St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-08-04

haughtily.
It was true that Mr.. Hall was in love-
Almost the first glance of Flo's eyes
had captivated him. Usually quite
careless in his dress, he now became
very particular. He threw away the
soft felt hat he had hitherto worn for
comfort, and bought a low-crown felt
with q stiff brim turned up with satin.
As sack coats were worn short, he or
dered the shortest that could be made.
He wore light blue and crimson ties
and the latest style of collars and cuffs.
He could not see why Flo Sheldon
would refuse him. He had twenty
thousand dollars well invested and a
handsome house on Prairie avenue. He
was neither young nor good-looking,
but surely Flo was too sensible a girl to
care about the mere personal appear
ance of a man of property, and,
better still, man of intellect. He
was so sanguine that he even hint
ed to his tenant that he might want the
house on Prairie avenue himself by the
LIST of May. 5
"Auntie," said Flo, the day after the
opera, "Mr. Hall is desperately in love-"
"In love!" exclaimed Miss Carson,
making great blot on her account
book.
Eyes, and with YOU" continued the
niece.
With me?'' murmured Miss Carson,
blushing.
"Anybody would know it, said Flo.
ssDoesn't he make every excuse to be
where we are?' Didn't he 60 to church
twice with us last Sunday-the first SER
mon he had heard in years?
=. He took me to the opera just to
please you. To court the whole family
is an old trick of lovers. ! am the only
member of your family that he knows,
and he wants to get me on his side. It
is evident that Mr.. Hall has become con-
WINGED of the fact that he can't live with
out you. Accept him, auntie. He
would be the prince of uncles.'
The more Miss Carson thought over
Flo's words the more firmly convinced
she became that the girl was right, SO
thought.
Mr. Hall became jealous of Mr.. Stowe,
of Mr.. Wilkins, of Mr. Crane, and mad
" jealous of Mr.. Fay. That the latter
was the handsomest man in the house
he could not deny, and Mr.. Hall hated
him bitterly.
Finally matters came to climax.
Mr.. Hall peeped into the parlor one
evening when he knew Flo and Fay to
be there alone. He heard the word
"Darling"-he saw Mr.. Fay kiss her
hand!
1t was enough. He went to Mis~ Car
son with the whole story. 1t vi inn
proper, it was shocking. Who knew
anything about Fay? Who knew that
he had not a wife already? Miss Car
son agreed with Mr.. Hall as matter of
course. She was severe with her niece
for the first time.
'.What do you know gainst Arthur
Fay?' asked the girl.
s.Well, nothing definite, but Mr.. Hall
does not like him, and-''
Flo's eyes flashed. Mr.. Halls med
ding was uncalled for, she said, and
when his advice was needed, she would
let him know.
After this she snubbed her elderly
adorer numerically. IF he ventured q
remark she answered so CURLY that his
breath was almost taken away.
Mfr. Hall became wretched. He re-
solved to lay the whole case before Miss
Carson With her aid he might yet win
the hayward girl, who perhaps after all
was only flirting with Fay. He found
his landlady seated at the dining-room
window pensively darning a stocking.
'.Miss Carson he said, drawing a
chair to her side, 81 want to speak to
you about something that has laid on
my heart for the last four months.
Miss Carson's hands trembled so much
that she could scarcely hold her darn
ing-needle. ,.,,s
/: 'sYou are shrewd woman he re-
sumed. "You can not be blind as to
the object of my attentions to your
niece IS aa 4
She tried to speak, but the words
died in her throat. She made an effort
to thread her needle Anxious to en-
gage her whole attention, MIR. Hall
took her hand and uttered a sharp ex-
clamation as the needle pierced his
thumb. Id 81, s +, i
I. Flo suspected this" whispered Miss
Carson.
:. Ha! She did? What did she say?"
"Oh, she liked you very much then,
but lately
g Oh, I knowI have been fool, but
with your consent I shall yet be the hap
piest man in Chicago. .
: And am the happiest woman" she
murmured. sob, Mr.. Hall, or Jacob,
/ suppose I ought to call you now. /
shall do all in my power to be good
wife.
In her agitation she covered her face
with the stocking she had been darning
and wept. There was an awful silence.
Mr.. Halls tongue was pacalyzed. Was
this an awful dream? Or was he going
madp