St. Landry democrat., 1890-10-18
Horseshoe Luck.

Am too old to think of second mar
riage?. said Mrs. Blythe, looking wisttul-
ly into the glittering sheet of mirror that
extended to the other side of the room in
to an indefinite perspective of onyx tables,
stands of ferns, Japanese screens, anu
India hangings. Six and thirty; and
why should one be compelled to give up
all the sweetness of life at six. and thirty 7
I'm sure l don't look day over thirty; and
Algy Vane must be that at leastP
Mrs. Blithe was a pretty womsn-not
the bud, but the full blown rose-a plump.
dimpled, peachy checked matron, who
knew exactly how to make the most OF all
her middle aged advantages.
She had married Major Mortlake Blythe
at seventeen, and he had left her a widow
at seven and tweny.
Il shall never be such fool as to marry
again p said Mrs. Blythe.
For the major had by no means been
perfection. He had left her just enough,
by dent of strict economy, to live upon,
especially as her only child had been taken
TO bring up by quiet Quaker couple,
the majors relatives. And until now Mrs.
Blythe had adhered resolutely to her de-
cision.
But Algernon Vane was royalty hand
some fellow, and the pretty widow was
but human, and she had scrubbed Rosa
mond Vane,' Mrs. Algernon Vane,' over
and over again in her blotting book, and
she had treasured up flower he had worn
in his button hole, and she had cores
ponded with him during the winter he
had spent in Bermuda, writing sprightly
and amusing letters, with semi-tone of
seriousness underlying all their sparkling
gossip.
He likes me little now,' said the
widow and I am determined he shall like
me good deal more. I'm tired OF this
solitary life; I'm tired of counting every
penny half dozen times before spend it.
Algy is Independently rich, and he's my
beau ideal of man. With him do be-
lieve could be quite, quite happy. He
don't know about Lydia; but of course
that would be no objection. Uncle Joshus
and Aunt Rebecca will keep her. Dear
me- dear mel she must be growing to be
q big girl now,' and Mrs. Blythe shuddered
at the idea.
At this moment the door flew open, and
in burst tall dusty, disheveled young
girl, half head taller than Mrs. Blythe
herself, with the whitecapped maid follow
ing helplessly behind.
please, ma'am, said the maid, she
wouldn't wait for me to take her card up.
Mamma, I'm Lydia!' cried the breath
less apparition. Little Liddy, mamma
don't you remember? Tell that hateful
girl to 60 awayl A card indeed! Am
to send up cards to my own motherp
Mrs. Blythe stood appalled,, in the soft
yellow light streaming through the China
silk clrtaine. This fair haired, suuburned
young giantess, with the peony cheeks
and the big blue eyes, the ILL., fitting gloves
and faded cambria gown could it be posi-
BILE that this was the Little Liddy' of ten
years ago? Oh, if Mr.. Vale should see
her
The girl looked around like one who
views the entertainments of fairy palace.
ooh, mamma, how pretty you are 7 said
she, sand what lovely rooml Are you
glad to see me me, mamma, dsrling7'
MY dearest child,' what has brought
you here2
Lydia clasped her hands her counte-
nance fell.
Mamma said she, I'm the most misera-
BILE creature in the woodland want q
hundred dollarsp
And you must let me have itr vehe-
mently went an Lydia. 1've killed Uncle
Joshna's prize colt That is. / didn't ex-
actly do it myself but was riding Pretty
Jane around the meadow, just for practice
and forgot and left the bars down, and
the colt got out on the railroad track,
and the train came along, and-oh l can
never look Uncle Joshua in the face again
unless have that hundred dollars to pay
him
Il shall be able to earn plenty for myself
before long, mamma she added, breth-
lessly, for l can ride better than the
woman in pink Tartan and spangles who
jumped through the hoops of the circus.
When the old gypsy told my fortune last
year, at the country fair, she said horse
shoe would bring me luck some day; and
l knew, of course, what she meant. So
I've been practising riding ever since,
whenever l could get away from Aunt
Beck and Uncle Joshua, and
Mrs Appleton Ames is in the drawing
room, ma'am, said the whitecapped maid,
appearing with an oxydized silver card
receiver in her hand.
And Mrs. Blythe checked her daughters
confidence at once.
Lydia cried she, I'm surprised at youi
great girl like you scuffling and romp-
ing around the country Go back to
Shady Plains by the very next train, and
try to behave more like lady. Why,
you must be fourteen at least 7
Seventeen, mamma, confessed the cul-