The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-05
WHY PEOPLE DON'T MARRY.
What a QuOndnm ReiGning Belle
Said.

! What IA QuOndam Reisning Belle
Said.
Yesterday evening Il Times reporter
was one OF the passengers on board
the steamboat NatchcZ, bound for q
cheap excursion to Carrollton. Among
the many others who had come with
similar designs was IL lady, once q
belle of the Garden District of New
Orleans, but who is now numbered
/ among that aimless caravan desig-
mated in society parlance as the "faded
beauties.n She was clad in light
close-titting summer dress that showed
| off to attractive advantage the rich
curves OF her fairy-like form. The
jaunty hat placed in tilted position
on the back OF her head, though bear
ing beautifully tinted ribbons and
feathers, were not Stryng enough in
reflective coloring to hide the marks
made by time and ballroom dissipa-
ton, nor the hnguid and passive
expression of the eyes. The reporter
was on rather intimate terms with
her and had been more than once
captured by the brilliancy of her
conversational powers and nameless
charm of manner that had in the
years just gone by, placed her high
on the list of "girls to be visited" by
the eXquisites of society.
When the reporter first observed
her she was one of crowd of elderly
ladies and gentlemen who were dis
cussing church matters, the Bishop
Polk Society and the Uptown Female
Orphan Asylum. Every now and
then she turned her head aside to
bestow smile and II nod at the
different old time beauX that passed
her by. They returned the saluta-
ton by dof1ing their hats in one, two,
three time, but none of them stopped
to chat with her or even to shake the
hand that was listlessly toying with
watch chain.
Why not interview her." thought
the reporter, 1t might be an interest
ing matter to find out why she hasn't
married.
Acting on the SUGGESTION he made
his way toward her, and after an
exchange of salutations, he proposed
a promenade. She accepted with no
evident signs of avidity and pretty
soon she and the reporter were
strolling about the hurricane rocf.
At the end of the boat two empty
chairs were stationed.
Will you sit down and relieve these
seats of their emptiness ?"
might as well, I suppose, " she
answered, turning her head to catch a
glimpse at the happy knots of young
people congregated at different places
on the roof. She sat down and for the
E.,e,f in, H. Mi oh
of her that evening, the expression |
of her features settled down to one of |
entire calmness and serenity Her |
face was turned away from the gaze
of the crowd. Had her society expert
ence been of such nature that her
smiles were controlled entirely 10y |
influences of human surroundings
So the reporter thought, but he |
dared not hint such a thing-yet. He
talked of everything he could think
of, but nothing served to interest her
but the babel of voices behind.
Finally. "Did you read those
articles on why People Don't Mar
ry?'n he said.
Yes she answered after
hesitation. "I thought
them exaggerated, but they contained
II great deaI oI lrutn.
Wouldn't you like to give your
experience on the subject :"
What, she cried with start,
- publish what Know :" Then,
atCer pause winch lasted several
what II do my thoughts
are changing so often now that it might
do me Il great deal OF good to read at
some future day what my honest con-
vlctlons are now. NO, don't object
on the contrary, am perfectly willing
to tell just what L know"
TO begin then, why havn't you
married :"
Because | have never had the OPP
portunty," she laughed. But the
tones of the laugh died out in a graf
ing sigh. She placed her fan before
her eyes as If to shut out the faint
5linting of the sun that peeped up
over the black stretch of trees far over
5he river.
" How can you say that, Miss Nellie,
know OF at least three young men
whom you have discarded"
Who are they, tell me-" she asked
'agerly, with Il coquettish twinkle in
Ter eyes, that looked, oh, so painfully,
'ut OF keeping with the rest of her
But, pshaw, why ask such silly
question. have had opportunities to
marry, and the reason | did not profit
~ them was that ] was not taught
hat was only Il member of Il practi-
al and busy world; because | was s
brown in an artificial society; ;
because [ learned that true 1
could only be attained
through insincerity and deceit, and on :
ccount of such an education, l was :
ontent with the flattery and adula-