The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1879-03-27
VIDALIA, LOUISIANA, II

and Bhrubbery. As soOn m Josie s
little used TO IL, she enjoyed her
waited and novel position, which 6 -
her fine view of the beautiful o
try through which they were pasP ~
Her companion smiled ut her emil
astic ordinations aud comments, 81 ~
ing to tnke plra,u~c in the pleasur
frankly and innocently expressed.
"Do you think you would like to- a ,
in the couutry2" he said, stealingG
admiring glance at the glad young fhce.
above all things" responded JPsie.
"Tbat ia, she added, after a mombnts
pause, elf pnpa could be here, too. j
wish he could be, just for little while,
no would enjoy it 30. Papa was brought
up on farm, and ID would seem like
old times TO him. heard him say once
that he wished he had never left IT.
81 had strong desire, when boy,
to go to the city, whore could have
chance TO get rich, and not have TO work
40 hard. But / am an only son-an
only child here the speakers eyes
saddencd. 81 promised father, inst
before he died, that | wouldn't leave
The farm, and / don't know that care
TO do 10 now"
81 wouldn't, if were in your place, :"
said Josie, with a wise shake of her
pretty head. "It's dreadful hard times
in the city. Everybody is grooming
about them, which makes it dismal
enough. And as to working hard, I'd
like TO know who works harder than pa
does. It's ever 30 much nicer here"
The honest young fellow, whose hokrt
was in his eyes, iuwardly hoped thPt
she would always think so.
"There is where liye," he said,
aioud, pointing to house with piazz
running around two sides. and which
looked very pleasant amid the green
verdure that surround I'd it. /
! Young Manning drew the reins Mt the
gate, inside OF which a pleasant-faced,
silver haired woman was standing.
Here's the mail, mother" he said,
tossing down 10 her some papers 49,
pamphlets. Been lonely any2 In
going to take this young lady to Mr..
Crofton's. My mother, Miss Wilson. 4"
The young man took leave Of Josie
with feeling Mt the heart such as he
had never experienced before.
How pretty she is |" he thought /;
"Rnd Ns good az pretty, am sure"
"What nm honest and pleasant face !!
[ wonder il shall ever SEQ him again ~
This is what she thought.
Josie did see him again and quite
often. The Mannings and Croftons
were not only neighbors, but very init
mate. Mary Crofton had been strangely
attached 20 Mrs. Manning's only daugh-
ter, who died the preceding winter.
She spent good deal Of time at her
house, and Josie frequently went with
her. Mary was never weary Of praising
John; he was such good son. and SO
intelligent, steady and Industrious.
John too got over his shyness with the
city girl, who took 40 kindly to country
ways that it seemed as if she had always
lived there. He used to walk home
with her, Mary considerably lingering
by the gate to talk with his mother,
both we'll pleased at the turn affair
we're taking. Then there were ridei
aud walks, picnics and social gatherings
at all of which John and Josie had
fashion of getting of by themselves
fashion that every one seemed to honor
and understand. And 20 the happy
days went on, each day binding those
young, loving hearts more closely TO-
gether.
When Josie returned to the city
which was two weeks later than she in
tended, she had pleasant story to wbis
per in her fathers ear.
"If you love him and he is worthy O
you" he said in reply to the query will
which it ended.
JOsie's quick ear detected the sadness
that underran these words.
"You know you promised to live viii
me when 1 was married, papa" sh
} whispered, laying her cheek close I,
his. "And on farm, too! Won't i
be delightful I"
Belle and Lucy returned home will
that conscious air Of triumph and i'm
: portance peculiar to engaged younI
5 ladies'" Having attained the end an,
aim of their existence, there was moth
3 ing further for them to hope or expect
From henceforth they we're to repos
upon their laurels, floating down th
4 stream of life with no thought or car
for anything but the present enjoy
ment.
Bellies captive was a Wall sire.
Q broker, owning a fabulous amount-o
It paper. Lucy's was the son of a mi