St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-04-18
WON BY A PLOT.
Why Minnie Married the Man
Chosen by Her Father.

O0OS6u Dy E1oT FHGQ0T.
''It is SO perfectly unreasonable of
you, papa" pouted Minnie McAlster,
only and petted daughter of Lawyer
McAlster, and pretty and willful as a
pet kitten; $50 perfectly unreasonable,
and it is SO impudent of that fellow to
write and ask you for my hand before
have set eyes on him.
but you have set your eyes on him
many a time," interrupted her father.
''oh, yes with a toss of the dainty
head, when he was in his first jacket.
and / in pinafores. l know all about
that. Because we were two pretty
children, and pleasant playmates, our
stupid fathers said: Let us pledge our
children to each other And now, after
twelve years, when am seventeen and
he twenty-one, the impudent creature
coolly desires me to be true to that nom
sensical trash, and writes to ask a re-
newal of your consent"
(Which he certainly has. -
'sBut which it will do him no good to
obtain" continued Minnie; ''for say
positively / will not see him, nor speak
to him, nor glance at him If he comes
here. If you write and tell him to
come, Il will run away to lockwood,
anyhow, and take vocal lessons ]
know / have musical genius, If it were
properly cultivated; and there is a
splendid professor at lockwood who
has large class in training. ! want to
Join it, and shall go away next week
] il you consent; but it, youslet- that .hor-
rid, impudesnht finso1ent Waiter Graham
come here to look after my fortune (for
that is what he wants., shall go with
out your consent.
ssMy dear" said Lawyer McAlster,
coolly, viewing his irate daughter with
twinkling eyes, ''let me correct one err
ror you have fallen into. Walter Gra-
ham is worth three times what / am at
this moment. His fathers whole prop
erty is in his hands, and he is wealthy.
So / hardly think he is looking with
covetous eyes upon your few thousands
No; he remembers you as most sweet
child, and, being of a somewhat ro-
mantle turn of mind, he thinks it would
be pleasant to follow out the wishes OF
his father and yours and renew the
pledge made by them. However, if he
could see you at this moment he would
think you any thing but sweet girl. ;"
'sThen l wish you would call in an
artist and have my picture taken on the
spot to send him."
.'But / would rather not, for remem-
ber desire you to see and at least treat
this young man as the poet says we
treat Vice, the monster-frst endure,
then pity, then embrace"
.sOh, yes," pouted Minnie, ''you law
yers think there is nothing in life but
bargain and sale. You would have me
coolly pledge myself to this fellow be-
cause you think he would be good
match, and you would make regular
dry law affair of it, without any love or
wooing in it"
''You are in error again, interrupted
her father 81 would make law af-
fair of it by having you permit this
fellow as you call him. to go to court
and allow him to make his plea. l
don't ask you to promise your hand to
him till he has done this-but you re-
fuse even to see him."
there is an end of it. I am not going
to be won in this 1natter-of-fact way. /
am going to fall in love without mean
ing to. and be fallen in love with in
some unexpected, romantic way and
have it all like story-book. /"
Mr.. McAlster smiled.
.sYou will doubtless fall in love with
that professor over Mt lockwood" ne
said
..Ah. no-he is old and gray. shall
meet my fate in some unlooked-for
manner, when least expect to, sup
pose. But will you let me go to Rock.
wood?"
II will think about it. I would rather
you should take lessons here, and If
can get good instructor to come here
/ suppose you will be just as well
pleased, win you not?"
'sYes-if you keep Walter Graham
away"
At the end of week Mr.. McAlstel
informed Minnie that he had secured
her an instructor for her voice.
81 wrote to a friend" he said, "a
musical gentleman of my acquaintance
and he has secured an excellent teach
er, who will be here some time nex'
week He viii make his home with u:
and win devote his whole time to you
will pay him well for it, and you vii
progress much faster than you woule
at lockwood. want you to study hart
and apply yourself strictly to YOU
music. shall poster you no more
about Walter Graham, for / hare writ
ten to him how You feel upon the sub
ieet. and now that Prof. Bangemwell i
coming you need worry no more abou
that fellows annoying you.
.sProf Bangemwellw repeated Min