural consequence of the start he ga,
r on hearing the sweet, familiar sound
Cecile Horner's voice.
e Il don't know-that is, I'll see-Mi,
t Horne" "
Cecile opened wide her beautif,
brown eyes.
> "Mr. St. John ~
J And Mary-looking very daisv-lik
in a pink bonnet, with white flowers
echoed the surprised exclamation.
"Why, Mr.. John! 1 didn't know
She stopped short, coloring pink a
her bonnet.
We did not know that you occupie,
this station in life," said Cecile, laugh
tily finishing her Cousins incomplete,
sentence. THANK you'll don't car
about the cotton :"
And Miss Horner swept out of th,
low-ceiled little store, dragging Mar,
with her.
"The idear' she scornfully exclaim
ed, when they were once more in the
street. CHOW dared Mrs. Emmons de-
ceive us so? To allow me to dance witt
a common clerk ~
He is very gentlemanly, Cecile, u
meekly interposed Mary.
"Gentlemanly! An-an individual
who sells pins and needless clerk !'
But, Cecile, why can't clerk be a
gentleman ?"
Mary" exclaimed Cecile, indignant
ly, "you haven't the spirit of a hy! I
do believe you like Mr.. St. John now
just as we'll as when you believed him
the scion of an old Virginia family!"
Why shouldn't / 2" meekly asked
Mary. 81 think a clerk who sells pins
and needles quite as good as a Virgin
ian."
"said Cecil, throwing volumes
of scorn into one brief monosylable. II
for one shall not recognize him in future.
You can do as you like"
And Mary, walking by her stately
Cousins side, marveled at the strange
rules and regulations of the arbitrary
thing called " society,"" and rejoiced that
she was a., not bound to swear allegiance
to its dictates.
Il dare say my tastes are very CON-
mon,'' thought meek Mary, "but-I
can't help it,"
"Cecile,'' whispered Mary, that same
evening in her cousins ear, surely that
is Mr.. St. John"
Cecile looked in the direction of her
eyes, out beyond the maze of
waltzing couples to the tall figure ad- !
towards them.
1.-THE assurance of the man." she ex-
claimed, contemporary. He never
will dare to speak to me-
But he did dare, holding out frank
hand as he spoke the stereotyped phra-
ses Of greeting.
Ceclle HorDer looked him full in the
tyes with glance that might have fro
zen him, aud turned away without re-
9lying by word or syllable. Talbot St.
John arched his eyebrows little and
miled' Mary spoke up in the impulses
# the moment. T.
MIR. st John, please, please don't
hink I feel as Cecile does. Please
hake hands with me p ,
lie held the seft little hands in bis
ne moment, with singular thrill in ,
is breast.
Are you unconventional enough to :
ecognize the clerk Miss Horner :" :
81 like yoa, Mr.. St. John," said Ma :
y, innocently. Il don't care whether =
ou are clerk OF not" i
His eyes frightened.
You like me, Mary. Is there no :
ther word for my tears, Mary-darling Z
i don't dare to ask if you lore me ?' y
Through the din of harp and violin :
nd sounding horn, the music of his
ords reached her ear-through the sill n
er throb OF waltz music her answer =
ame to him. =
"Oh, Talbot! thought I had hidden - -
my own heart" !
And their eyes met-and they knew =. -
lat hereafter they should be all the ~ ~
orld to each other. :,
"To think that our Mary should en- s. s.
age herself to common clerk" said .;
ecile, ready to cry with indignation, a e. e.
~ or two subsequently. u u
"My dear, I haven't the least idea =
hat you mean," said honest Mrs. En-.
ons. "1sn't she engaged to Talbot
;. John?" '.~.- d
!" Yes, but he is"
"H He is the oldest son of the St. Johns
c., Virginia. Have you heard of
Q great coal mines on the St. John es-
te? an income Of ten thousand Year
the very leastr'
:" Mrs. Emmons, you are mistaken" "