The Opelousas courier., 1884-09-13

self"
Mr. Highland colored a little, lifted
his hat with punctilious courtesy, and
passed on.
Why was it, he asked himself, STERN
ly, that this lawless little romp, with
the deep blue eyes and the cloud OF
golden hair, had such power to tor
ment him with her reckless moods
and caprices? He had done his best
to civilize her.. He would abandon
the task here, and let her 60 her own
fantastic way.
And not until he was out of sight
did Sylphide burst into a passion OF
tears. She would have cut out her
tongue sooner than tell Mr.. Highland
that she had meant to come to church
that afternoon, but that the episode OF
the fieId-mice had entirely driven
everything else out of her head.
HE always sees me at my worst!'
she sobbed. "Well, why need / care?
Let him fancy me a savage if he. likes
What is it to meP"
When she reached home-still with
the nest Of field-mice tenderly clasped
to her bosom-Lesbia, her tall,
handsome sister, met her on the
threshold.
Goodness gracious, sylph!'' she
cfied. "What a fright you have made
of yourselfr'
"Mr. Highland was SO grieved at
your missing the afternoon service"
said soft-voiced Josepha, who had red
gold hair and eyes of real pansy-blue.
like a picture.
"Was he, indeed r. said the rebel of
the family. 81 wish he'd mind his
own businessl"
ooh, sylphidei" sighed Josepha,
"don't speak so. And what have you
got there? Horrid little mice, as /
liNe! Oh, do throw them away
"They are darlings" said Sylphide,
her defiant eyes softening as she gaz-
ed down at her drab treasures. Sand
] am going to bring them up by hand,
and teach them all sorts Of cunning
tricks. know it can be DONE"
ooh, indeedp said Lesbia, severely,
"You have time to set up private
meIagerie. and romp with all the cats
and dogs. and ponies and calves on the
place, but you have no time to paint
cards for the Sunday school girls, al
though Mr.. Highland especially re.
quested U.s."
sMr. Highland again!" burst Out
Sylphide, passionately. "You may be
Mr.. Highlands obedient slaves-yor
and all the other unmarried women o.
the congregation-but / have declared
independencel'
And she ran away to the barn-cham
Der. a fragrant little nook, where eve
since she was twelve years old she hat
possessed her own little sanctum, un
disturbed by prying eyes, to make
warm nest for her little orphans. unit
she could smuggle in some milk from
the kitchen.
And Lesbia and Josepha met MI
Highland the next day at church wit
sweet, sorrowful faces. like grieye'
Madonnas.
1--WE are sorry" said Lesbia. aBu
Sylphide refuses, positively, to help u
with the work"
lit is absolutely impossible to inter
est her in church affairsl' sighed 10
sophia.
But Mr.. Highlands heart gave
throb Of exultation when, as he wa
halfway through the service. b
caught q glimpse of q slight, yeile
figure at the very back OF the church,
, 1T was sylphide, be said to hin
self. Il am quite sure II wa Sylphid'
but she slipped away before I coul
get to the doar to speak to her. a,
! what an incomprehensible little snri,
J she ISL
~ NorK " spregressing brayel
Lesbia i Josepha Egerton vel
deep in illuminated letters, sheets
! leaf-gold and antique devices. Viii
calla-buds and Bermuda lilies we
] being coaxed tenderly into bloof
wreaths Of evergreen were being "
ven By busy hands. yet from al u
Z Industrious group, Mr.. Highlar
missed the fade Of sylphide Egerte
, more keenly than he himself won
I have been willing tn confess.
And when Miss Roberta Hall, an
E derry maiden whose matrimonialhop
were not yet entirely blighted, gFoa
eli over Sylphide's iniquities, the YOU
. clergyman found himself taxing
the cudgels in her defense with sor
= interest.
aSShe ID very young Miss Roberta
Z he said. aWe must give Ter timeI
And Miss Roberta, whose fault "