Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-02

upon making the Killer girls the
fashion, she had carried her point
triumphantly. With q sort Of in.
solent grace, perhaps, at which peo-
pie grumbled while they obeyed her,
but she had had her way, as usual.
Mrs. Horatio Harding had "opin.
ions," and it was not always safe or
pleasant to oppose her.
"You may not know that you
have done US q great service--one
for which we can never pay you
aright,r said Imogen to her at the
close of "the seasons" work. "But
you have! That we have succeeded
beyond our most sanguine expecta-
tions is due, in large measure, to
the fOothold you gave rs that first
day. II other women who have as
much influence would use it to free,
not enslave, their sex; to overcome,
instead Of strengthening the pre-.
JUDGES that bear 30 hardly upon
us already, what change would
be wrought in homes where the few
strive and toll, aud the many are
served"
The strong white hand with the
glittering solitaire, was raised
threateningly.
"What did l tell you'll l will not
be praised for doing simple act
of justice, especially when my
heart, as we'll as my conscience,
moves ME to it. And you, my
sweet child, may not know that
you have had a narrow escape
from marrying a man who has
proved himself no more worthy to
mate with you than am / with one
Of the holy men of old-those Of
whom the world was not worthy.
But You have. That is all | shall
ever say on the subject. But l
think the more for my reserve when
with you. And Harding WalfOrd
knows that | do. lam not reticent
in HIS hearing. Don't attempt to
defend him! He has lost you, and
that ought to be punishment enough
for one who is capable OF appreclat-
ing you. Not that he ever was.'
81 don't want him to be punished,
dear Mrs. Harding" replied Imogen,
gently. "He only swan with the
tide.r
"Precisely! and to deserve such a
wife as you would make, n man
ought to be strong of soul and
right of purpose. Don't talk to
me about moral towards! think
l was born hating themi"
Two years later, this steady friend
dropped in to see the sisters on
gloomy afternoon in Febeuary.
The light from the front windows
made long, clean cuts in the yellow
fog without, across the rimy pave
ment to the carriage, with its liver
led coachman and fine horses. Pas
sers.by, on their way TO humble
homes, lifted eyelids beaded with
the icy damp, and thought how
lucky were the jewellers in the state.
ly house; how much-to-be envied
the guest who rode in state above
the mire of the common ways
Those who recognized the liveries
and knew whose WAS the dwelling
pondered, more or less wOuderingly
upon the incongruity OF the una
t bated intimacy, and speculated
, perhaps, upon the probabilities that
/, the Harding pride would have re
, volted at q matrimonial alliance he
+. tween n scion of their house ant
r one of the "reduced" family, fol
! all Mrs Horatio's show of friend
r ship. 1t was q lucky thing, decided
0 eight out of ten of those VIII.
l considered the matter, that young
], Walford had not committed him
!, self irrevocably before the "nisfor
!, tune that showed him how near HI
8 was to the edge of the abyss. Ill
;. had made a desirable match las
9 fall, and was now travelling in Eu
g rope with his heiress bride.
u Little cared guest or hostesse
= what the outside world thought o
:. believed respecting their inter
d course. Emma's boys were build
g. ing block houses on the back parlO
10 floor. The three sisters were gath
" cred about the centre.table in tn
II other room, talking in low voice
It over their work. Mrs. HsrdiD
l. stopped in the doorway on seein
g their grave faces, and that the
IN were making black crepe bonnets.
t, "a mourning order!n she said, i
D. her unceremonious way. "Anybod
~ that | known