Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-10

Howard; he was 80 homely when
living, he must be frightful when
dead"
l ground my teeth in rage as
remembered how often she had gone
into raptures, or pretended to, over
my noble brow and expressive
mouth and would sOlemnly declare
that if | were ever taken from her
she would enter u convent, take the
black veil, and never more behold
the sun. One Of them raised the
the cloth. ! knew they were look
ing at me. Howard *as the chap
she WAS spoOny OIL, whom her father
had mentioned.
"Seems To me you don't feel very
bad about his dying, Miss Mullins, y
exclaimed Howard, deliberately.
"Well, to tell the TRUTH" said my
betrothed, 81 don't care very much
about it. IL he had lived, | sup.
pose should have married him,
because he was rich: but | was
getting about sick OF my bargain,
for | know ! shonld always be
ashamed of him"
"8ut you loved him." remarked
Howard.
mo, didn't! My affections were
| wasted long ago on one who never
returned my love- And my fast
fading idol sighed heavily. They
had now covered my face again,
and were standing within a few feet
of where lay.
"AbOut how long ago, Miss Muf.
fins'' asked Howard.
ooh! about year or so" with
another sigh.
about the time | went away!"
interrupted the cautious Howard,
coughing a little.
"Well, yes, about that length of
time assrnteH my dear atiianced.
snow, Miss Mn Muf. Mullins
you oh! You don't mean to insnu.
ate that LII, oh, oh, oh! too much
bliss-am the lucky"
II don't mean 10 insinuate any.
thing, Mr.. IIoward.- and the angel.
ic sweetness of her voice became
somewhat metallic.
"NOw, see here-Pris. Priscilla
oh, let me call you By that melO.
dious name. See here! | always
loved you; not for your beauty,
God knows, but for your artlessness:
'pOn my soul l did, and would have
proposed TO you only ] heard you
was engaged to the chap that is
stretched there"
"Oh, Mr.. Howard" said Mrs.
Smith, that was TO be, giving a lit.
tie squeal.
"Don't Mr.. Howard me. If YOU
return my affection you must call
me by some pet names. Call me
llarry-call me Lovey-but for
Heavens sake don't Mr.. Howard
me, my own PRISCILLA said How.
ard, in quivering voice. Then
heard movement of feet, accom-.
panied by loud explosion. Moses,
how mad | got. | tried to kick or
crate my teeth, bnt the devil "a kick
or II crate could | raise. was
obliged to grin and bear it. Bear
it ] had to; but grin | could not.
Soon my company left and | was
again by my own pleasant thoughts,
until | again felt the cloth gently |
removed from my face. a soft |.
warm palm was laid on my tore.
head, and the low sweet voice of
Minnie Rivers whispered-well, no
matter what. Night came-so did |
the neighbors to my wake, and from .
two old crones, that sat by me, /
learned that | was to be buried
next day.
"Of course you are coming to the
funeral tomorrow, Mrs. Frizzle.
bum" said one of them.
"Oh. dear, yes, surely. hope it
may turn out fine day, for want
to enjoy the ride to the cemetery
| then lost consciousness, and
the next heard was the grating
voices of Priscilla, my tiancee, and
her mother. Apparently they were
busting and giving the room gen.
rral Sticking up before the funeral.
sis Howard to be one of the pail
Dearersi' asked the voice of my
notherin.law, that might have
been.
"He would be gladly. but he hasn't
! suit of black Clothes said my
sweetest.
"Why, Priscilla! my child don't
;Ou remember Smiths black broad,
10th; the suit is bran new. know
I will fir Howard Gall him in