St. Landry democrat., 1888-01-07

unnecessary to state what, the match
was broken off. Hugh married some
one else. A son was given them. On
the broad face of the earth there is not
a creature that the old maid loves as
she does him. I wish him to inherit
my property. [ expect him here to-
night. Now, as he must marry some
day, / would rather he be married to a
niece of mine than to stranger.
There's no necessity to beat about the
bush; the one he falls in love with will
be rich mans wife. Rachel with
piercing glance at the girl who sat
toying with the pendants to her brace
let, "are you prepared to be his wife if
he desires it?''
There was hush in the room. The
lilac outside swayed its branches across
the window, whispering an unintelligi-
BILE tale; the black shadows of night
fell over the cottage and ran silently
athwart the face of the earth. All
awaited her answer.
In clear, unembarrassed voice, not
only distinctly audible to the three wo-
men within, but to the young man
without, who, with valise in hand, had
halted meath the nodding lilac plumes
! to take peep =. tie sittln groom ere
entering, she said:
I'm perfectly willing, aunt. I've
seen the gentleman's photograph, and
his face suits me. Yes, if he proposes
I shall accept him. l will be his
wife"
The words, Sc unblushingly deliver
ed, caused bit OF surprise to all. They
were not prepared, even Aunt Meheta-
bel, for so forward a reply. She mere
ly said: "You have spoken to the point,
Rachel, You are a girl of sense.
Celia, what do you say? Are you
ready to accede to my proposition and
become, if you have the chance, Guy
Winters wife?'
Again came an instantaneous re-
sponse: "Ay, verify, aunt; and as he is
a man of sense, you say, with beauty
and brains and prospective riches, |
shall not sit with folded hands, passive,
and allow Rachel to eosnare him in the
meshes of the net she proposes to
weave, but shall earnestly strive to win
him. If Rachel has beauty, l have
what is infinitely better-a well bal
anced mind. If he passes me by and
takes her, he is fool!'
The man crouching at the foot of the
lilac dropped his valise in consterna-
ton. Was he to become the prey of
one of these hold-faced womenp Was
his fate to be thus summarily disposed
of, and he to have no choice in the
matter? What reply would the third
one make? Somehow he was anxious
to hear it.
She sat there a bit apart from the
rest, with dropping head and downcast
eyes, the roses coming and going in
her cheeks; girl with the grace and
beauty Of woodland flower.
When the question was presented
her, she raised her small head proudly
and Indignantly said: Il decline the
honor. [ shall not enter the lists
against my COUSINS. The beauty of
one, the superior mind of the other,
ought to be attractions enough for one
gentleman. [ am too insignificant
blossom for him to pluck; and, if even
[ should find favor in his eyes, would
never marry a man purposely to win
his fortune. Hemust be sadly in want
of spirit-a mere shadow of man-if
he, to please you and become your
heir, offers his hand to one of us. /
am a poor country girl, obliged to
teach district school for livelihood;
but would scern man, had he the
riches of a Cresus, the persuasive
tongue of ST. John, if he wanted to
marry me without love-
How her eyes flashed! How mutin-
Gus grew the red, sweet mouth! To be
SO cruelty misunderstood was more
than Guy Winters could bear. In
trice he stood in a doorway, true
specimen of manhood. tall, grandly
handsome; his blue eyes flashing with
excitement.
He scarcely greeted Aunt Mehetabel,
ere he began: II beg your pardon,
ladies, but overhe card your gratuitous
remarks concerning myself. l decline
the honor the Misses Bentley would con-
fer upon me, with thanks
Here he executed a profound, mock
ing salaam, much to the discontinue
of the two ladies, who felt as if they
would like to box his ears, and then
turned in the direction of Lucy, whose
face was the color Of blush rose.
Little wildwood blossom, do you
know you have maligned me2 Miss
Bentley, whom l love and respect
so much <-here he cast a glance of af-
fection at the spinster-'' -''never led me
to believe that her fortune would one
day be mine. I do not need il. l am
making money enough by profession;
but, y and his hand was laid caressing-
ly upon the wee brown one resting on
the back of the chair, Il do want,
if can get her, the little woman who
is imbued with such noble principles.
Lucy and bis voice sounded very
sweet and earnest to the trembling
girl, ..in you / have found the one wo-