St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-08-04
HILLERY,S COURTSHIP.
The Happy Victim OF an Unin
territorial Proposal.

never marry. Not because they had
any special assurance that the squire
would never assume the hymeneal
yoke, but just because it would seem
so very funny if he should.
There are great many things that
could happen, though in some way Or
other we get to think they never will,
and when they do happen we are al
most as much surprised as we would
be at miracle. So it was with the
squire and matrimony. In the eyes of
his friends and relatives the very idea
was laughable.
Now, the squire was no squire at all.
The word implies a Judge, and the
squire was not a judge, at least not in
the legal sense. Squire" was simply
nickname given in sportive mo-
ment to j. Hillery Crabtree, by jok-
ing school-fellow, and it had tenacious
ly chung to him as he had advanced in
years and stature.
j. Hillery, or the squire, was, as to
complexion, brunette; very dark
eyes, blue-black hair and mustache,
about five feet eight inches in his
stockings, and decidedly blunt in his
manners, with a generous opinion of
himself. In his early youth
he was the especial charge of
his three aunts, and at the
same time their. torment. !. He
was the source of never-ending con-
tention between the three estimable
ladies who could never agree as to how
he should be trained, and in conse-
quence the squire himself was response
BILE for most of his early training as
the multitude of cooks spoiled the
broth-of a boy. And we find him at
twenty-four with kind Of contempt
for women, young women in particular.
He was suspicious of them. He was
very particular as to his personal APP
pearance, taciturn and single, yet
withal, had he been biting fish, the
girls thought that he would have been
a good catch. Fate was laying a trap
for the wary and self-satisfied squire
One day he called to see one of his
aunts in New York, and to the squire's
disgust there CHANGED to be a young
lady calling at the same time. OF
course an introduction followed. The
squire would gladly have fed, but he
had important messages to give his
aunt. Miss Kurtz was In no apparent
hurry. Then, to make matters worse,
it began to rain, and of course Miss
Kurtz could not GO in the rain, and the
squirrels discomfort was greatly aug
mented when his aunt took him to one
side and laid dawn the law to him that
he must see Miss Kurtz safely home.
Why the squire should object to see
ing pretty girl home no one knew,
but he did, and it must be said that he
was rather. gruff as he offered his
escort to the young lady.
Now, how such thing could hap
pen can not be told; it was very shock
ing, indeed, to the squire, but fact.
The next morning, in the dining room,
the squire CHANGED to pull out his
handkerchief; and what should come
out with it but lady's glove, a nice, |
sweet-scented, delicate affair. The |
squire was quite overcome, he was |
considerably agitated, and when his |
Cousin Wildly, a very lively young
miss, pounced upon the tell-tale glove |
and demanded an explanation, the
squire growled out something and /
turned very red, deliberately took the
glove from her, and walked out of the +
house.
As the squire walked along the
street he felt considerably vexed
Now, Of course, he must go to return
the glove to Miss Kurtz, but how could
he explain its being in his pocket He
would not explain. He would send it
TO her by mail.
But again, he did not know the mum
Der OF her house. and he did not dare
to ask for fear the folks would laugh
at him, 50 that very evening he called
and returned the glove to its fair