The Opelousas courier., 1891-03-07
JACK TEMPLE.

UOdG III tHC outO.
And stood out for the Daniel Boone.
The Boone had given a dinner at which
my father and mother were invited,
while his were not. On these facts we
each based our conclusions on the com
paratlve speed of the different boats, and
tooth and nail rolled over in the dust to
maintain them.
We were picked up variously by old
Cerberus, who was picking his banjo at
one end of the hotel gallery, and by a
journeyman shoemaker and a telegraph
operator playing chess at the other end.
This they did with divers words of
scorn at the kicking boy. To this dayI
believe that if we had been left alone I
would have whipped for although small,
] was active.
Shortly after we moved away to Wash
ington where my father spent one year
in getting a consular appointment which
he held for six years. Then we came
back to our village life. John Temple
was now a beautiful youth, strong.
limbed, broad shouldered, with a head
like a Greek god. To these physical
projections he added a charm of n
as captivating to his fellows as to the op-
posite sex. Underneath this lay a t~enacity
of purpose which made him invincible.
He was adored frankly by all girls of
the school of which I speedily found my
self a member. Among these he scat
tered his attentions according to his royal
pleasure. Those who received them were
elated and grateful. Those who did not
patiently waited their turn.
Although younger than tie others |
held their barn-yard acceptance of John
Temples attentions with silent scorn.
I'D hate to run after a boyss" was my
inward comment.
But / Yves 500 singled out as the one
he most delighted to honor. I was
younger than the others. Thus might an
older boy play with a child, for the years
had not greatly increased my stature.
But while the other girls sued for his
attentions only accepted them. That IN
made no response encouraged him the
more.
When a class was called John Temple
always went out first. As he walked by
me he would say, and he had a teacher
defying way of talking under his lips,
''Kitty, come and sit by me.n
There are plenty of ways in which
school boys a show their chivalous
consideration for girls, and these John
Temple always showed to me. It was
thoroughly understood that / had a
champion; that there was always some
one looking out for Kitty Black. AS
was not permitted to 50 to parties where
there were boys, an arena remained
where John Temple could be contented
for by others. At school Twas supreme.
As ! moved, his fate followed me.
When achieved any honor, no one was
30 proud as he. There was a stolen
word here, a pressure of the hand there.
When we played, and no one was so
needless and reckless as !, a protecting
'rm always stood ready to keep me from
harm.
Never did | show any signs of my con-
quest, although 1 was fully aware of its
Talue in the eyes of others. Never was
jealous; I was too confident, too as
Iured for jealousy. often wonder now
+ | cared for him then. I do not know;
| do know that I lived and fed on
lis preference. It may have been only
For three years this lasted, deepening
constantly, and was a matter of general
comment at school. John Temple was
a matter of comment. Dashing
yirls from other towns came and bid for |
Iohn Temples smiles. He gave them
low to one, and now to another. Mean
played tag and ran races, but no
v e succeeded in winning away any
chat was mine.
fare you going to marry Kitty Black
Ehen she grows upa' one of the older
iris asked.
Eyes"
"IH bet you DON'T
.I1l bet | do. TIL bet you q gold
ing that when Kitty Black is eighteen
old she will be my wife"
The school buzzed with his bet. I
as not supposed TO know it. But /
i'd, and gave no sign. Soon after I was
to boarding school. My father had
card with great displeasure of the affair,
nd did not choose that such thoughts
Mould be put in my head. Then he
loved away from our old home. I was
OF back again until after I had gradu-
ted.
L. was IN SUMMER summer of calm
nights. The town was full of
Dung people who had put school behind
and now pressed forward eagerly
taste the cup of joy which life presents
once. Among them was John,
emple, even more triumphant than of;
for he wore the all-conquering uni-
of a West Point cadet. He had no,
vals. When he appeared, others re-
red. He took by right, and caused no
Such was his complete domin-
ion.
it was while the gayety was at itsi
light that came. / saw him first at
evening party. Rumor had engaged
70 a young girl of the town who had
him BY years Of devotion. He had j
her that evening.
There were strangers present, one al
y and handsome Southern girl. He /
q bending over her when / first saw
~. He pretended he did not see me, {
first. I am not q person that chal-s
lges the attention of the room. But II !.
ew that he did see me, and with that
otle quiet understanding that never. /,
! needed signs between US, I knew he !
1uld be at my side presently.
His devotion to the girl grew even !