St. Landry democrat., 1888-01-07
HIS CHOICE.
The One He Wanted and the One
He Won.

It was time for the four o'clock
stage. Mehetabel Bentley, a severe
spinster of fifty, arrayed in habila-
4nents of somber black, sat by the win
dow over which the purple plumes of a
lilac nodded saucily, watching for it to
make its appearance over the brow of
the hill In it were to come from the
city her brothers. two daughters, Rachel
and Celia. Later, from an opposite
direction, the daughter of a deceased
sister was expected.
She had sent them an invitation a
q week ago, and as she was a very
wealthy woman, although residing in a
small country village along with her
birds, cats and two servants, she had
every reason to believe that they would
be prompt in obeying her behest, espe-
cially as she had given each one hint
as to her motive for sending for them
at this particular season of the year.
She was not patient woman, and as
the tall, old clock in the hall solemnly
tolled out in its deep, sonorous voice
the hour of four, she arose, and drop
ping her knitting work, which had
been lying in her lap on the floor, un-
mindful that Tabby, her favorite cat,
was sending the ball of yarn over the
carpet, she went out in the hall and
shading her dim eyes with one nervous
hand, glanced up the road. A moving
something was visible. She recognized
it as the rumbling old vehicle that
carried the mail and passengers to and
from Blaekberryville, the inappropri-
ate if euphonious name the citizens had
bestowed upon the wide-awake ham,
let inasmuch as there was not bush
bearing the delicious Ethiopian fruit
within mile of its precincts.
Not one of the girls had Miss Bent
ley ever seen. She had never visited
them, and they had never been asked
to her country home before. What
were they like? Were they fashion
ably dressed, automatic-like creatures
of society, with frivolous tastes and
idle waysp Or were they gifted with
&C nmon sense and given to industry,
as the prospective wife of Guy Winters
ought to beP
As she pondered the question some
what anxiously in her mind, the stage
drew up in front of the gate. Two
ladies in plain travelling suits alighted,
and Miss Bentley advanced to meet
them just as John jumped off his ele-
vated seat and grumblingly lifted the
heavy s'Saratogan to the ground.
..Big enough to hold the choir Of
Blackberryville church, he snarled, as
he carried it with the assistance of Miss
Bentley's man-of-all work into the
house.
Miss Bentley, too, eyed it with dis
favor. For few days sojourn in the
country, where the women are not
serfs to fashion, it certainly did pre-
sent rather formidable appearance.
But she made no comment; only held
out her hands to the two girls and
npurmured few words of welcome.
s.Sueh a delightful place, aunt, y
gushingly cried the elder and taller Of
the two girls as she lifted her veil from
the face which the woman had not yen-
tured to kiss--'.a perfect bijou. Look,
Celia! The fields are as green as an en-
serald, and that sheet Of water below,
with the sun warming it up, is like a
magnifed sapphire! It must be pond.
I wonder if the fragrant water-lily
grows on its bosomP It was SO good
OF you to send for us, aunt. We shall
be perfectly happy here.
II hope SO, truly, said Miss Bentley,
rather dryly, to whom the voice sound
cd d bit insincere. 1T is awfullY
lonesome, here for girls who have been
bred in the city. No parties no beaux,
no
She could not get further in her sem
fence. The girl called Celia threw up
her hands and gave an affected little
shrek. Don't Auntie, I beg! We
have been surfeited with parties and
received SO much homage faNnl brain
Tess yonng fops that I never want to
zee another specimen of the genus homo.
Men. unless they have brains, are
l5res. Oh, uyi what lovely flowers at
the window. What do you call them.
autltpn
s.Lilacs, Y curtiy replied the spinster
gu ought to know You lived in the
.ountry till ron were ten years old, an'
III Z ward ID without them. Don't pre-
,ad to be igiforant OF the names Of
,ings growing in the country, Celia
shows lack of common sense,
s. Ehich you admire SO much IN the oppo-