The Opelousas courier., 1891-10-03
A MODERN WOOING
4 BY GERTRUDE MORTON.

Inc young man thus appealed to mad
no reply. Clothed in that fantastic gar
which the liberal college education 9
to-day renders necessary to the mora
standing of gilded youth, he was reclin.
ing in a studiously graceful attitude be.
side the speaker.
His eyes were fixed upon a fishins
fleet fast disappearing beyond the hori
0 n A meditatiye look adorned his sun
burned face.
"Hal, ! spoke to you"
Still the recumbent figure moved not
"Henry Richardson
This proved effectual. The young
man quickly raised himself upon on,
elbow.
"oh, ! beg your pardon, Dorothy,
he said. "What was it that you asket
mea Why, yes, think you are quit,
right
cit is very evident that you are no
quite right in your mind,n the young
girl replied, gazing compassionateIy a
him. "What is the matter, HALF"
Nothing
aYes, there is, too. You can't de.
ceive me, you know, so there is no use
In trying. What new scrape have yor
been getting into2o
aNone at all. That is, you wouldn1
call it 'scrape' exactly Hal gr1nned.
In fact, I've been unusually good oil
late, as you might have observed had
not your thoughts been upon other
scenes INTENT
"Oh. indeed. Well, the fact that
you have been good is sufficient cause for
a revulsion of feeling Of some kind.
Now, ! want to know what is troubling
you"
aYou even deign to be interested In
my mental condition."
Certainly. Have | not the family
good at heart. Speak at once
Thus brought before the tribunal Of
an avenging little goddess clothed in
scarlet gown, and in righteous anxiety
for her family's welfare. Hal was silent
again. Selling q little stone, he crushed
70 atoms a shell that lay beside him.
Then he raised himself suddenly To d
sitting posture and rave his companion
the benefit of his cogitations.
e say, Dorothy, let's get marriedp
Dorothy Hall came to gallant race,
and she had the repose of a Princess.
For a second there was silence. while
the pretty color left her cheeks. When
she spoke it was in O voice that riyaled
Halls own for GOODNESS.
And why. pray, should we do that2''
a4oH know ] am going over to Lon
don in about two months the young
man continued, nnheeded, .sand I don't
see any reason why we can't be married
and go together
Dorothy's dignity nearly forsook her;
nevertheless she managed to put consid-
erabie surprise, even reproach, into her
ejaculation
why, cousin Henry
ssFor heavens sake, child, = cried Hal,
s.donst air that cousin illusion any long
er. Il is worn threadbarc.n
IF you object to me for d cousin I
shouldn't think you would want me for d
nearer relative There was mischief in
the girls brown eyes.
II should think you might see, re-
plled Hal. "You know, my dear, that
it is the proper thing for a man to be en-
gagged 81 9 . as he leaves college, and
as long as we've no need to consider the
question OF bread and butter, I don't see
why we should not be married.
lyon know as well as / do, Dorothy
ne went on, warming up on the subject
-syou know perfectly well that this
thing has been planned ever since We
into existence. Imagine the
worthy grandmother's ire did we cross
her in this respect. Mother wants it.
Aunt jane wants i~t--every man alive Of
hem expects il. And I want II, BY way
afterthonghf, apparently, Is.
paused for d reply.
Dorothy miRgAd 1noYcd swiftly. and
ne stays through which it travelled
sssfhIhg Halls little speech were many.
was its last halting place. Very
but il tones Enthusiastically sug-
gestiye Of icebergs and glaciers, she
said:
81 don't suppose II makes any differ
whether ] want it or not.
This evidently inspired an e%ntirelv
train of thought in the young mans
mind. He raised his head In surprise.
Was It possible that any one else had
,een making love to his little play
nate2n
.Why, Dorothy7a he asked, soberly,
$ his honest blue eyes met hers.
The girl dropped her eyes quickly. He
hould not read her thoughts. He should
lot see that she was waiting for him to
ay the very thing if bad not occnrfed to
i'm thus far to say.
dorothy, look 1T me-is there any
elseas
The amount OF incrcduliEy that Hal
managed 90 pat into that slngie sentence
ouclled her girlish pride.
1T does not seem 10 have suggested
self to you, Harry, that when q man
sks 4 woman to marry him ii is some
mes for another reason than because
.vergbodY expects Il. II you desire sue
ess + should advise sot 10 take that into
onslderation IL proposals You may make
.ereaFter.n
So that was tie matter.
Oh. ID that allln cried Hal. inanite
slssf thaf Affairs we're no verse showing
aeIf u every line III lis face. Why.
EeuE little hear, Dorothy. OF
eaz lore you but Il isn't tie thing