The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-04-04
SELINA'S TROU,SSEAU.
BY EMMA A.. OPPER.

Katy Gibson overlook Harlan Chapman,
and gave glad exclamation, ''Oh, Har-
leyw and walked on with him in gay
contentment, the state of affairs which
caused the proceeding being just what
was indicated; Katy was engaged to
Harlan Chapman.
This Just came" she said, holding
aloft long package. ''It's from Aunt
Ann, and | know it's a sugar-spoon-I
feel it; and Selma has got two already
one from Cousin lothian and one from
Uncle Sam. Also, to wit-two lamps
and three clocks. We're looking for the
third lamp and the fourth clock every
minute"
Katie looked up at her tall lover with
her charming. blue-cyed. bright-complex-
toned face radiant with the fun and good
nature never absent from it.
When Harlan Chapman, whose family
was one of the best and the best of in
town, had engaged himself to Katy Glib
son, whose father was only an indiffer-
entity successful millwright, his dignified
relations had shaken their heads--till
they had seen Katy Gibson. Then they
had stared a little, smiled, beamed,
patted her on the head, and congratu-
lated Harlan.
II can't realize it." said Kitty, with a
sisterly sigh, 'that day after tomorrow
Selma will be Mrs. Mclean and be 60
ing to West Lyme to live. Oh. dear, but
she will. Almost everything's done
the cake and the dish borrowing and the
goodness knows what, | know nv
heads in muddle. And it's this after
noon, you know, Harley" said Katy,
giggling again, that we're going after
Selinas trosseau."
Selina's trosseau had been a joke of
long standing. With one exception,
every article of Selina's modest little out
fit had been made by her own busy
hands, or by Kitty's or her mothers will
ling ones.
The exception was the simple blue
cloth gown which would serve double
duty as bridal robe and travelling gown.
That Selma had intrustcd to Miss Green.
Miss Green's unpretcntious shop was
two miles away. and the Gibsons had
never known horse and buggy. There
fore, Harlan Chapman, who owned
three horses and two buggies, had taken
his prospective sister in-law thither as
often as fitting was necessary, with
Katy always jolly third. And he and
Katy had wrurg unlimited fun out of
it,
They called it Selina's trosseau, never
referring to it otherwise. They spoke of
Miss Green as Worth, and supposed
Selina's trosseau to be valued at thous-
cnd dollars. They dwelt upon the diff
Guilty of getting it through tle custom
house, and of the many descriptive col
umns which the New York papers would
wish to publish about it, and of the all
hoyance certain to be suffered through
greedy and clamoring reporters They
rung the changes mirthfully. and Selma
had laughed till she was lame.
You're going to take me up for it
this afternoon, you know, Harley" said
Katy.
And she looked up at her lover with
sudden little gasp.
Harley hadn't uttered a syllable vet.
What's the matter, Harley9' she
marveled.
"There's matter enough, Miss Glib
son" said her lover, shortly, and Katy's
heart stood still.
When had he ever called her Miss Glib
son bcforel
He was handsome fellow. And now
his fine eyes were stern under their
straight, dark brows, and his well-chis-
eled lips were firmly set.
"What is it, Harley?" said Katy, in
voice made feeble by dsmay.
81 saw you last n ght, them" said her
lover, land I'd like to know where you'd
been with Joe Martin. l saw you, l tell
you'll"
Katy raised blank face.
''Oh, / know the whole business"
Harlan burst forth. 81 know he was
going with you before cut him out, and
that he's been grumpy toward me ever
since. Everybody's known that; every
body's known it was fair and square
deal, too. wanted you and told you so,
and you chose to take me; and thought
my troubles were over when you told me
you could never love Joe Martin, and
you'd told him so: and you did care for
me. and you'd be true % me always"
If Katy had listened to the thrill of
and yearning in his voice
But what she heard was the accusing an
ger in it, and her guiltlcss heart re-
hcllcd.