St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-02

first place"
He still supposed that Mrs. Parsons
had written Era>tus of Lucy's dismissal
of Annelsey. and it was not until
months had passed and summer was
giving place to fall that he learned dit
terently.
He had never mentioned his hope that
the young folks would ''make up" to
any one.
Erastus knew that Lucy was with her
parents, but supposed her only waiting
for her affianced to come and clam her,
and so worked on, striving to conquer
his love, but never succeeding, even Tor
moment.
And Lucy, although knowing that she
loved Erastus, had always loved him,
either supposed that he knew OF her
broken engagement, and knowing 1t
was silent because he had no love for
her, or, if she suspected he did not
know. was restrained by maldenly re-
serve from taking any steps to acqualnt
him with the fact.
One day Mrs. Parsons was helping
her husband in the garden, when some
thing was said about Erastus.
Il WONDER remarked Mrs Parsons,
what he is doing now? 1t is good
while since we heard from him. l wish
l knew how he is getting along. Poor
boy, he must have a hard time OF 1t
with no one to keep his clothes in order
or do thing for him. | wonder If he
ever thinks of getting married?
.'..Of course he must" she added, an
swering her own question; she has got
little start by this time and every
young man on a farm needs wife.
hope he will get a good one when he
does marry
John Parsons gave his clothes little
hitch, a habit he had when at loss for
q word. Then turning his back to his
wife and putting an extra bit OF force
into the hoe he was using, said:
II had sort O. thought may be he an
Lucy'd make up. now Annelseys out o
the way, but it seems they don t.
Pears like 'Rastus is too proud to take
up with bein' second choice, though l
don't b'lieve the girl ever cared half as
much for that ar popenjay Annelsey as
she did for him, even if she did prom
Use to marry him. l wish she'd write
to 'Rastus and tell him so l know
that 'ud fetch him. 'Ras amt the fell
low to get over that kind of thing in
a hurry, and / know he loved her des-
prit, an it seems no moren fair that
She should take the first step towards
maxim up, under the circumstances.
His manner of saying this showed
that he intended it to be an argument
TOO strong for his wife to rebut. Show
ing reason why Lucy could, and should.
let Erastus know that she had changed
her mind and was ready to marry him
if he still desired it.
When he paused he felt that he had
not made the case as stronga as it should
be, but not knowing exactly how to
make it stronger he waited for a reply
from his wife, still keeping his back
towards her and his hoe going vigor-
ously.
But Mrs. Parsons knew that her hus-
band had not finished what he wished
to say, and she remained silent. Pretty
soon be began again:
You see, Marty, it holds to reason
that Lucy should be the ore to speak
first 'Rastus loved her, an she knew
it; leastwise he thought she did; an
knowing it she went an engaged her.
self to that ar fellow from New York
an so gave 'Ras to think she wouldn't
have him no way it could be fixed. So
he went off to git away from the sight
of EN-. An now, though KNOWN that
Annelsey's got his walkin' papers, he
don't know as Lucy'd have him no
more'n she would afore; an 'Ras amt
the kind as goes spoonin' round beg
GIN for what folks don't want to give
him. It amt right, an it amt fair,
when know the girl 'u6 give every
thing she's got in the world to have
aim back, that they should be kept
apart jest because it's customary for the
man to speak first. He has spoke first
once an now it's her turn
All the time John was speaking
Martha Parsons was thinking. She be-
lieved that Lucy loved Erastus and was
secretly in hopes that he would yet
she saw the delicacy of the situation
more clearly than did her husband, who
had never been able to discover any
necessity for the concealment of the
true feelings of either party to love
affair.
When her husband had ceased speak
ing she was silent for a moment and
then said simply:
Are you sure Erastus knows that
Lucy has broken with Mr.. Annelsey?'
John Parsons suddenly stopped hoe
ing and turned quickly around facing
his wife.
Didn't you write him that, when
the girls first come homer" he asked
in surprise.
"No. / did not; was not certain
that she cared for him and feared to
awaken anew, hopes that, after all,
might be useless 1t was not certain