St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-04-20

A~As
John allowed her an almost unlimited
supply of pocket-money, and she was
lavish in all charity, from blankets for
old women, tobacco for old men, to
candies for the children, and rides On
horseback Tor the urchins. And she had
a way of comforting favors that never
wounded the pride of the most sensitive.
We rode together every morning, we
walked in the cool evening hours, we
spent, much time. at the Piano, and dis
cussed our favorite authors, and one day,
when asked Mamie my wife, she
said, coolly:
"Why, of course; thought that was
all understood long agov'
was rather amazed at such ratter-of-
fact wooing, but delighted at the result.
How could I expect any soft, blushing
speeches. suppose l ranked just where
John and Nannie's grandmother did in
her affections.
But one morning, when Mrs. Stillnlan
was shipping her geraniums in the sit.
ting-room, and John was reading the
mornings newspapers, Mamie burst in,
her beautiful face all aglow, her eyes
bright with delight, crying:
"Oh, grandma! Walt has come home |!
7 saw him from my window riding up
the road"
She was going then, just as John ex-
claimed:
"Confound Waltz"
"Who is Walt ?" I naturally in
quired.
walter Bruce, the son of one of our
neighbors. He has been like brother
to Mamie all her lie, but went eff to
Europe two years ago, when he came of
age. They wanted to correspond, but
forbade that. So he has turned up
again"
1t was evident that John was terribly
vexed, and very soon shared his annoy
ance. Walt, a tall, handsome young
fellow, improved, not spoiled by travel,
Just haunted the house.
He was generally off with Mamie as
soon as he arrived, and blind to Mrs.
Stillman's ill.concealed GOODNESS, and
Johns sarcastic speeches about boys and
puppies.
AS for me, by the time my sleepy eyes
were opened in the morning, Mamie had
taken long ride with Walt, was at the
piano when I came into the room, and
Walt was walking beside Mamie when
the hour for our usual stroll arrived.
And the very demon of mischief pos
sessed the girl. There was no freak she
was not inventing to imperil her life,
riding, driving, boating, and I fairly
shivered sometimes at the prospectof my
nervous terrors when it would be my task
to try to control this quicksilver temper
| ament.
But one day, when I was in the sum
mer>house, very rueiul little maiden,
with tear-stained face, came to my
side.
"Walt is going away!" she said.
"Indeed!"
eyes, and he says Pm wicked flirt
with q choking sob; 81 thought I would
ask you about it,
"About WHAT"
"Our getting married. You know
papa told me I was to marry you ages
and ages ago?'
"Yes."
"And I knew it was all right if he
said SO. But Walt says you must be g
muff if you want wife who is all the
time thinking of somebody else.
"And you know I can't help it. Walt
has been my friend ever since we were
always together. And when he was in
Europe papa wouldn't let us write tc
each other, but I kissed his picture every
night and morning and wore his hair in
locket, and thought of him all the
time. And he says you won't like il
after we are married"
"Well, not exactly" I said dryly
You'll have to stop thinking of him
then"
II don't believe ever can. And SO ]
thought I'd tell you, and Perhaps
perhaps you will tell papa we don't
care about being married after all.
don't think I could ever be sedate and
grave like an old lady, and of course
ought to be if I am to be an old mans
wife"
"Of course."
"And I am so rude and horrid, I knew
I am not nice like city girls, and am
altogether hateful, but Walt don't care. D
I rather agreed with Walt as she stood
in shy confusion before me, her eyes still
misty, her sweet lips quiveriDg. 1t was
q sore wrench to give her up, but was
not quite an idiot; and said, grayely:
"But your father?''
Yes, / know he Ii maks real storm.
But then his storms don't last long, and
maybe you would tell him shat you have
changed you mind. You have, haven't
you ?'
Yes; the last half hour has quite
changed my matrimonial views"
I could not help smiling, and the next
moment two arms encircled my neck, a