St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-07

| A look not pleasant tc see passed be-
| tween the two young men, as one went
out and one came in.
"Oh! here you are at lastT' observed
Miss Darrell.
The newcomer was angry, but she
was equal to him. II had given you
up" said Hetty.
'.And so entertained yourself in an
other way" said Mr.. George Swift, in
an unpleasant manner. who was he
who went out?"
"a friend of fathers who is staying
here"
George jerked off his overcoat, but,
behold! his accustomed nail was occu-
pied.
"Is that his coat?" said George.
Fathers friend must, I judge, be
something of the tramp ORDER He
held up the garment between thumb
and finger.
He is minister" said Hetty, indig-
nantly.
| "Then he ought to be ashamed to dis
| grace his calling by such coat" re-
| piled George. He must have bought
| it secondhand of a Jew. | should feel
like burning it for fear of infection.
| Look at the state of the braid and but
| tons!n
Hetty's heart gave a great throb. She
knew the reason, now, why Mr.. Comp
70 hn no
it from Georges hand.
What are you going to do?'' he de-
manded.
Il am going to put on new braid and
buttons, and hang it up again" said
Hetty, walking into the sitting-roem.
George hung up his own handsome
overcoat and followed her. Mr.. Darrell
looked up from his paper, and COM
menced a conversation On the spring
rains, to which George listened with the
utmost impatience, while watching Het-
ty procure her work-basket and with
provoking GOODNESS set to work on the
obnoxious garment. He could neither
demonstrate nor prevent while Mr.. OAR
rel continued in the present strain.
At last, the old gentleman paused,
and, as if suddenly remembering him
self, rose abruptly, and took his news
paper into the kitchen. Then George
began:
sYou seem determined to insult me
this evening, Hetty."
"Insuh?" Hetty's eyes flashed.
Eyes, insult. The first thing see
tonight is a fellow holding your hand.
Do you think l am going to stand that?
And then, instead of giving me your at
tention you prefer to patch this mans
old rag-bag of a coat"
''Let it alone" said Hetty, as George
laid hold of the garment in question;
''Vhy were you so late on your own
prt? But don't let us quarrel, George.
S.. down."
. NWill you. STOP working On that
,cekt?''
J no." said Hetty, !" will not. If
cab do any thing to help a man who
has worked his own way in the nobleot
Of all professions. / will do it. Don't
be SO foolish, George; you ought to
want me to help him. Father says he
is a very brilliant young man, and he
has had dreadfully hard time. just
think, he cooked his own meals!''
Disgusting" said George. ''All the
more reason won't have you waiting
on such beggar.''
George
''Well, listen" said George; "you
know l came here tonight to ask you
to be my wife. Ii you are going to
marry me you will put down that coat"
"And if l don't, / can't marry you?"
questioned Hetty, smiling.
Put it down, Hetty! Dear. Hetty,
dearest Hetty, please do as l ask?"
Hetty, without glancing at him, be-
gan to sew on another button.
When the minister returned it was
still early, but he was disappointed to
find that Hetty had retired. He did
not notice his coat at the time, nor was
he much consoled by talking of the
spring rains with Mr.. Darrell, in his
turn, for half an hour. Overhead,
Hetty lay sobbing and laughing in her
little white bed
She was glad George had gone as he
had; she felt, now, that she had never
loved him, but had let things take their
own way. If it had not been for the
coat he would not have shown himself |
in so ugly a light, and she might, now,
have been engaged to him. Hetty
Il do not know whetherI would have
taken him any way tonight" she said, |
yesterday would have been different.
She did not, however. analyze this
thought, and shortly fell asleep.
Mr.. Compton rose early the following I
When Hetty came down to
prepare breakfast, the young eminister
was standing in the hall, his overcoat
In his hand. He started and looked at |
ner with a world of eloquenes in his
very fine eyes,"
do you want me to thank youe'' he
said.
Hetty laughed, shaking her head but
aer eyes were unaceountabiy filed.
How shabby the coat still wasl