Louisiana capitolian., 1880-04-03

LII pIoHhpl VpouiN''V w '"'S "''''''""'
a rosy checked, bright-oyed girl tripped
in. The neat print dress had been
changed for % pretty mcrine, but our
hero did not fail to recognize her, and
his face flushed painfully as he did no.
"Pollyw continued her father, "this
IN yonr consn Edward. lie Foayes on
the six o'clock train, and. ] want his
short stay with MS AZ pleasant ~ poss-
blc.'
"polly is my bousekecpcr,' he added,
turning to his nephew; 81 hire woman
for the work and she does all the rest.
When she's eighteen she shall have all
the servants she wants, but she must
serve her apprenticeship first. 1t may
stand hSI in good stead; SHE may take 1t
into her head to marry poor man as
her mother did before her Eli, my girl"
Mary's only reply to this was smile
and blush, Our hero was considerably
embarrassed by the recollection OF the
mistake he had made, but the quietly
cordial greeting Of his young hostess
soon put him comparatively at,rest.
At her fathers request--who wasivcry
proud of his daughters varied accom-
plisllments-Mary sang and played for
her cousin; and his visit ended in singu-
lar contrast to the stormy way it began.
Edward refused the five dollar note ten
dercd to him at parting, for his travel
ing expenses.
The old man smiled when he returned
the note to his pocket book.
"IIc's u sensible yo,lng chap, after
all" he remarked to his daughter, as
the door closed upon his guest. 'Its in
him, if it can only be brought out. We
shall see, we shall scc.'
"a good deal for father to say" was
Mary's inward comment, who thought
her cousin the most agreeable young
man she had ever met.
Three years later Mr. Stone and his
daughter paused in front of u snail but
neat and pleasant looking shop, on the
plate glass door of which were the
words: Edward Stone, Stationery
and Bookstore"
1t being too early in the day for Gus
toners, they found the proprietor alone,
whose face flushed with pride and pleas
ure as he greeted them.
81 got your card, nephew" said the
old man, with a cordial grasp of the
hand, "and called around to see how
you were getting on. ] thought it was
about time | gave you that lift you ask
cd of me three years ago. You don't
look much us if you needed it though"
"Not at present, thank you, uncle,"
was the cheerful response. Cautiously
enough it is the same business that l
wanted to buy then. The man who
took it had to borrow money to purchase
it with, getting NO much involved that
he had to sell ut n sacrifice.
"Just what YOU wuulrur
Edward smiled at the point made by
his uncle.
at isn't what I've done, though; I've
sSvcd four dollars u week from my sal
ary for the last three years; and so was
not only able to pay the money down,
but had fifty dollars over
iBravo! /! my boy" cried the delighted
old man, with another grasp of the hand
that made our hero vince. 'Tm proud
of you. You're bound to succeed, | see,
and without anybody's help. | told
your cousin Polly that when she was
eighteen I'd buy her . house in ihe city;
that she should furnish it to suit herself,
and have all the servants she wanted,
and I've kept my word. Come around
and see us whenever you can You'll
always find the latch string OUT
Edward did not fail to accept tho in
vitation so frankly extcn,lcd--a very
pleasant intimacy growing mp between
the three during the twelve months that
followed. Our hero's business grew and
prospercd until he began to think Of re-
moving to larger place, His uncle
had given him a number of customers,
but said nothing about assisting him il,
any other way until Christmas eve.
Entering the room whcle Edward and
his daughter were sitting, he said
81 mustn't delay longer the littk lift
| promised you, nephew, and which you
have well eamed.'
Edward glanced from the five ,ho,l-
sand dollar check to the lovely inco at
his side, and then to that of the speaker.
"But what, lad 7 Would you prefer
it in some other form p
Edwards fingers closed tcndcrly and
strongly over the hand he had taken in
his. :
"Yes, unclc--in this
The old man looked kecnly from one
to the other.
''You are asking good deal, nepl@w.
Polly, have you been encouraging ;his
young man in his presumption?" ;.
"I'm afraid | have, father" was, 1.-THE
blushing response.
"Thcn go, my daughter. ! give vou
into worthy keeping; and if you mike
your husbands heart as happy as sour
mother did mine during the few short
years that she tarried by my side, he
will be blessed indeed"
The Demon of AIost
In the wear 1889, a BrabancOn soldier