The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-29
TT DIDN'T WORK.
Mr.. Wetherby's Scheme to Marry a
Young Heiress.

and down his apartment in an en-
broidered smoking cap and jacket, APP
parently absorbed in restless thought.
Finally, he took up an open letter from
the table, and for the third time perused
Its contents, which were as follows:
DEAR GUs:-I dropyou a hasty line to catch
The six o'clock mail. Minna Gray is with us,
and want you to come up without delay
and see what you can do in the way of win
ming an heiress. She is just from boarding
school-a simple, unsophisticated girl of
eighteen-and If you enter the field at once,
don't see why, with your advantages, you
should not succeed in making an impress
sion. If uncle can't spare you from the
office before Saturday, at least come up
then, and stay till Monday. In quiet coun-
try house good deal can be done in that
time. I've spoke of you to Minna-judicious-
iy, of course-and am sure she is already in
terested In you. She will be with us a week
or so longer, and will then leave with her
there ia no time to be lost. | shall certainly
expect you on Saturday, II not before. Don't
disappoint. Your devoted sister,
AGNES MERRow.
"Hum All, we'll, I may as we'll 90
up and see what she's like" unused Mr..
Augustus Wetherby, giving doubtful
shrug of the shoulders. "Old man still
living; but won't object to that, if he'd
do the handsome thing by me that he
did with his other daughters husband.
In fact it would be handy to have him
go ON making money for few years
longer. 1t isn't every day that fellow
can pick up an heiress-pretty, too,
think I've heard Morrow say. Cousin
OF his, Ell? Convenient to have sisters
marry fellows with rich young cousins.
,4es, think may as well try it on
On the following Saturday, accord
1ngly, blonde young gentleman,
faultlessly attired, and with calmly
satisfied and rather supercilious air,
boarded the five o'clock train for two
hours ride to Verdon station.
He found but two seats unoccupied-
one next to fat old lady with a ticket
conspicuously secured on the front of
her shawl with three pins, and the
other adjoining that of handsome,
well grown young lady who was
seated alone at a window
with sachel beside her. Affecting not
to observe the first seat, and even ig-
noring the friendly tug at his coat tail
OF the fat lady, Mr. Wetherby passed
on, and paused with half wistful, half
apologize glance at the second vacant
seat. The young lady observing this,
NIL 10, 81, Il l,o1
and made room for him.
THANK you! hope I am not in
commoding you, said Mr.. Wetherby,
witt, his most graceful and winning
manner.
mot at all, she answered, raising a
pair of bright, frank, brown eyes to his
face.
And then they sat for few moments
silent as the train started. The breeze,
with its inevitable cinders and dust,
came in strongly at the window, and,
OF course, the young lady tried to close
1t, could not, and, equally of course,
Mr.. Wetherby offered to do it for her.
Then they naturally got to talking, the
Young lady manifesting no shyness or
stiffness, and as Mr.. Wetherby looked
at her smiling red lips and laughing
eyes, and noticed her easy, self
possessed manner, he con-
graduated himself upon having such a
companion for the amusement of his
pref journey. She was alone, too,
which encouraged him to assume little
protective gallantry:
Have you far to go?" he inquired,
when he had conveniently arranged his
sachel and umbrella at his feet.
Would you call itfar to Princeton?
she returned, innocently.
SO she is going to Princeton, ride
OF six hours-and as Mr.. Wetherby
looked at the bright, intelligent face and
Drill ant eyes, he almost regretted that
MS own journey would be so short. DE
lancied, too, from an indefinable some
,hlng in her look and manner that he
mad made mash," as he himself
woald have significantly expressed it,
and with an inward qualification sci
n mself to deepen the impression by his
most winning smiles and elegant and
iastidious airs. Besides his admiration
OF the young lady, he would like to show
the people around him that he was
somebody. Just in front of him sat
pale, delicate-looking lady, who was
heryously endeavoring to keep two little
childFen quiet, Their fidgetting ano
Pratt'e rather interferred with Mr.
We'herby's conversation.
Treat nuisance, children on thu
car, he observed fastidiously to MI
companion.
Il don't object to them. 1t is anus
ing to observe their funny little ways,
she replied good humoredly.
"When they are good and pretty