St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-21

was painfully wounded when he threw
back his head and laughed immoder-
ately. He saw in moment, how
ever, that I was offended, tried to
compose his countenance and begged
my pardon. After moments pause
he asked me why thought so
MY cheeks flushed hotly, l STAN,
mered and hesitated, but could not
bring myself to tell him. Finally gave
woman's unfailing reason, when
pressed to the wall:
"Bt cause
Father laughed again and remind
ed me-
That that was no reason.
The truth could not have en,urung
from me with torture. l knew abso-
lutely nothing Of men in general, and
although, so far as my personal knowl-
edge availed me- / could not say that
Mr.. Brands conduct had been UNI
usual; still my modesty had instinct
lively taken alarm. Fortunately,
father changed the subject. Mr. Brand
kept himself out of sight and his name
was not mentioned again that day,
nor did he transgress again for some
time. Finally one afternoon, as we
were for once alone together, father
suddenly announced that his friend
would leave for his home early the
next morning.
THANK Heavenr' I ejaculted, with
sigh Of relief.
That's hardly courteous, Roberta,
and it certainly isn't kind he
expostulated. Il can not think
why you have taken so violent
an aversion to one of my
oldest and dearest friends know his
whole history. His life has not only
been blameless, but it has been nobly
self-sacrificing. He was the best of
sons. caring tenderly for his mother
as long as she lived. His father died
shortly after he was born, and he was
an only child. All that he is he owes
to his own honor and energy, and to
no one else. He is man of very SUI
perior intelligence, of position and
ancestry. in short, he has every noble
quality that a man should have, with
comparatively few faults. "
probably that is why dislike him.
I hate paragons," answered, pettish-
ly. II have always had a horror of
saints ever since the days when l used
to shudder over Fox's Book of Mar
tyrs."
Il might tell you of all the good he
has done, with his great fortune; of
scores of young men and women
whom he has educated and made self
helpful and independent"
%, don't tell me any thing; I don't
want to hear it. I am heartily tired of
him-tired of having our walks and
talks interrupted by stranger, per-
son whom | do not and never could
like
MI: Brand had joined us unobseryed,
coming up so quietly that he must
have heard and fully comprehended
my last ungracious speech. As usual
it made not the slightest Impression
upon him, and he laughed and chatted
as pleasantly as if nothing had been
said. Father was not so Indifferent,
and could not conceal his embarass-
ment. To my horror, he excused him.
self upon the pretext of going back to
the house to get a shawl for me- as we
had decided to walk to ledge of rocks
on the shore, from which l had ex-
pressed desire to see the sun set.
I had dropped down upon q bench
empowered in laurel. upon which the
clustered berries were already turn
ing. Mr. Brand Immediately sat down
beside me, and before could utter a
word of protest, seized my hand and
pressed it passionately. Then he told
me. in q very simple. straightforward
way. that he loved me.
mo, no, nor exclaimed, tears of
anger starting to my eyes. Il will
not listen to you" and Irushed back 10
the house by another path, that l might
avoid meeting my father.
The two did not return to supper,
and began to grow uneasy by this
time, thinking the man capable of any
thing. At last, about nine o'clock, I
heard them talking politics on the ver-
andah, and the wind waited the fra
GRANGE of their cigars through my
open window.