The Opelousas courier., 1884-05-10
old lady ambling towards him, a sort

SOoSuICs
"Pardon me, sir" she commenced;
"but we have for days been disappoint-
ed in obtaining an addition to our
aquarium-would you allow me to see
if you have secured what we have
failed in fndingy
O'More lifted his hat With most re-
firing grace, undid his handkerchief,
and listened rapturously as the lady
excitedly cried:
Beautiful creature! Bertha, Wini-
fred, the very n you are looking
for!'
Then O'More's hat was raised once
more respectfully, and he had entreat-
ed the acceptance of the jel1y-like sub
stance he was longing to get rid of.
'Oh, no." said Brown-haired Bertha
at wouldn't be fair-would it,
Winnie2"
"No," murmured Winnie, looking
softly up. "We thought you had
two"
"Pray, madam, oblige me by accept
ing it for your daughters said the
cunning Irishman, still besieging
"mamma"-and somehow or other.
when the treasure was transferred, he
followed up his opportunity by offer
ing his card and begging to be allowed
to send them some very fine specimens
the following day.
The card was respectable = and
moreover-the mother of the girls
knew some O'Mores; and Captain
0'More declared () that the people
she knew were his cousins; and then
with an assumption of that assurance
which emanates from the Emerald
Isle in rich %profusion, he went back
through the town beside Mrs. Graham.
Captain Burton met him walking with
expanded chest and beaming smiles.
and Gould scarcely believe his eyes
when his successful friend calmly
nodded and slightly winked at him!
"I'll take my guinea now, Barton"
said he, when he joined the captain.
There you are. Perhaps you'll
introduce me noW?"
"With pleasure, my boy-but first
we will dine. and then we can go and
listen to the band, and so on"
A capital collection of ethings" for
the aquarium was purchased forthwith
and sent to Mrs. Graham; and now
every day the old lady's work was cut
out, for Captain 0'More was always
in attendance on Bertha, while Cap
Barton paid unmistakable attention to
Winifred. 1t was painful to witness
the chaperone's efforts to see what was
going ON before and behind her. She
was just meditating on securing her
daughters to two long chains Of her
chatalaine when Captain 0'More pro-
posed and was accepted; and no doubt
her efforts in the other direction might
have happily relaxed but on the very
day when such very decided proofs Of
hopeless alteration were visible in
Captain Barton's face, something hap
pened-right in front of all the people
who had been watching the affair for
days, too!
Dear Ned, I am 30 gladF' cried a
gushing voice; and Captain Barton
turned with slightly heightened color
to meet a fashionably-dressed girl who
continued to run on. do come and
take me out; 1t is so fearfuIly dull in
the hotel. and mairsna can't stir in the
sun, you know" And he raised his
hat politelyto the Grahams, and Wini-
fred saw .that girl take his arm and
march him off as il he were her pro-
pertyl
Later in the day a dowager asked
Mrs. Graham If she had seen that
.Iovely Mrs. Barton
The British matron' $ ire was reused:
but no signs appeared to show the
yexation felt, as Mrs. Graham coolly
inquired:
aWhat Mrs. Barton 2.
Captain Barten's wife-you saw
her this morning, you saw her this
morning. you know"
The moon was shining over the
restless little ripples that broke on
the rocks that nights; and many lovers
were wandering in their fools para
disc. But two that we know Of were
not.
4 Where's Winnie-and Barton?'
demanded O'More of his future
mother-in-iaW. as she grimly sat out
the watch the lovers were keeping.
winnie Is at homeland your
friend, 7 presume. il where he ought
10 have been long ago, with his wifef'
1T is his wife you say2' holly in
auired the Irishman. by Jabbers
Mrs. Graham. I'm not the man at all
at all TO hear my best friend slam
deredls
You say her yourself walk of the