The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-05

She did not know-how could she =
that at the door Dir. Softheart had said
to Biddy, the housemaid "Look here,
girl. put this in Miss Belin1a's room,
where she will be sure to see it )" and
that he had presented her with the bill
let containing his proposal crowned by
five shilling piece.
How should she guess that even at
that moment the offer MI. Softheart
could not make in words was in her
work basket At all events she did not.
If the man did not avail himself of
such a chance, after six months court
ship, plain even to the servant in the
kitchen, why he meant nothing. And
the unhappy, unlucky Mr.. softheart did
not utter the expected words, and left
at quarter to eleven, with a quotation
from Byron and a sigh.
"He's a contemplate firt!" said
Miss Belinda. "What did he meal by
squeezing my hap6 and by signing so,
and b.. saying such pretty things, and
looking at my eyes 80? Gentlemen
friends never do such things. I'll show
him my heart is not broken. I'll marry
Spooney." 2
terly mortified and Mr.. spooney did not
own a large mansion.
Belinda wept, as we have said, and
went to bed in the dark. Of course she
did not see the letter in her work basket,
and no one else saw it, until the first of
April dawned.
Now, in their normal condition, with
no love affair, on the tdpis the Bellows
were merry people, who INDUCED in
practical jokes, and April FOOLS day was
always regularly kept in the family. A
new trick was always Matching the year
through, and bundles of rubbish were
sent by express, and cotton cakes made,
and door bells rung, and alarms of fire
given, end people sent post haste to re-
mote regions to find April fool awaiting
them in one shape or another.
But this year, the three particular
Bellows with whom we have to deal
were not prepared with any particular
joke, though each suspected the other.
And when Angelina, sitting up in bed
beside her sister, saw the glittering
white note in the work basket, she i'm
mediately made up her mind that it was
"a trick"
She crept softly towards it and read
the inscription-"M Miss Belinda Bel
Iows"--and retired to her pillow again.
"What a fat trick !" she said to her
self. why, Bell will guess at once,
unless she forgets that it is the first of
April. Mas tricks are always SO smart,
it's queer she should do such a foolish
thing"
Then a thought struck her. She
crept tiptoe out of the room and down
stairs to the parlor, where Bridget was
making the fire, taking the letter with
her.
"Biddy," she said, in a whisper,
"come up stairs and awaken my sister,
and tell her Mr.. Softhead brought this
this morning. Tell it as if it were the
truth, remember, and there's a shilling
for, you"
And Angelina tiptoed with barefoot
s~oftness back to bed. But Belinda was
awake this time.
"She's going to try to fool me, I
know" she said, to- herself, with her
eyes shut and in a very cross mood, and
awaited the denouement with anything
but her usual good nature.
Biddy, meanwhile, has recognized the
"It's a lucky n for me-" she said, to
herself. GA crown over night and a
in the morning" And up stairs
jumped, and knocked at Belinda's
door.
"Misther softheart babe mt give you
this" she said.
"TH teach you to tell Stories" said
Belinda. You know Miss Angelina
gave it to you"
Biddy was COMPOUNDED. .
He gave it TO .meJast night, miss, as
true as | hope to go to heaven" she
,aid.
"Last night" said Angelina, with a
warming glance, suppoeing Biddy to
lave forgotten her lesson.
81 name this morning" said Biddy,
the hint. ,
"Give me the letter." said Belinda /:
hen snatching it, she tore it deliberately
INTO four pieces and threw them ON the
loor. "Do you suppose I mean to be
ar April fool?" she sobbed.
:. You might have more con-sid-era- !
ion - for my - feelings, when he's
rified So" And went off into hys- |
cries. 1
Mamma rushed in. Biddy screamed '
murther.' Sal volatile was applied,
nd in the confusion, no explanation was {
Biddy swept the room and put
he letter in the dustpan. And MI. I
'oftheart watched all day for the watch 9
nan-in vain. =
That afternoon Mr.. Spooney called to 7
nE:n DI (,