St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-08-05

do come in, won't you?''
Hastily declining her invitation, Mr..
Piper wendell his way toward his domi-
Gle IN no pleasant mood at the prospect
OF an addition to his neighbours small
family.
80, dear!' he groaned. To-day is
Thursday, and she's coming on Sat
urday. Only one more day of peace
and quietness. Of course she's II lightly
young thing, who will upset the whole
nelg orhood with her tantrums. Just
as l had got settled and was living qui-
city, to be tormented so-it is really
too bad"
Thus with great apprehension and
many misgivings on his part, and much
scrubbipg, busting and airing by Miss
Marcia, Friday and Saturday passed,
and just as the cool summer dusk was
falling, Mollie came.
When she came into the pretty parlor,
her aunt stood still and looked at her.
Such a change as the last year had
made! Such a very pretty Mollie, blue
eyed and dimple- with mischief
in every flash of the bright eyes, and
in every curve of the pretty mouth.
"Well, auntie, what do you think of
me! Have not grown, and am l not
a very charming young lady?' said
Mollle, with merry laugh, as she tossed
her hat in one direction, gloves and
parasol in another, and without waiting
for reply to her question, proceeded
TO inform her aunt that she was despe-
rately hungry.
This awoke Miss Marcia hospitality,
and bustling around, she soon had Mol
lie seated at the Widespread table, to
whose contents she did ample justice,
while her aunt, with unusual volubility,
proceeded to enlighten her in regard to
Cherrytield affairs, not forgetting to
mention Mr.. Piper, and say "such a
nice man, dear only very bashful l
know you will like him.
After the repast was finished Mollie
babe her aunt goodnight and retired
to close her blue eyes in slumber and
dream of handsome Jack Morris, to
whom she was engaged.
Jack Morris was the only son Of Judge
Morris. one of Cherryield weathiest
and most influential citizens, and he
and Mollie had been friends and play
mates in childhood. The year before
Mollie went away to school Jack was
sent to distant city to study law, and
they did not meet again for four years,
when, his studies over, Jack came home
to spend few weeks before beginning
life as a lawyer. Mollie was home on
her annual vacation at the same time,
and they met, fell in love, and became
engaged with the full consent and ap-
proval of the elders They were to be
married as soon as Jack was we'll
established in business, but no one
outside of the two families was aware of
the exis ing engagement.
Sunday morning broke, clear and
lovely, and Mr.. Piper cautiously I'M
closed his blinds and took survey of
his neighbours premises. Ever, thing
was quiet as usual so he said to him
self: /" Guess the young lady is not up
yet, OF, perhaps, it being Sunday, she
will be quiet. Time enough for her
racket YETI
AS he finished speaking afemale form
at the door, and fair Miss Mol
lie stepped out upon the lawn, making
a charming picture as she stood shad-
ing her eyes with one hand from the
sun, and drinking in the beauty of the
summer morning. Mr.. Piper stood
spell-bound before such loneliness. As
he gazed, his previously formed preju-
dice against his fair ncighbor vanished,
and he was only recalled to himself by
the appearance of Miss Marcia calling
her niece to breakfast.
From that time Mr.. Piper knew no
rest until he had called and been in
troduced to Mollie. He called frequent
ly after that, and the neighbors began
to wonder at the change in shy Mr..
Piper. After two or three visits as tute
Mollie saw how the land lay, and re-
solved upon some fun to while away the
tedious weeks until Jack should come to
turn Cherryfield into an earthly para
disc. Sc s
Although as desperately in love as old
bachelors are apt to be when they finally
do succumb to the charms of some fair
one. Mr.. Piper was so bashful that he
hardly looked at Mollie, but spent his
time during his frequent calls in con-
versing with her aunt. This just suited
Mollie, and the mischievous girl set
about deluding her aunt into the belief
that Mr.. Piper was "courting'' her.
Miss Marcia would not listen to word |
On the subject at first, but as Mr.. Piper's
visits became more frequent as the days
vent by, and Mollie never let an op-
oortunity slip to sing his praises and
iescant upon his apparent devotion to
Ter, that lady was at last forced to be-
ieve that he really intended asking her
o become his wife.
Great was Mollie's amusement at the
many little attempts at personal adorn-
nent on the part of her aunt. Miss
Marcia was in her youth quite pretty.
md even now, at forty-five, few women
VI her age could boast such thick glossy
lair, clear eyes and smooth skin. She
eemed to be growing young again.