The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-05
And Nellie looked comforted. !

NNA4O AutbAAAS GP ~ bllC aOCAs &E4"
Josie could hardly have told how it
happened; but just as she started hastily
toward the corner where her hat was
hanging, she heard a delighted exclama-
ton from Miss Lavine-"Oh, Mr.. Cor
man !n-saw a slender, light-brown figure
whisking through the door, and, follow
ing wonderingly, saw Miss Lavine,
flushed and laughing, waving a graceful
adieu from her place at Dolph's side
saw the buggy flying briskly down the
road.
1t was high noon when Y the buggy
came back.
The preparations in the chapel were
nearly complete.
The saucers and spoons, borrowed far
and wide for the occasion, stood ready in
the corner: the floor had been swept
clean; Josie had finished her ssWelcoane,' .
and was overseeing Charley Ransom, who
was lacking it up-Nellie Storey having
refused to have anything to say to him.
Miss Lavine sank on to a chair, and
wa Immediately surrounded. Iolph
threw his armful of evergreen on to the
floor, and hurried to Josie's side.
"Well,n he began, breathlessly, 81
hope you didn't think
The arm was pulled sharply from his
grasp; the owner of the arm averted hei
eyes.
"Ihope you didn't think asked her to
go!n Dolph went on, earnestly.
'eThe L lisa little crooked, Charley"
was Josie's sole response.
"Of course I hadn't any idea of taking
her." said Dolph, beginning to look
alarmed. 'tBut when she came right out
and got in, what could / do? l."
1.-THE NJ ought to go a little higher, "
said Josie, calmly.
"Look here!" said Dolph, desperately;
''this is ridiculous, you know; it's I'M
reasonable; it's"
81 think, Charlie, said Josie, musingly,
s'that the E ought to bea little lower"
There was a pause. .
"You're Joking, aren't you?" said
Dolph, ~anxiously. You aren't mads
You'll help me sell candy tonight, won't
you," he added. obviously.
allow do you dare to ask me2" cried
Josie, blazing around at him suddenly.
sNo, I won't. Ask Miss Lavinew
"All right said Dolph, quietly.
And the next moment, Josie, standing
with heated face and flashing eyes, heard
Miss Lavine's soft voice crying, gaily:
"Help you at the candy-stand!n Dear
me, yes9 How perfectly jolly, Mr.. Cor
MANI"
At eight o'clock that evening the
chapel was transformed.
In the light of the well-polished lamps,
the gilt notices and the dark-green
trimmings looked surprisingly well; the
little tables, with their neat white covers,
looked inviting; the big screen, from
behind which came a delightful rafting
Of dishes and grinding of the ice-cream
frcezers, looked cheerful and tempting.
The girls were at their wettiest, in
their white, rufled caps, and lace Dor,
dered aprons.
Josie Wheeler. among the rest, looked
as sweet and fresh as a flower, as she
fitted about among the tables, already
filling rapidly with trays of crimson Der.
ries and pink and brown and yellow
tinted cream.
Dolph German watched her w~istfully
from behind his candy-stand.
Miss Iavine was at his side, in a lovely
costume of pale and dark-blue. She was
particularly bright and fascinating.
Everybody wa magically drawn to hel
corner; she had already sold an immense
amount of candy aud peanuts. The towr
poor, could they have seen her, would
have been overioyed.
Josie, in spite of her apparent alb
sorption, had watched it all with increas.
ing misery.
She had seen the charming blue dress
with a jealous pangs she had kept 9
mental record of the number of remarks
Dolph had addressed to his pretty com
panion; she had noted her smiling re-
sporses bitterly.
81 don't know, really said Nelly
Storey, depositing Mr.. Ricketts, straw
berries before him and addressing Josie
over his head-aI don't know what
people see in that girl" Charley Ran
som had been hanging about the candy
stand). "Why, everybody's crazy ovel
her. Just look at old Mr.. Lane, buying
chocolate drops.-and Squire Simpson
bought a candy dog and whistle; / saw
himi don't know as / ought to say it,
Josie, but don't you think that blue thing
of hers is a little loud2n
Perfectly horridt' said Josie. "Per-
fectly-did you say vanilla, DR.. Pell?-
perfectly disgusting"
The object of their remarks was al
that moment making her way toward the
central post, with Dolph German in close
attendance.
The 9 wreath, over which they
had all labored faithfully, and which she
had tackled up with her own hands that
morning. had started to come down.
One huge end hung despondently; and
dreadful sighti-its little green needles
and feathery bits of ground pine, and
several loosened tacks, had dropped down
on the Rev. Mr.. Blundei's silk hat, his
table being just beneath.
Miss Lavine's bright face was full of a
comic distress.
ssWhat shall we do, Mfr. Gorman?n she
whispered. Look at Mr.. Blundel's hat
Dear meiin
a. o of admiring youths who had
gathered around her offered their service:
eagerly, but Dolph swept them aside.
5sWhere's the step-laddera' he de-
manded.
The step-ladder was found, somewhere
behind the screen: hammer and tack
were resslrrecfed from q corner and
Dolph went to work.
And then somebody ioggled the step.
ladder, which was shaky; there were two
or three frightened cries from those
who saw it, and a crash.
Josie dropped Doctor PelIs straw
hnrrios into his Ian messed a trembling