St. Landry democrat., 1891-09-19
A YOUNG MAN SAVED.
BY AMELIA e. BARR.

Julius May was lawyer-that is, b
was going to be one-if spending NOR
or less hours every day in Reed & Tap
pens Offices could produc the arranged
for result. At first the prospect hao
been pleasant enough to him, but
course of winter amusements in New
York must have some effect upon .
young man, and the effect III Mr.. MAYS
case had not been, in legal sense, sat.
| isfactory.
Music and the drama, libraries bound
in Russia, instead of calf; fine ladies and
fancy balls, London tailors and Fifth
avenue boarding houses-these, and
many other splendid things, had become
very agreeable to the newly-fedged ex-
quisite. But his little fortune was rap
idly disappearing, and his little salary
was so extremely small that was scarcely
worth counting as means toward these
desired results.
What must he do? He had asked him
self this question almost every hour late
ly, and had never got but one answer
"Marry" At first he had met the sug.
gestion with a negative shrug, and a
muttered "Nonsense /" but it had come
back every time with more persuasive
appearance. Finally, one cold, windy
night in March, he determined to devote
an hour or two to consideration of his
chances in the matrimonial market.
After careful and honest review, he
was compelled to admit that among all
the rich and splendid girls whom he had
habitually spoken of as crazy about him,
only two were likely to be crazy enough
to entertain the thought of marrying
him-pretty little Bessie Bell and the ex
ceedingly clever Nora St. Clair. He was
quite sure both of these lovely creatures
adored him; the only point to settle
was which he liked better; or rather,
which 1t would be best for him personal.
ly and commercially to choose.
Bessie was the only child of rich
widow, who lived in excellent style, and
who was perfect mistress of her income.
She was sweet, dainty little blonde,
always irreproachabiy stylish in dress,
always ready to dimple into smiles, and
never at loss for just the most agreeable
thing to say.
Nora was close friend of Bessie's,
but in all respects contrast. She was |
no tenderly nutured heiress, but a poor,
brave girl, who had by the force of in.
tellect, study and hard work gained an
snviable position in the literary world.
Her income from her writings was very
handsome; she visited in the most arls-
,ocratic circles; she was charming in
,erson and manners, and dressed like
he rest of the fashionable world. But
hen Julius felt that in every sense she
would not only be the ''better half"
'ut probably the four-fourtbs of the
louse; and that his personality would
imply sink into ''Mrs. Mays hus-
,and."
So Bessie won the decision, and he
if his new suit came home
he next day, to offer Miss Bell the
person which it adorned. For,
0 tell the truth, he was handsome
elbow; and if this work.a-day world
ad only been a great drawing-room, /
nth theatrical alcoves and musical con- {
srvatories, why, then Mr.. Julius May {
'ould have been no undesirable compan- I
IN through it. ,
The new suit came home, and fitted {
erfectly; the tonsorial department was e
lually effective in results; every pre- a
sution had been taken, and he felt an (
arrest of success in the very prosper
these preliminaries. He rang at
RS. Bells door; before the footman i
'uld open it, a gentleman came quickly
1t, threw himself into Mrs. Bells i
lrriage, and, In voice of authority, n
'dered the coachmen to drive to the .
harf. =
The incident scarcely attracted his at D
ntion until, upon entering the parlor, &
saw pretty Bessie watching the dis i,
'pearing vehicle with fearful eyes. She t,
ided into her usual beamine, pretty n
amer; and very soon Mrs. Bell came .
, and asked him to remain to dinner.
After dinner, Mrs. Bells clergyman N
lied about some Of the church's chart :,
., and as the young people were sing I
8, they went into the library to discuss
EN-. Now was the golden moment, | v
d Julius was not afraid to seize it. q
hat do men say on such occasions2 b
Do they ever say what they intended9 Al
they remember what they saya n