Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-01

"The idea Of an old man like that
marrying-with relatives he could
leave everything to-"
"But men don't leave everything to
relatives who insult them," 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
connections generally very envious
Of Miss Mufit, and angry with her
also, as one who has been wiser in
her generation than they.
And Miss Muffit, so happy that she
began to grow plump, was making up
a pearl colored silk dress, and had
sent some pearls that had been left to
her by her grandfather to the jew
eler's to be reset, and sat one 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 drop lamp, he stopped
her.
81 want to talk a ljttle," he said,
"and l like talking in q half-light.
Arabella, I've a question to ask, and
Iwant you to answer me truly. l
want you to promise solemnly that
you'll tell the truth"
~ will, said little Miss Multi,
family. "Whatever the question is,
I'll tell the truth, Obadiah"
"Well, them" said Obadiah, "did
YOU see the letter wrote to Cousin
Noakes 2"
The blood rushed to Miss Muffits
face in the darkness.
M--I-yes, / saw it."
81 know no one else did," said Oba-
diah. "But you-she showed it to
you9 Well, I intended she should
| wrote it to be seen. Inever thought
Cousin Noakes could keep q secret
Arabella, Pm poor man and rascal
l have met with nothing but a failure
You are rich in comparison. You've
a home and 81 200 year. My lette1
was only trap. WANTED every ont
} to see it., and hoped to settle com
fortably down among my friends will
the reputation of being a rich bache
lor. with a fortune to leave behind
! You only saw the letter. You onl,
) were civil and offered myself to you
meaning to impose upon you until W
were safely married. | cared YER
little for you then, Arabella!
, wanted q home and that was ALL
"Oh!' cried little Miss Muffit, us
something had stung her.
"But, since then,' said OBADIAH
looking miserably into the fire, "slne
. then I've found how good you were
;, how nice, how sweet. I've come
love you, Arabella, and feel that
mustn't play a trick on you. 1t VIZ
. natural you should like the though
Dc of rich husband-and then we wei
} great friends as boy and girl. 1don
u blame you--and l can't cheat you.
- think it will break my miserable o
heart. But goodbye, goodbye. L,
70 come to say goodbye, and beg yo'
~ pardon, my dear. They'll say "
:. had a lucky escape, SO you hay
~ Pm going"
o. He arose. but little Miss Nut
" arose, too.
10 "Obadiah," she said, III new
~ thought of the money. Obadiah, dol
10 think that of me. And do you ca
~ for me now?"
%. "The only thing in the world love
~ said he.
- Then she held out her trembli
~, ~. little hand.
"S'tay, Obadiah" said she.
no "And he caught her hand and kiss
nc it, and then in the dark she heard h
W sob.
I" So they were married after all, a
Obadiah turned out far better than
@ confessed to his bride on the eve
Nv the marriage. He was really ri
" Finding that Mrs. Noakes had show
Vs Arabella his letter, he merely dir
to test the sincerity of her affection
lot
ire A GOOD ONE.