St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-12-20

Eyes, ma'am, Z answered Theda,
stoutly. elise shouldn't have needed
to ask your help
"Ohi'' Aunt PrisciIla's lips pursed
still mores closely. ''And did you ever
happen to think that my money was
not earned to be Wasted?"
..But it does cost you some money for
me to STAY here" began Theda, too
much in earnest to smile at the absurd
idea of Aunt Priscilla wasting anything.
sand [ think if / had an education =
Education! Nonsense!" interrupt
ed Aunt Priscilla, contemptuously. IAN
these isms and ologies that they stuff
girls heads with nowadays are nom
Sense. You know as much as did,
| and I've always got along.
..But, Aunt Priscilla, = urged Iheda,
wisely. 'tYou know enough to manage
your property, while ! haven't any to
manage, and I ought to know enough
to earn some. 1t isn't fair to just settle
down and expect somebody else to sup
port me. =
..And what else would you be doing
at one of those schools"
81 should be educating myself for
teacher, and after that could support
myself. Teaching the isms and ologles
pays, Aunt Priscilla. !"
ssHumph!' shifted Aunt Priscilla; but
she looked at the young figure in the
freight more attentively and trit1e
more respectfully. Whatever she might
think of new-fangled ways, they were
not to be too sweepingly condemned II
| they had a cash value. Anything that
paid in dollars and cents was not utter
| foolishness. If brains could be cultl-
waited for the market, and bring their
price as potatoes and cabbages did,
/ there might be some sense in bestoWing
q little labor and expense upon them,
1t was a new view of the matter, and
she studied it for minute.
.sAnd you think you could learn to be
a teacher, and so earn back more than
the school would cost?n she questioned,
YES ma'am, Ido!' answered Theda,
decidedly.
.Hunph! Well, wen think about
that awhile" responded Aunt Priscilla,
i non-committally.
The result of her thinking was alb
| ruptly communicated the next day.
..The'dora, she began, suddenly,
"I'ye made up my mind you can go to
that school if you want to, and if you
really mean to stick to it and be a
teacher
Theda's eyes sparkled, but Aunt Pris-
ella checked all thanks.
s.It's business I'm talking she said,
dryly. 'sYou can go, and Ill pay all
that's necessary. But [ don't b'lieve in
wasting money. [ don't waste it on
myself, and / won't waste it on any
body else. So you'll have to be care
full and saving, and do without any fur
bellows
Theda checked sigh as she glanced
at her plain, cheap dress, and swiftly
realized what that last mandate meant
that her school life must be a sort of
martyrdom. However, she had not ex-
peeted her path to be one of roses, and
she was glad to see this particular
branch of it opening in any guisei so
she quietly accepted the terms offered.
Old Hepsey's surprise at what she had
accomplished was overwhelming, and
from that time forward she and Solo
mon viewed the girl with admiring
wonder.
That was the way in which Theda
Grey became pupil at Glendale. How
she studied during the three years
course the reports which the Principal
scrupulously forwarded to Aunt Priscil-
la told. How she dressed was a topic
upon which the girls of the seminary
descanted in many a conclave. How
she won her way was best proved by
the fact that she made friends in the
face of all disadvantages, and the plain
print dress was nestled cozily among
the pretty woods and muslin some bright
morning when the graduating class dis
cussed the important event at hand.
They were gay, bright group, eager,
enthusiastic and Astounding in adiect-
ives, as they compared notes and de-
scribed costumes until the pretty grad
uating dresses were all decided upon.
s.Well, now we know all about it, and
what everybody is to wear, I" said Rosa
Rane, with an air of relief Only
why Theda Grey, you haven't said one
Word!' she exclaimed, with sudden
remembrance.
A momentary silence fell over the
group. They knew how Theda was
situated. Then one asked:
s'What will you do?'
That was what Theda had been very
soberly thinking; and not on this morn
ing for the first time either Aunt Pris-
ella peculiar views of economy -Theda
had dutifully tried to call them only
peculiar had barred the door to many
innocent pleasures, and made the girl {
school course hard one. Her tastes
were simple. She had no desire tc
dress extravagantly. or showily; but tc
have her sense of beauty and fitness