St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-10-24
In an this merriment Jennie and Lucy

Parsons took full part and share. U.s.
ually Jennie was more sedate and quiet
than her sister, but to-day was the first
time for months that she had been on
horseback among the hills, and the
pent-up gaiety of her nature found out
let, and She rivaled them all in merry
speech and reckless riding.
Arriving at the grove they found
platform erected for dancing and two
musicians ready with their Violins.
Very soon others who were to be of the
party, but who were later in starting or
had come greater distance, began to
arrive, and soon half hundred gaily
dressed, light-hearted young people
We're on the ground.
Then the violins were tuned up and
dancing began.
When tired of dancing they sat in the
shade of the live oaks and laughed and
chatted, or wandered away two and
two, and spoke low, and looked love,
and may be planned for future to be
spent in each others society. Or they
rowed on the lake, six or eight in one
light skiff that had but a single pair OF
oars, and sunk so low with their weight
that when some one among their num-
Der moved, it dipped almost to the wa
ter's edge, causing screams, half OF
fright and half of pure joyousness, to
issue from lips as red and ripe as red
raspberries in July, and which were a
temptation as hard to be resisted by
those young men as are the berries to
boys who gaze at them through a crack
in the Enclosure within which they grow
and ripen in the sun.
And if, sometimes, the temptation
was too great to be overcome, and some
bold youth took advantage of the help
lessness of maiden, who feared, or
thought that she feared, to struggle,
lest she overturn the boat, and pre-
ferred being kissed to getting wet, why,
what business is it of mine, or of yours,
my dear sirs? There are other lips as
red and ripe awaiting to be kissed, and
there are other lakes and other boats
with single oars, and other sunny days
and starry nights to come. Then why
should we 1inger over this picture of a
golden day that is past; of red lips and
ripened fruit that were not for US; that
were gathered by others on this beauti-
full day in spring, away off in the foot
hills of California?
When the sun became too fierce in
its reflection from the calm waters of
the lake, they gathered themselves in
little knots, all near together, and the
provisions were brought from the spring
wagons, and spread upon. clean linen
cloths on the ground, and they ate, and
drank lightly of their native wines, and
laughed and called back and forth, and
tWittered just as did the birds that had
taken shelter from the sun in the leaves
above them; and were as happy and as
free from care.
While they were thus engaged there
approached two men; strangers they at
first appeared to all. Each carried a
fishing pole and basket The younger
one was dressed in very handsome
suit, resembling those seen in pictures
of English life and supposed to be worn
only by very wealthy gentlemen when
engaged in hunting or fishing.
The other was much older man,
dressed in the garb of citizen of the
locality, and might have been either a
miner or farmer; and was, in fact, an
employe of the Hydraulic Mining Com
pany, for whom Mr.. Annelsey-for the
young man in the English hunting suit
was none other than he-had obtained
leave of absence that he might accom-
pany himself as guide and game car
rier.
Perhaps young Annelsey had come
simply for days fishing in the lake.
Many man had gone farther with less
sure promise of being rewarded for his
10 ,o,. t,rr 40 ~ . boaH and 1.-Two
Perhaps he had learned from some cas-
ually dropped sentence of Erastus, or
one of the girls, during the evening
passed in their fathers cottage, that .
picnic was on the ,tapis, and the day
and the spot where it was to be. Per-
haps he had learned from them only
the fact that one was to be held on q
fixed day, and by inquiry had ascer-
tanned where the most pleasant spot for
holding such gatherings was, and had
taken the risk and now found himself
rewarded by finding those whom he
sought Perhaps-but why assign a
reason for his coming.
He had leisure. He could come and go
as it pleased him, and he had pleased
to make trip to the lake of which he
nad nearQ, anu TO take Win MIN Inc HSn-
ing-tackle which he had brought from
New York. And he had found on the
banks of the lake company of young
people, two or three of whom he had
met before; what more natural than
that he should join them, and if made
welcome, spend the afternoon in their
company.
He advanced toward the group OF
which our friends formed a part; greeted
the young ladies in gay manner and
shook hands very cordially with Eras-
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