The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-09-16

.ers worth opening. always thought when
girlS were engaged they got love-letters, but
never get any"
GU know the reason WHY, DARLING. 4"
urged the mans voice, patiently .If
we're not afraid of compromising NV
pretty Floss, what greater happiness could
nave than writing to you of my love!"
ou were not afraid t., tell me of it." re-
sponded the treble tones archly; and to this
speech there was no verbal answer.
Lord Oldentowers felt like sneak. and
would long since have distanced the sweet
hearts but for his companion, who plodded
Oh IN leaden way, looking neither to the
right nor to the left, and aifording no cine
whatever In her express;onless face as to
whether she had been listening to this talk
or not "--1>
You know, dearest, you promised me- to
try TO be little kinder to Miss Stone"
humphrey began again; ''and there is
something cowardly-don't you agree with
me In Prosecuting poor soul like that,
who can't defend herself"
! "Oh, can't she, though! exclaimed Floss.
cant she revenge herself by being AZ
cross as two sticks and by complaining to
mamma OF my idleness and getting me Kept
IN Whole days! I'm sure"-here there was
tremble as of tears in the bird-ike
voice. don't know why you take such
| an interest in Miss Stone. I believe Won
like her better than you do mel"
| My darling Floss" protested Hum
rhrey in despair. 'What nonsense YOU are
talking!"
'And when l have been SO good too ever
since you went away" continued the girl.
sobbing aud aggriered. ''Never once looked
at Alfred Atcherley or the officers from
Nettleby In church, because you asked me
not to- And-and-oh, dear, wish had
now, II you are going to take Miss Stones
part against me ~
''There-there, said Humphrey; 1--WE
will say no more about it."
But you are thinking about it still. I
can see you are; you look 80 disagreeable !"
Humphrey sighed.
look here, my pet; III tell you what
we'll do" he returned swallowing his irrita-
ton. ''You give me back Miss Stones let
ter, and I'll give you"
"What? Oh, Humphrey, what have you
brought mel"
The bird-ike voice was quite brisk and
animated now. Peace was about to be re-
stored,
'Give mo the letter first" said Hum
phrey firmly. ''You would not like to send
~N~O ~"oy way uA4oPPy sO-AASAt, xlOS6, ttuU
that is what should be if my little girl
were to persist in making herself less
sweet and womanly than she is at heart"
''Now, Humphrey don't begin about that !
hateful letter again!"
Nor about what have in my pocket ?"
suggested MIR. Lamont artfully. !
Floss clnpped her hands.
"What is ?" she whispered coaxingly. |
Do tell me I"
''When you have given me the letter"
"Oh, dear-oh, dear! Was there ever |
such provoking- Suppose haven't
the letter here 2"
Eyes, but think you have. Come, dar-
ling, givei it to me-"
There, then And I shall hate Stony |
worse than ever, just because You take so
much interest in her."
The exchange was evidently effected |
Subdued ordinations of delight were audible |
in the treble voice as Humphrey fastened |
the pearls in his sweetheart's ears; and then,
having with considerable difficulty induced /
home, the little velvet case was hidden away |
in the childish bosom that held all his |
throbbing heart.
They had quilted the lanes by that time,
and were all four walking decorously on the /
open road and nearing the gate of Mrs. Der
ing's pretty cottage.
Humphrey called out cheerily to Olden- /
towers, who turned back and Joined Floss, !
thereby giving his friend the opportunity he /
sought Of restoring the much-disputed letter
to its rightful owner.
Don't be hard upon her, Miss Stone," |
he pleaded. 'She is SO young and thought
less"
''She is, indeed" responded the govern !
ess grimly; and then she paused at the
gate, watching her pupils slow approach i
with Lord Oldentowers.
Floss's young voice was heard chattering
necessarily along the road in the sweet rainy
dusk.
'Are you going to stay long?" she was
asking. ''Do you like skating? hope it
will freeze before you go, for that is the only
fun we ever have down here. Such crowds
of people gather on the great pond in the
Wintersloe grounds. 1t is SO jolly! 1t sets
me longing for the time when shall come
out and be able to talk to as many people as
ever ike!" /
Few people are as well worth talking to
as Humphrey Lamont" said the little lord
heartily.
But I couldn't always be talking to |
him." naively declared Miss Floss. 81
should like sometimes to talk to other peo-
ple-people who would not scold me, but |
who would let me say whatever liked with
out being shocked and pulling long faces
Are you easily shocked, Lord Oldentowers 2"
asked the small coquette, lifting two dewy
dark eyes, dileted in the dusk, to her COM
panions face,
The young man ignored the challenge and
looked straight before him, gravely imper-
turbable.
Make haste, you two truants!" cried .
Humphrey from the gate where Miss Stone
slood like Fate in blue waterproof. And
Lord Oldentowers, resisting an evident inclin-