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

Not at all, = said Mr.. Hall, with a
sudden and most unaccountable attack
of politeness. Il assure you you look
as young and as er-er-rosy as you
did six years ago. Time has not put
silver threads among the gold, or er-er
-tritied with your appearance in any
way" This was true. Miss Carson's
hair was drab, and her complexion
matched it. Time could make NO start
ling change in either.
A gradual but very perceptible change
came over the house after Flo's arrival.
She was a very industrious girl, and
knew how to employ her time. The
curtains were Topped less primly, the
parlors had more comfortable, home
like appearance, while delicate pud-
dings. tlaky pies and delicious coffee
showed her acquaintance with the cult
nary art
"You are certainly the personifica-
ton of youth, health and happiness
combined, Miss Flo," said Mr.. Fay, as
he found her late one afternoon singing
gayly as she was spreading the cloth for
dinner. 1T does one good merely to
look at you.''
"Thank you; pray continue to look at
me then, by all means. AS to the first
observation you made, | can say that [
deserve it. am young, am certainly
healthful, and am very happy, for to-
night am going to the opera. When
you learn that / am fond of music, and
that never saw a real opera in my life,
you will not be surprised to hear that I
can scarcely keep from dancing with
glee, as well as singing. 49,
Your parents do not approve of that
kind of amusement, SUPPOSED"
"Oh, that was not the trouble. We
live in the country, and my father could
not afford to take his six daughters to a
city merely for a pleasure trip: You
have no idea how glad I was to get my
aunt's invitation to come to Chicago,
and how much I enjoy myself when |
go downtown. 1t is stale to city peo-
pie, l suppose, but / like to watch the
crowds, to study the different faces, and
to notice the various expressions. Why,
even the noses are study" she con
tinued, laughing. '..Did you ever look
about you in street-car and notice the
variety Of noses? The insignificant
little nose, the sharp prying nose,
the sly hooked nose, and, as
Dickens says, the composite or mixed
nose But you must not stay here or |
shall never get my work done in time to
dress for the opera
She appeared at the dinner-table in
her best dress, q black silk with knots of
scarlet ribbon at her throat and waist.
Her black hair was wound in hIavy
braids about her head in most becom-
ing style, and a rich color dyed her
cheeks. Never had she looked SO pretty,
and Arthur Fay realized for the first
time that he would like to WOO and win
his landlady's niece. But thoughts of
love and marriage were not for him,
and he must put them aside. AS soon
as dinner was over Mr.. Fay went out
for moody stroll and a smoke. When
he returned Flo was playing an accom-
paniment while Mr.. Stowe sang. The
latter was doubtless to be her escort
to the opera Probably this was the
cause of her excessive happiness that
afternoon. Mr.. Fay resolved to seek his
room and forget his unpleasant thoughts
in hard study. Mr.. Hall stood at the
foot of the stairs with an opera-glass
under his arm while he strove to draw
over his fat hands pair of pale lavender
kid gloves.
.What an insunerable pappy Stowe
is, said Mr.. Hall, in confidential
growl. s.He knows that Miss Flo is
going to the opera with me, but he
keeps her there playing in order to
show off that wretched voice of his.
Why, he howled for a mortal hour last
night and kept her pounding away for
him all the while. Confound these
gloves! Why don't they make EN- fit
the human hand and not in the shape
of birds claw? Here comes Miss
Carson; perhaps she can button 'en for
me. "a
That lady smiled obligingly and made
several Intellectual efforts to make, the
glove meet across about two inches of
Mr.. Halls swollen palm.
II am very much afraid the gloves
are too small, y observed Mr.. Fay,
coolly.
.sI'hey are not snapped Mr.. Hall
care they, Miss Carson?"
s'Oh, dear, no, not all, - said Miss
Carson, family, as she tried to make
the obstinate button meet the still more
obstinate button-hole.
.sWell, then the hand is too large for
the glove; something is evidently the
matter" said Mr.. Wilkins, who had
appeared on the scene q few moments
before.
sWhy, how strange I never thought
of it!' exclaimed the landlady, drawing
from her pocket a bunch of keys, at
tached to which was a small button
hook.
''Trust woman for helping a fellow
OUT said Mr.. Hall. Miss Carson
smiled and redoubled her efforts.
..Ah, / have sighed for rest!'' sang
Mr.. Stowe from the parlor. Suddenly