St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-12-26

"No." Josiah answered. Not oil.
Dear me, JOSIAH said Mrs Black
chow dead and alive you seem. NOBODY
would realize that you had been only
three hours married.
Il don't seem to realize it myself,
said Mr. Black, leaning his head against
the car window, with thoroughly dls
Outraged air.
But if YOU s'pose I'm going to turn
nv house into refuge for all your re
lations," added Mrs Josiah, with energy
"you are very-dear me! Blue Point
already? This cant be the place, can
it? Why, we hahn t.
Just then the relentless conductor
swooping through the train, bore Mr. and
Mrs. Josiah Black off to the platform,
the latter still demonstrating loudly.
Mr.. Black was silent and moody as
they walked up the steep hill leading to
the village street. Mrs. Black was Sc
cretly resolving that, husband or no hus-
band, she would not be captured by the
Goth and Nisigoth horde of relations who
doubtless were waiting to pounce on her
hearth.
Il must assert myself" she thought
lat the very first, or shall be overrun.
"Here is the house, somberly re-
marked Josiah.
A long, low, red building faced them
at the top of hill, with fence draped
with morning glory vines, trailing hops
and wild vetches, and two or three gnarled
ounce trees leaning up against the
south end.
"There's lights inside said the late
Miss Pamela. q And fire. There 5
somebody there.'
"My folks" briefly remarked Josiah.
Your folks " repeated Pamela; and
there was world of unsyllabled meaning
in her voice Walking valiantly forward,
she flung open the door, and stood facing
the little group which was gathered annie
ably around the blazing fire. And Josiah
! Black, following, pushed her. i'll rather
an undgnifed manner, into their midst,
with the introductory speech:
My WIFE Here she is
'How d We do, Mrs. Josiah:' said an
elderly woman. @ I'm your husband $
step-ma."
" And I'm his sister, said blonde
'matron with lilac ribbons in her cap.
" And I'm his other sister, spoke up
a short sharp, little female Nth a black
and tan :c4rier sort Of face and Il rust
ling black silk dress.
Brother Simeon" announced Josiah,
as stout man with profuscly pomat-
umed head rose and ducked it toward
her. And Uncle 'Lijah and Aunt
Nancy motioning toward a solid-look-
ing couple in the background; land my
cousins, Heber and Stratton," as two
tall, awkward young men emerged from
behind a calico-covercd screen in the
rear.
Il hope you allItind yourselves pretty
well?" said Mrs. Josiah Black, with the
geniality of an arctic iceberg. But |
sha'nt find it convenient to entertain
you here
The herd Of relations stared, and Mr..
Josiahs step-ma bridled, and said:
I'VE wasn't a-calculating to stay to
tea
Tea or dinner, it makes no differ
encc," said the bride. If we're to get
along comfortable together, all these
things has got to be understood at once.
| amt goin' to keep free hotel for my
husbands relations, and | don't want it
to be expected Of me .
There was an indignant buzz among
the relations at this remarkable piece Of
plain speaking-they all rose up in con-
cert.
NNell," said they, addressing Josiah's
''step-ma,' asif she were the representa-
tive of the mass, ''if Josiah's wife don't
want nothin to do with US, we certainly
don't mean to trouble her."
Don't be in hurry family uttered
Josiah; but none of the relations took the
least notice of him, as they seized upon
their hats. bOnnets, shawls and other ar
ticles of outer wrapping with prccipitate
haste.
"Of course" added Mrs Josiah, a
little alarmed at the result of her own
generalship II shall always be happy
to have you call i'll Il friendly way"
Josiahs step-ma, who had taken a
package from the table, stoniIy remarked
as she held if up:
My ce-pitcher--best triple plate and
porcelain-lined-as | had intended for
wedding present. But if folks don't
want me, they don't want my presents,
SO I'll wish you good bye. Mrs. Black"
One Of the sisters took up a cream-jug
Of chased siIver-the other put a plated
caster back into its box, and off they
marched.
''Our simple offerings, said they, ARE
hardly elegant enough for one so ex-
cloosive in her tastes as our brothers
wife"
Simeon Black swung heavy wicker
basket across his shoulders.
"A tea-set Of real Ingy china that be-
longed to a Chinese sea-captain," said
he, land got at bargain-but | guess
it amt wanted and he, too, departed,
banging the door.
One by one the others took hasty
leave, each carrying some little offering
of more or less value which had been
brought thither for the 6electation of
"Josiah's wife" while that lady herself
stood gazing after them in blank dismav,
with an agonized consciousness that she
had committed an awful political blum
der in this, the first term of her married
life.
"There!' said Josiah, grimly, 'now
you've done it, Pamela. Every one Of
'em well-to-do and livin' in their own
places. And, as sure as you live, they'll
never forgive you in this mortal world.'
IL thought they was comm here to
live!' gasped the bride. Il only wanted
to protect myself"
"Well, you've done it now" said Mr.
Black. There is such a thing as bein'
too beforehanded
And he sat slowly down, too spiritless
even to upbraid his wife. While Pamela
felt that her wedding day had not been
success.
For the Blacks were clannish tribe,
and it was even as the bridegroom had
predicted. They never forgave Josiah's