St. Landry democrat., 1886-08-07
thas afternoon, and Moncure and his

"AAS "CAS OuO oAlf
"Do you know, Pen," said the young
husband (they were out for an after
noon drive), Il have taken a great
fancy to that little house up on the hill
beyond Aunt Catharine's, and think
should like to take it and spend the sum-
mer here. How would it strike you?
Favorablyp"
Mrs. Con rad hesitates. "It's beau
tiful place." she says.
Eyes, but that's hardly an answer to
my question"
"Well, the fact is, Moncure, the peo-
| pie stare at me so don't know what to
make of it, and feel as if I could not
stand it,
"Your dark beauty is so attractive,
| my love" her husband says, with lit
tie laugh.
"Nonsense" she answers, laughing
too. 'But I'll make you notice it the
next time we walk down the street."
And so she does. Even the small
boys turn and run after her.
at will only be nine days wonder,
Wy DEAR" he remarks; but he is little
annoyed as well.
Mrs Long is so charmed with the
suggestion about the little cottage that
she valves aside all objections. "Oh,
Penelope, my dear, am sure you will
like the place and the people and every
| thing after you get to feel at home here;
it will be delightful to have you settled
near me even for a short time And
Penelope, seeing that her husbands
heart is somewhat set on it, makes no
further objection.
So the little house, which is partly
furnished, is rented, and they begin to
arrange it. At one side is a long mar
row room, with large glass windows
| and blinds, which has in times past
been used as sort of conservatory
MIR. Conrad had lit covered with mating,
and dedicated to another purpose. His
wife sits down on low stool, and he
throws himself on the mating beside
her, billiard cue in his hand, and falls
to discussing their plans, quite uncon-
scious of an observer.
Jimmy Parker is peering through the
blinds. The Japanese lady has become
an object of deep interest to him, and
| he pursues his researches indefatigablv,
often at imminent risk of discovery and
punishment. At last MIR. Conrad rises,
and this scares him away, and present
ly he is telling an excited tale to an in
terested ring of small boys.
Jimmy! didn't l see 'em both sitting
on their floors just as my mother saws
they do to home in Japan, and with
their big eating-stick-they call 'em
'chopsticks Sin their handsr'
81 don't believe yer!' says the audi
ence.
II tell you it's true; and they're a
yard or two long
Now Jimmy had been brought up in
family with the strictest code of
morals, was quite ignorant of billiard
table or its uses, and never having even
peeped into the lower regions of the
Denham Hotel, on Court street, had
not so much as seen billiard cue.
So this little tale is added to the ex-
citing mass of evidence, and Mr.. Blacks
inuendoes lose nothing by repetition.
Something is amiss,' says Mrs. Long
to herself, and determines quietly to try
and solve the mystery.
Mr.. Conrad ALSO has reached similar
decision; but the matter to him has as
sumed a moce serious aspect Before
coming to Bromley he had received an
offer OF position in college in
neighboring town, in regard to which
he had requested time for consideration.
Later comes mysterious letter in
guarded terms withdrawing the offer.
and saying that accounts of him re-
ceived from Bromley have made itseem
desirable to make other arrangements.
The dismissal is courteously worded,
but none the less annoying to him, and
he sets himself at once to discover the
cause of the trouble.
For her purpose Mrs. Long, who hap
pens to be in her garden one day when
Sallie Smith is passing, calls her in for
a little chat. Sallie obeys the summons,
but is evidently very uneasy and uncom-
Portable while they converse on indiffer-
ent topics. At last Mrs. Long says, with
apparent carelessness "How does it
happen that your mother and you have
not called on my nieceP''
Sallie colors and hangs her head, un-
provided with an answer. "People say
she is a Japanese, and [ suppose they
feel shy,' is the awkward excuse she
manages to get out presently.
''she is no more japanese than you
are," says Mrs. Long, looking at the
blue eyes before her with lau gh. '.She
came from the South, and never was in
Japan in her life.''
"Oh," says Sallie, overcome with
terror at the idea of the false tales she
has been spreading.
"Your information throws some light
on the matter, but there is more in it
than that" Mrs. Long says. ''How-
ever, that is very well for a beginning.
And now go.o giving her q good