The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-05-19

WI -ATe mere, a.One ana
unPre eteeted for | presume, if he sees
ct, your friend, MI. Martin. win in
future let me into the secret, but I do
aeslre 70 see you change your occupa.
ton, or at once give it up"
HIS manner was gen tlemanly and his
words full Of s. mpathy. -.
'.Mr. Mason,'' said Nellie. halt;np
suddenly, 'you presume con siderabiy
when you interest yourself in
the Affairs Of one of your factory
handS-and she poor. almost friend
less girl. i am not SO ignorant as YOU
suppose, and can tell when am i'm
posed upon. Pray allow me to pass.
and do not attempt to again speak to
me, unless it be on business
Inc young man drew aside at once.
Miss Kuthven," he said, as cour-
teousIy As before, ''you fail to com
prehend my meaning entirely fail.
am not coward, to insult q woman.
l have other employment for you, and
II you Will allow me to call at yonr
residence, | will explain the matter to
your satisfaction. Please allow me.'
Nellie had gone ahead few PAGES
and left him standing in the road, but
she had halted almost Immediately,
struck with the idea that she might
na,,s,a nave been Zen ! too hast, in condemning her
"Well." she said, with an effort.
you may call. Perhaps you do mean
to befriend me, as Mr.. Martin has
asked you -
With that she went on.
She had scarcely finished her tea
when Mrs. johnson announced that
Mr.. Henry Mason wished to see her in
the parior. fa+fa
30 she is acquainted with him.
eh!r muttered the landiady under her
brcAth. .1Wei1, that's nothing to her
credit.s II he sain, n,k~sieosus, he's too
extrayagant to know the-use of
= The little parlor.. r.,sitRiht witth Is overloaded
nantel andrusty hairlcioth furniture
gaping 1t every pore, was not very in
viting TO q man of taste, but Mr.. Ma
SON seemed to entirely overlook these
minor defects aud concentrate his at
[tention upon the lady boarder, who
entered the room with half-pleasant.
half -displeased look.
~ am ready, Mr.. Mason, to hear.
what you have to say" she remarked,
|carelessly.
W ell, in the first place. l wish, as I.
have already said. to give you better
employment and higher rate Of wages.
NJ father leaves all these matters to
me-in fact Il have control Of the money
of tho tirm-and he has AUTHORIZED me
to- do as | best judge in engaging
a lady to take charge of the vari-
Gus i,ttle matters in connection with
the o!iice. There is everything agree
able about the work. and nothing dis
agreeable. You could not do better
than accept it,"
Nellie tapped the floor with her foot
aud fumbled with button on her
She wasthinkingwhat a fne look.
ing man Mr.. Mason was, and how
plea SantsI Il llfkIES lss4a E3f.s stkE
HIS manner was beginning to force
her tofthe conclusion that she was act
ing very rude, and she felt somewhat
ashamed, y. Z 1s4tzS tE - ~
''Ar. Mason" she said, rather en-
barraSsed, II trust you will not think
have acted .rudely, but am so dis
turbed that 1 eau scarcely find it in my
nature to be either friendly or courte-
Gus with any one. l thank You for
your generous offer, though you may
doubt my sincerity, since it. comes SO
late. will accept the position-that
is, viii try it, and hope to give entire
The young mans face beamcd with
pleasure. =
"And you will include in the bargain
that shall be your friend?" he asked
''You are my employer, sir" said
Nellie, shrinking back.
Nay. your friend-your best and
| truest friend"
"Sir!'
ga friend on whom you can rely and
not be deceived" .t
ou, young man. say this to me,
| girl whom you have known but a few
days! Let your conduct prove whether
you are friendly. / fail to understand
this hot-headed thrusting of your pres
ence upon NE, and this rather wild de-
portment."
Now you are angry"
sNo, sir, not angry, but surprised"
."WEat If l am determined to have
an answer to the question l have
asked?"
Determined -
cay, am used to asking strange
questions, and the strangest one have
ever uttered will utter tonight,
if
He stopped abruptly.
ssIf what?''
"ff you do not 1t once construe the
meaning of nv visits z4
Nellie began to think the man mad.
why you have already told me why
you came here"
IL have not yet told you the true
purport.
"Yoa have then spoken falsslye''
mo, ! have merely kept back part
Of the truth
He was growing more and more earn
est. and his eyes flashed with feverish
brightness.
Say that I an fool, il you WILL"