The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-04-03
tMaria, | am twenty-six years DID, and

''Maria, am twenty-six years old, and
YOU well, if you were man you could
vote. Now don tlet's be children any longer.
We are at odds and acting foolish only be-
cause am not candid with you. Don't cry |
another tear, but come and sit by me-"
She went gladly to the chair he indicated, |
docile always when he chose to be serious.
"You see, Maria, fellow likes to be
thought we'll Of He don't want to announce
to the world, nor to his wife, since both con-
cede him to be young strong. gifted, edu-
Gated, prosperous, that he failed miserably
in his boosted profession and that he now
gets only SIS per week. 1t sounds anoma-
lous, It reflects on his capacity. 1t lowers
his standard. It's far pleasanter to be-
thought pocketing big fees, and to be looked
upon as the possible guiding spirit in some
stupendous public scheme, isn't its"
II suppose So"
IA fellow in college has plenty of time to
initiate himself. It's only after experience
has punctured the wind bag that it is pos
sible to know its true size or carrying
capacity Since graduated the world has
heard no voice from me except that OF
escaping gas. You and the friends in
| Cloyer-camp thought it the music OF tho
spheres. In Chicago they call me blow
hacd.' It's vulgar, but it's pretty near the
truth, guess"
| 20, John"
"Why, Maria, l thought was great
man: l didn't deceive you any more than
did myself l thought the whole world was
waiting for me, and that l could pick up
riches with one flexile condescension OF my
spine. had only to stoop-so, gaily, and l
had pocket full. But the world wasn't
waiting-I had to scramble hard for my SIS
per week Interpretations at that"
"Why didn't you tell me, John!"
III was nv own dupe, and in my egreglous
vanity dragged along with me you, my
little winsome country sweetheart. You
believed I was a great mana man OF
affairs, didn't you, Maria!"
81 believe yet you will be, John. l am
sure you will"
81 ought to be to justify your faith, but
never shall. am just an ordinary, COM
mon place fellow, well and hearty, and
deucedly-yes, deucedly poor'
"But-John-don't you practice-law.
"Maria, never had client. do odd
Jobs whenever can, to exc out nay scant'
wages. Pm in debt, and just manage to
: keep soul and body together"
It took many minutes for Maria to adjust
herself to this confession.
"Why didn't you tell mes" was all thai
she could say.
}, 81 have often thought If we had little
home-eyer so little, it would be more like
Il living" ,
=, 20, John, that's what say, ever so little
Il out on the prairie-any where, except il
this coopy, dingy little room and with these
dreadfully common people. l could econo
mize there-I know could. You can &c
: such beautiful bargains in tin things, AM
Y china is so cheap"
u 10, but there's no chance! l couldn'
y rent dry-goods box, much less buy one
- And if could we'd have to live in the Gran
y MES with the mice for couldn't furnish it.
"But papa could, and he would, too. Yo
l. know he said on our wedding day. when W
,: were ready to live in a good, sensible, ole
10 fashioned way he would help US. I'll writ
- him this very day."
10 And she did; and the plain old countr
10 squire came to the city, roamed throug
Il the suburbs, bought little Queen'Ann
q dove-cote, and settled his bird OF daughte
~ u and his promising but impecunious son-ll
Is law in it, feeling greatly relieved to kno
j., they had a home.
=! The furnishing made gala days for Mari
I'll and when they were finally established JOB
o. said:
"You can keep accounts you know, Mari
", =, I'll add the figues for you. and what we sd,
3" now will be for the benefit Of" this
" whispered-"JohnS Skipping. Jr."
SC, CLARA DoTY BATES.
ais The slot is still on its wendir
OK way. A company in New York h
o. ~ been formed which proposes to NAL
,aa machines tcr the delivery OF posta!
stamps automatically by dropping
ght coin 10 the s.qt.