St. Landry democrat., 1888-10-20

W II @ hto1cs oIN UuIUOnlng
his coat in front TO cover the vacancy
that was left between them and his
very short vest, he fancied himself
quite dandy. By exercising more
patience and perseverance than he had
ever had occasion For before in his life,
he was armed and equipped at half
past seven o'clock and on his way to
his friend, Otis Barker.
Fortunately for his difidenee and
awkwardness in Company, there were
none but the members OF the family
present, and he was introduced to Mrs.
and Miss Barker, and enjoyed a very
pleasant chat with them during the
evening. Every movement of the young
lady was watched by the bachelor; and
before the evening was spent liz had
made up his mind II seek no farther
for wife; Provided the charming Miss
r. could by any means be induced to
be made the wife of Jonas jerks,
She was just the model, just the stvss
of beauty that he most admired, She
was pleasing in conversation, free and
graceful in her tnanners, and seemed
TO be in every way suited to make up
for the sad deficiency of those qualifi-
cations in himself. That was the
woman for him, thought Jonas, as he
babe them "good-night'' at ten, with a
hearty promise that he would certainly
call again soon,
Had the night not been very dark it
would, no doubt, have been d cause of
much querryipg and wonder to have
seen the clumsy old bachelor tripping
along upon the toes of his boots, and
springing across the gutter With the
agility ofa young dark, - but no one saw
Jonas return to his lonesome home.
lie was blessed with pleasant dreams
for the two succeeding nights, and on
the third evening he again found hima
self in the society of his admired. At
the close of his second visit, he went
home even happier than from the first;
for ia addition to his increasing admi-
ration of the lady-Miss Barker-he
felt assured by her evident exertions
to entertain him pleasantly, that his
feelings were reciprocated. Mrs.
Barker was no less attentive, and he
could not but believe that his motives
were anticipated with pleasure to all
One unfortunate circumstance, how
ever, to which all parties were as yet
strangers-must be named before 60
ing farther with the courtship. Owing
partly to Mr.. Bankers carelessness in
the ladies as his wife and
sister, merely; and partly to the bach
eior's confusion in confronting two
women at a time, he had most unwit-
tingly mistaken one for the other! AS
there appeared to be but little differ
ence in their ages, and each seemed
alike at home and equally familiar
with the husband and brother, it wousd
have been no easy matter for a stran-
ger at first acquaintance to distinguish
between them. They had the habit,
too, of addressing each other by their
Christian names, and the titles of Mrs.
presence.
The truth was, Jonas had been deep
~ smitten with Mrs. Barker, who was
rather the prettier of the two, and who,
not suspecting the bachelors error,
strove with unusal interest to make
matters agreeable in behalf of her sis
Week after week passed away, dur
ing which time Jonas performed pen
ance for his past negligence by "dress-
ing up every Sunday night, and en-
to make himself agreeable
10 the ladies; and when two months
had elapsed, he had formed ''never-
TO- e-got-over'' attachment for Mrs.
Barker.
It was cruel deception, but no one
was to blame, for no one knew it. Mrs.
Barker noticed that he often addressed
ler as Miss B., but knowing him to be
'ather illiterate, and unskilled In the
'ules of etiquette, she thought it might
De a slip of the tongue merely, and con-
'idered it unladylike to correct him.
Jonas began to feel that suspense
vas unpleasant. and set his wits at
work to frame proposal to his lady
owe. At every previous visit, it hap
oened that the family were all present,
md no opportunity had presented
when he might free his mind"
This, last time, however, he was
more fortunate. Mrs. Barker was
slone, and Informed him that Otis and
sister had gone out to make call, but
would soon return. Jonas did not ex-
press much sorrow at their absence,
put smiled pleasantly as he seated
,imself very near Mrs. Barker and
remarked that he had no fault to find
With her company.
Now was his time, he thought; but
how was it to be done? At first. he
thought best to open the subject
abruptly, and have it over at once;
but Mrs. B. kept on chatting and talk
ng, and his embarrassment increased
rs he momentarily expected the return
If Otis and his sister, which would
oblige him to go home again without
settling the question.
At length he summoned all the cour-
age OF an ardent lover, and COM
nenced with:
my dear madam, forgive me for
speaking my mind frankly, when
assure you that the happiest moments
# my life have been spent in your
society
Thank you, sir, for the compli-
nent,n said Mrs. B. S"It gives me
pleasure to see YOU in society. I am