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

little about the great event impending.
Since it could bring no pleasure to her,
it did not seem kim to remind her OF IL
Oftener than was necessary. Talk OF II
they must, however; and so Theda was
left to herself more than formerly, and!
occupied her time in her own room, and
in visits to the library and picture-stores,
where she chiefly consulted old books
and old pictures.
So the days slipped by and the inn
portant evening came. The Seminary.
parlors were thrown open, the long
school-hall brilliantly lighted and
thronged with guests, while on the plat
form, erected for the occasion, and
trimmed with vines and flowers, We're
the group of girls who were to bid good
bye to school-life. Theda was not with
them, at first, and when she came, she
slipped quietly into her place behind the
| others, where she could sit in the
| shadow.
'.Poor Theda! OF course she wants
to keep out of sight as much as possible.
1t will be dreadful for her to read the
valedictory" whispered one to another.
But neither face nor manner betrayed
the least consciousness of anything
dreadful as Theda came forward, when
her name was called. A little rustic of
surprise, a ripple of laughter, and then
q murmur of admiration greeted her, as
she stood there in her rich old brocade,
not iot of it's antique style abated, but
her fair hair coiled high and coitfured
after the fashion of the period to which
the dress belonged, and, sweeping a
low courtesy, announced her subject:
s'Ye Maybe of Ye Olden Tyne. y
She drew quaint, skillful pictures of
the days gone by, and told of what they
had bequeathed to the generation that
1 followed, contrasting their limited adj
vantages with those enjoyed by the
girls Of the present, and drawing yari-
Gus useful lessons therefrom. But it is
to be feared that her classmates did not
receive all the instruction intended.
They We're too deeply absorbed in study
ing her costume. from her head to the
odd high-heeled little slippers-manu-
featured by covering old ones with the
bits of brocade from Aunt Priscilla s
pocket-and in exchanging significant
and congratulatory mods.
''Splendid!''
"Nobody but Theda would have
thought of such plan as that
''Or have dared to carry it out!'
The story was understood by all on
the platform, even before the reading
). was finished; for when the Principal de
livered her diploma to Theda Grey, he
added, softly, after her name, IN. c. "
II do not quite understand my new
honors, Professor she said, laughing
", little later in the evening, when
the graduates were 1ningling with their
friends in the hail. "What degree did
you confer? Your M. c. did not mean
Member OF Congress, sureE?"
at meant Mistress of Circumstances,
which is far BETTER he answered,
promptly. ''The talent to win victory
from seeming defeat, and make the best
of what we have and where we are, is a
gift more valuable than any degree
which a university can bestow; and it is
yours, Miss Theda. | propesy sue
cessful future for you.
A surprise awaited her that evening:
for, from quiet corner, where she had
serenely listened to all the proceedings,
came Aunt Priscilla. What had in
duced her to break the habit of years,
and travel so far on such an Grand
was a mystery Theda could not solve
until faithful Hepsey, who had &C.
companied her mistress, enlightened
her.
'It's just that old Dress" she ex-
planned, as soon as she could gain op.
portunity for word aside. Pulling il
out of its hiding-place stirred her al
up, somehow, and after it was sent she
kept wondering how you would look II
it, and saying that no girls nowadays
look as pretty as girls did in her time
till all of a sudden she took a notion t
come and see for herself. guess she''
satisfied y
, Apparently she was, in her grim fash
ion, though she said very little abou
it, and accepted as matter of course
all the congratulations offered her OF
Theda's account. Whether the praise
really had any effect, or whether seeing
Theda in the gown admired in her owl
: youth lent to her young relative some
thing of the glamour of those old days
is unknown; but it is certain that Aun
7 Priscilla treated her with new respec
from that time forward; and long after
| ward Theda, useful, successful
woman in a happy home of her own
used to show that old dress, and call
the beginning of her fortune. Kate "
+ Hamilton, IN N. 7. Independent.