The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-05
A PASSING CLOUD.

accordingly, the scene of much busting
excitement on the morning of the event
full day.
There were a few busy matrons over
seeing; but most of the work-the ar
rangement of the little tables, and the
decoration of the room with evergreen
and mottoes-was done, with a will, by
the young people of the town.
The room was gay and noisy. Bright
young faces smiled everywhere; pretty
dresses fitted about the buzz of animated
voices filled the air; a jolly laugh rang
out frequently.
Over in a corner, Dolph German and
Josie Wheeler were laboring over a mot
to, which was to convey, in big, gilt let
tiers, and an exclamation point, the not
highly original sentiment of sWelcome."
Dolph was cutting the letters from a
pasteboard-box, with hands already
blistered from haggling out the letters
of THE greatest Of these is charity
(the festival was for the benefit of the
town poor, and Josie was spreading
them with mucilagc and sprinkling them
with gilt powder from a saucer at her
side and they seemed to be enjoying
themselves extremely, as they always did
when together.
SWELL, I'm waiting for that G, you
slow thing" said Josie, spreading out the
VEL and regarding it a~dmiringly, and
pushing her hair out of her eyes with a
sticky hand. sIsn't it going to look
nice2o
.sWell, it oughtto,' said Dolph, holding
out his aching fingers with an injured
air. tsThis is the worst job | ever under
took. BY the way" he added, looking
into J0sie's face ~anxiously, ssMrs. Thomp-
son is determined to have me at the
candy-stand-talks as though it was
fore-ordained at creation that I should
sacrifice myself on the altar of taffy and
peanuts-and says / car ask somebody to
assist me in the noble work. Will you2n
Josie smiled, and blushed.
"Well, " she said, trying not to show
the utter willingness she felt, 81 expected
to help serve the strawberries and ice
cream, and I've got my cap and apron all
ready. All the mattresses are going to
wear them, you know
II was just going to ask you to wear a
cap and apron said Dolph, unfinching-
~. They'll cast a glory over the gum
drops, and lend nm air Of distinction to
the burnt almonds. You won't refuse2n
aOh, 4 suppose not!' said Josie, with
q light-hearted laugh. stSee here, Dolph
German, if you don't hurry with that
"oh, Mr.. Gorman!s cried an appealing
voice.
And Dolph turned with good humored
haste.
A strikingly-pretty and charmingly-
dressed young lady, mounted on the top
Of q high step-ladder, had turned in
Dolph's direction, with her brows in a
grieyed quicker and her lips in a pout.
The endof the evergreen wreath which
she had been artistically twining about a
post dangled above her head.
Miss Lavine was not a Barclayite. No
body could have mistaken her for such.
Her stylish, delicateiy-shaded. glove
fitting dress; her little Frenchy, lace
trimmed bonnet; her dainty chatelaine
watch-were such as no Barclay girl,
however ambitious, had ever possessed.
Miss LavIne was on-a short visit to old
Mr. Gresham, her uncle, and she hailed
the strawberry festival joyfully, as a
means of ~enlivening her not over-gay
week, and had won the hearts of the Ear
clay young people promptly and com
pletely.
She was the brightest, the ARREST, the
gayest girl they had ever seen. The young
men admired her enthusiastically; the
girls considered her something more than
human.
N0h, Mr.. Gormanp' cried Miss La
vine.
Josie, with her laughing face clouding
over, turned to look at her reiectiyely.
She was not q suspicious person, but
il did seem to her that Miss Lavine had
required Dolph's services an unreasona-
bic number Of times that morning.
Hitherto she had been one of her chief
w~orshipers; but now she began to look
at her In a new light. She began to dis
like her extremely.
ssJast look, Mr.. German p cried Miss
Iavine, holding up the end Of the ever
green wreath. a~ppealingly. 1.-TWO yards
or this provoking thing wanting. MIR.
German she elapsed her hands tragic
ally-tssavc us r.
Everybody laughed; for everybody
Is AkAGW wH4uN NtA4D ~ 00 N ACA1ES1G 9GAtahAO
that Dolph should take his horse and
buggy, which had already been Of great
service in their preparations, and go
down to the woods, q mile distant, for a
fresh supply of evergreen.
s.0nIy too happy, Miss L%avine, . Dolph
responded, dropping his shears and his
paste-board, and arising with accommo-
dating proInptness. ssSee here, JOSIE
he added, In an nndertone, splI bring
the buggy round here for You. It's lone
soIne, you know, going By yourself
ehgp
sAH right!s said Josie, gaily.
Don't you think said Nellie Storey,
i little blonde of fifteen and 4 hall, steal
ing up ro Josie when Dolph had de-
parted-s9'm horrid To say It--but don't
you that Miss Lavine is-welI--a-little
bit afFected2
Josie glanced IN Miss Lavine's direc-
tom She was descending the step-lad-
der daintily, with Charley RANSOM
eager assistance. Charley Ransom had
been @going with Nellie Storey of late,
fes, I do, . said Josie, with the
quick sympathy of d fe-IIow-suiFerer.
sDfeadfully Affected - fhsreaan
And eoncaited3s said Nellie.
A1lss Aaaxsme Was strolling toward d
side.
wiullE conceiteaa aaid Josis, en-
physically.
sAnd oiIieionsf's said Nellie.
They were leaning out Of Tic WINDOW,
necessarily close together.