St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-09-04

where will you make it?''
Il think shall 60 East. Reece, the
man who writes the column of causene
every Sunday, you known, wants to 60
back to England, and he is anxious to
have me 60 with him. But don't
fancy making such a change | have
written so much Americanese that l
don't think l could get into the swing
Of the formal English style; and then it
seems like running away, too"
'Dick, | am going to be a great So
ciety woman now. Nine. Luque wants
me to 60 abrord and live at Nice-but
I'm like you, fond of my own country,
and mean to live here and make the
house pleasant for young people. That
is what rich old woman ought to do,
isn't it?''
"Old woman, indeed! You're as
young as any of us now, Mrs
Warner"
'.Indeed Pm not. I am developing
taste tor buttered toast-and that
settles the matter, Mr.. Dufon says.
But [ am going to entertain all the
same-and / am dreadfully afraid OF
the society columns in the journal.
Suppose they should say that the
flowers at this reception only cost 5000
instead of 800. It's an awful power,
that society column, and | should like
to propitiate it. Why shouldn't l buy
the Journal, Dick?"
Il would if | were you-tlve cents
copy or fifteen cents a week; | thought
you did, already"
NO, I'm not joking at all! If it is
500, 900 | have that much in such shape
that could use it, and you could be
my sole editor. VIII you?"
mo. Mrs. Warner, [ won't. 1t
would not be wise investment. 1t
pays well, and all that, but a news
paper is such a ticklish property-so
easily destroyed-that it ought not to
be owned by any one who doesn't run
it. One months laundering would
take fifty per cent. off the value of the
Jolradl
But YOU are not blunderer. Listen
to me, Dick. | am not doing this for
you; [ would really like to own news
paper. There is something grand about
it. | would not buy it if you were not
here to run it for me. But [ know it
will pay me better than any investment
I have now; and if [ don't make as
much out OF it as MIR. Cushman is max
ing, know, Dick, that you would keep
it clean, wouldn't you? Win you help
me try the experiment? We will see if
daily newspaper can not pay without
publishing picked advertisements. l
have heard you talk, Dick, and know
what you would do. There should be
no blackmail, no illiteracy, nothing that
I would not be proud Of Help mo,
Dickn'
Mrs. Warner, I would give ten years
Of my life to have such chance. |
would work for 81 day to do it, and
live on it. l wasn't getting much more
when l first knew you. But can't do
it. [ am nothing toyou that you should
do so much for me-.
mo one would know, Dick. Mr.,
Jardin would buy it, and no one would
know whom he was acting for. And
surely no one would be Jealous of an
old woman like me doing you a good
turn. Is there any one who might be
jealous, Dick:?"
mo, indeed. But shouldn't feel
right about it. don't see how could
do it. Unless-do you like me very
much, Mrs. Warner? You have been
so kind to me, but then your heart is SO
big. Do you like me personality"
''Of course do. You know that. /"
..Tnen, will you be my wife?9'
Mrs Warner blushed rs she had not
blushed for years.
sOh, Dick!''
.'Will you?" and Headley took her
hand-not in a lover-like fashion, but
very affectionately.
How could I, Dick? I'm old enough
to be your mother. People would call
me the Baroness Burdett-Coutts; and
[ wouldn't mind that, but they'd call
you Ashmead Burdett-Coutts, Bartlett
Coutts, or whatever it isl
YOU'RE only seven years older than
T."
s'But am widow. You wouldn't
feel comfortable, Dick-yolr friends
would chaff you.
81 don't think they would; men don't |
chaff me very much. / don't pretend
10 be in any Romeo condition, but am
very, very fond Of you. don't say that
f you had no money would ask you
70 marry me, for am not in a position
20 marry any woman; may be looking
or work week from now. But if my
position on the Journal were an assured |
one, | don't know any woman in the
world whom I'd rather make my wife.
You see feel good deal older than |
nm, and I can't bear the society girls;
he bread and butter kind bore me to
1eath, and the others l remember my
mother too well to marry"
"Oh, Dick! Dick! I don't know what |
o say. | love you as well as | love any