The Opelousas courier., 1889-09-28
A SLIP OF THE PEN.
J was all Dicky Carshalton's fault.

IN EhoStOSCo II
more sensitive people. A frequenter of
parties of every description, he is fond of
varying the monotony of the social rou-
tine by various little practices. Of these
his favorite-not, alas! peculiar to him
seif-1s commonly known as spelling
sport. Whenever Dicky sees a pair of
people who appear to take particular de-
light In one another's society, showing a
tendency to seek unto themselves retreats
he is never satisfied until, by some bold
stroke or cunning stratagem, he has sue
ceeded in separating them, or at least.in
destroying their enjoyment for the rest of
one evening.
The happy possessor of an exhaustless
supply OF self-confidence and the most
brazen 1mpudence-the objects of his at
tacks, moreover, being from the nature
OF their position comparatively defenseless
lit is needless to add that though Dicky
has his failures on record they are greatly
outstrlpped in numbers by his successes.
30 there is nothing wonderful in the fact
that Dicky was at the bottom of the I'M
fortunate affair with Jack and Ethel.
Matters had long been in a delicate
and critical state between those young
people. Jack had told himself over and
v e again that Ethel was a iirt, and that
he for or had no intention of adding
himself to the list of her victims, while
Ethel had relieved her feelings by re-
peatedly assuring herself that Jack was a
cross fellow, who cared for nothing but
his books and was quite impervions to
the charms of ~Womanhood.
But that night at the Warrinptons
things really did seem to be taking a turn
for the better. Ethel had boldly turned
her back on half a dozen other admirers,
and Jack, looking down into her honest
eyes, was rapidly forgetting the doubts
and fears which had tormented him dur
ing the last months.
There is no knowing what might not
have happened had it not been for
I Dicky, who came up to them at this
hopeful stage of affairs, his shoulders in
bis ears, his hair brushed tot nicely, and
with the most unmistakable look OF mis-
chief in his prominent eyes.
9Good evening, Miss Mariner" he
said, taking Ethel's hand in his and
squeezing it with empressement; and
Nhen the two poor things, suddenly
Weakened from their dream, stood there
chill and helpless while Dicky fired off
his accustomed volley of chat, and Ethel,
with feminine presence o. mind, ventured
on one or two little popguns on her W
account.
miss Mariner, 2 he said at last, with q
satisfied glance at Jacks sullen face,
sshaye you been into the conservatory
They've put in a lot of pink lamps and
there's the most scrumptious tete-a-tete
chair you can imagine
Poor Ethel looked up at Jack, who
stood by furious and snlky.
AHe is only too glad to get rid of me.
He hasn't the ordinary kindness to rescue
me from this bore. And / have been SO
horribly amiable to- him, = she thought in
despair. U
slf she likes that popiniay let her go
with himl I'm sorry for her taste, that's
ALL reflected Jack. Aud in another
minute Ethel found herself actually seated
in the tete-a-tete chair with Dicky. whose
large eyes were rolling t~riumphantIy in
the Light of the rose-colored lamps.
She did not succeed in making her
escape till it was time to go home. Jack
was nowhere to be seen, and she drove
back In the chill gray morning with the
heaviest heart she had known for many
days.
Ethel, " said her mother at breakfast
the next morning, ibid you have a
pleasant time at the Warringtons'2n
Oh, yes, mamma, said Ethel, drear-
lily. She was pale and heavy-eyed; I
think she had not slept all night
tsAnd who was there2n went on Mrs.
Mariner, helping herself to buttered eggs
with CHEEKY briskncss.
2thel enumerated various
All Dicky CarshaltasSsanHzwradeu,
esand Jack DavenaEf.
Inc last name slipped out with exag-
gegated carelessness, and vet it vas whir-
ring about IN the poor girls head and had
been doing so for the last five or six hours
alke an imprisoned blue-bottle ii d glass.
sJack-Jack-Jack Davenant.n Wa
she never to have another definite thought
sgaina
AB5y-the-by, ! said Mrs. Mariner, as she
rose from table, twill you send d note
e Florence Byrnea / want her to lunch
aere Tomorrow at half-past /. The
Asngletons are coming. ?
ethel moved ii the writing table,
1~sualiiag family. She remembered that
azfH Byrae was Jack Davenant's cousin.
sdaif-past /, recollect,n cried her
mother, Is she rustled from the room.
Ashel l~istlessIy took up her pen and
ppllsd 2 sheet Of paper toward her. It
Maa not stamped with the address, but
once:
nv dear Mrs. Byrne.p
lnen she stopped short and the buzz
Aahg ~ her brain went on worse than
ever.
me note got written at last, all but the
ssgna1ures and then she began to wonder
aseaialig Il she should sign hersem
III. \ Ours Fery sincerely Or ssYours atfec-
tlonateiy.D
slsthel ktheli' cried her mother,
putting her head III at the door. III am
eoang ont, Give me the note for Florence.
oan take II to the post
Guilty and ashamed, Etlael seized her
I'd aaa wrote hastily, but IN d bold
Hoars very sincerely,
JACK DAYENANTsa