St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-03-15

|
"Bless you, we all change! We can't
help that" said Mrs. Noakes. I" never
worry about it," and they fell to talk
ing about Obadiah and what he used to
do, and what he had done, AND found the
subject so interesting that they Kept 1t
up over the cold chicken, sponge cake,
etc., that composed their lunch.
When Thursday evening arrived 1t
found little Miss Mufit in Mrs. Noakes'
par]or, sitting opposite burly>looking
man, whose nose was rather red and
whose eyes were not honest, candid eyes
by any means. he was dressed very
shab5ily, to say the least, and had whis'
pered to Mrs. Noakes in the hall, Take
notice of his coat; it carries out the
character, doesn't it? I look like
seedy old fellow who has had ill-luck,
don't II" And lie nudged Mr.. Noakes
with one elbow and Mrs. Noakes with
the other, while they mentally agreed
that he certainly did look the character
most thoroughly.
On the whole, it was rather pleasant
evening, and Arabella and Obadiah got
on finely. He promised to take tea at
her house in few days and saw her
home at ten O'Clock.
The rest of the connections, not hav>
ing read Cbsdiah's letter, were not de-
lighted at his return. They saw him
shsbhier than ever, and they we're very
careful to keep him at distance.
Mrs Noakes often smiled to herself to
think what difference that letter would
have made in their conduct had they
known of it; but she wisely held her
tongue and left fair field to Arabella.
In little while, to her joy and the great
surprise of MIR. Noakes, Obadiah Corner
actually proposed to little Misc Mufit,
and was accepted by her.
! "such splendid thing!" said Mrs
Noakes. "Such wonderful thing for
ArabeIla, and it shall come out now!"
Thereupon Mrs. Noakes went calling
among the relatives, showing Obadiah's
letter everywhere, and creating great
excitement.
"And what can he sea In little Miss
Mufis?" said enc mother Of many
daughters "And, though I say it
who, perhaps, should not-there's my
Marguerite such beauty"
"But Marguerite was very rude to
Cousin Obadiah" said Mrs. Noakes.
"The idea of an old man like that
marrying-with relatives he could leave
everything to! !"
d" But men don't leave everything to
relatives who insult ihem," said Mrs.
Noakes. "Besides, Obadiah is not very
old-not old at all. It's just splendid
for Arabella; and she was the only one
who was civil to him, you know"
Then she went away, leaving the con-
nections generally envieus of Miss
Mufat, and angry with her also, as one
who had been wiser in her generation
than they.
And Miss Mufit, 60 happy that she
began to grow plump, was making up a
pearI-colo.ed silk dress, and had sent
some pearls that had been left to her by
her grandfather to the jewelers. to be
reset, and sat enc evening building some
middle-aged castles in the air, with her
feet on the fender of the CRATE, when
| the bell rang and her elderly lover was
shown in.
There was no light in the room but
that of the FIRE; and, as she would have
lit the drep-lamp, he stopped her.
81 want to talk Gttle,n he said
"and / like talking in a half-light.
Arabella, I've .aquestion to ask, and
want you to answer me truly. I want
you to promise solemnly that you'll tell
me the truth"
;" WILL" said little Miss Mufit, faint
| ly. Whatever the question is, I'll tell
the truth, Obadiah
/ swell, then," said Obadiah, .dii you
see the letter wrote to Cousin
Noakes?''
/ The blood rushed to Miss Mufit's face
in the darkness.
/ "El-yes, | saw it," she said.
/. ct know noaone else did, 9 said oba.
| diah. " But you-she showed it to you :
| Well, intended she should. wrote il
to be seen. never thought Cousin
Noakes could keep secret. ArabeIla,
I'm poor man and rascal fhave met
with nothing but failure. You are rich
in comparison. You've home and
$1,000 year. My letter was only g
trap. / wanted every one to see it, and
/ hoped to settle comfortably down among
] my friends with the reputation OF beir
rich bachelor, with fortuns to lea,
behind him. You only aaw the letteE'
| You onIy were civil. and offered M,