St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-14
AURA MERRIAN'S FOLLY.

AURA MERRIAN'S FOLLY.
I'll tell you exactly how it came about,
though [ am sure as [ look back at it all,
think | must have been crazy At any
rate, / know if / live to be one hundred
years old, shall never cease to turn
hot and cold every time / think of my
folly.
My roommate at Miss Hough's semi
nary was Ellen March. I did not like
her at first. She was one of those noisy
ill-bred girls, who rasp your nerves and
make you feel every place is too small
to hold both you and them. We had a
small room, almost a closet, and being
the two eldest boarders and in the same
classes, Miss Hough allowed us a good
many privileges.
She said to me: ''I put Ellen March
with you, Aura, because you are one of
the .quietest girls in school, and she is
the most boisterous. There is really no
harm in her, and she seems to like you
so much that l think your influence will
tend to make her more refined and lady
like
That was the verdict we all pro-
nounced on Ellen March. No harm in
her.
She was given more money than she
needed, andWas generous with every
thing she had. Besides this, she was
obliging and good-natured, and of
course was not to blame if her people
were uneducated and vulgar and had not
taught her good manners.
But it wood have been better for me
If Ellen had been a termagant in temper
and as mean and selfish as Lizzie Carnes,
who was a by-word to every girl in
school.
1t was contrary to the rules of the
school for room,mates to talk after
going to bed, but Ellen would insist
upon keeping up a whispered converse
tion for hours and hours, when we should
have been asleep.
At first / would not answer, for up to
that time had never broken the rules
of the school. Still, I listened, which
was just as bad. She talked about balls
and parties that she had attended, but
her fayorite topic was beaux, particu-
Iarly two young men, to both of whom
she said she was engaged!
You see, Aura" she said, 'sit's the
greatest fun to see fellows making fools
of themselves about one. It's Just de-
lightful to make them think each is the
faVorite, and then see them glare at
each other whenever they meet. Don't
] have fun when one happens to call
when. the other is with me! They're as
jealous as cats, and so polite to each
other! I wouldn't miss it for anything.
I don't know yet which I'll marry. Per-
,hapsI / won't marry either of them,
but [ wouldn't be without two strings to
my bow, anyhow. How many beaux
have you gotp'
/" Not one, and I'm glad of it, an
swered, Indignantly. .sDo stop this nom
sense. Don't you know you're break
ing ruler
II don't care if I am" she an
swered, placidly. Il didn't come here
to be tied to rules, and pas too rich
for old Hough to be too strict with me.
But just to think! You're sixteen, and
you re prettier than / am, and haven't
got a beau! Why, I've had beaux since
| was thirteen. And people say if you're
not attractive to gentlemen when you're
young, you never will be; and then, ten
chances to one, you'll be an old maid.
Why, Id be Wretched II the fellows
didn't fall in love with me and with
them. M
You think, no doubt, I ought to have
been disg,lsted with this conversation.
was at first. But by degrees / began
to be interested, and out of curiosity
read Ellen's love-letters, which she
used to get under an assumed name,
and in the spirit of fun even helped
ler to answer some of them. You viii /
hardly believe it, but after a time, un-
ler the influence of her constant talk,
began to feel almost ashamed that I
lad no beau. think Ellen must have
.ead my thoughts, for she soon began
o praise her cousin, Guy Reeves.
!. Such splendid fellow!'' she said. !
All the girls are desperate about him.
Tou are Just his style, for he worships
lark beauties. I wish he could see you. |
know he'd lose his head, and I'd give
nvt1liasg to see Guy in love, for he laughs !