The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-01-24
UP IN A BALLOON,

so you won't marry me, jenny
ut would be madness. Tom; YOU
know it would"
What do you mean by Madness"
You know well enough what mean
and you know that am right"
"les. | think do know. You mean
that | am poor and you are ditto, and
poverty multiplied by two is madness. ~
Jenny. very pretty little blonde with
bright golden curls and sweet blue eyes,
said nothing but looked down and wrote
hicroglyphics on the ground with the
end of her parasol. She was sitting on
the gnarled roots of great oak, while
Tom, handsome, broad-shouldered fell
low, with dark brown hair and moustache
and large hazel eyes, lay half-reclining
at her feet.
''Eh, isn't that the sum and the an
swer?" he asked.
Still Jenny said nothing. but continued
to write hieroglyphics, while a little
lush rose on her cheeks and brow. The
Young man looked up in her face, and
there was deep melancholy in his fine
eyes.
81 see how it is" he said "While l
have been away you have been demon
allied"
''What do you meau?" she asked
sharply, giving him an indignant glance.
'Oh. nothing to make you very an
cry" he replied. 1T is Just this: There
has been some old woman's work going
on, and you have been persuaded that
1.-Two poor folks wed
Had as well be dead.
"SOme of those sage female veterans.
who have gone through life satisfied to
exist without that which it appears to
me alone makes life endurable, have
talked you into their way of thinking,
and now, forsooth, it is madness to
marry the man you love. For you do
love me, Jenny-you know you do"
The girl was silent yet a little while
and then she said, plantIvely.
Il did believe loved you once. Tom,
I'll acknowledge it, but am older now.
and think maybe was mistaken
''Pshaw." said Tom; think maybe.
say you love me still. Yes, you love
me still, and yet you are going to marry
Ralph Morley. Don't deny it. for 1
know it; though perhaps you don't quite
know 1t yourself yet. Are you engaged
to him."
That is an impertinent question and
shall not answer it."
Then will take it for granted that
you are.'
You needn't do any such thing, for l
am not"
We'll, you did answer my impertinent
question, after ALL"
81 was not going to let you think what
You pleased"
I'm glad you answered it anyhow, for
now l am going to tell you what sort of a |
fellow he is, and sha'nt feel as if am
being rude, as | might otherwise have
done. Morley's kinfOlks-"
d" haver never had the pleasure of |
meeting any member of Mr.. Morley's
family except himself"
1.-THE pleasure" said Tom, with a
scornful laugh. "Let me tell YOU if YOU
do find it IA pleasure when you meet one of |
them-be it father, mother, brother. sis
ter or the forty fourth cousin-it will be
more than any one else has ever done"
''1e seems to be very nice gentle
man."
Seems to be. But, pshaw, Iwon't
plead my cause by abusing my rival. If
| can't convince you of the divine right
of love above every other consideration,
I'll throw up the case. l know you love
me; | know | love you. We've loved
each other since We were old enough to
know what love meant. Better is a din
ner with herbs where love is than stalled |
OK and hatred Herewith. Do you know
what that means2m