St. Landry democrat., 1891-10-24

youth of her sincerity.
In few moments Ned had written {
little note upon pad OF paper that lay
at hand, folded it, and given it to the
child.
"You know the place where the people
meet to pray every night:" he asked.
eyes, replied Mag, 81 listens al
the doors sometimes. l likes the
singin."
''Go in tonight, if you can," sale
Ned, land ask to speak to Mr.. Smith
Give him that note. The woman who
beats you must not see it, remember
Mag nodded wisely.
off you cannot get to the meeting to-
night, go Tomorrow, said Ned. ''Ihere
ten-cent piece for you, so you'll be
sure Of your supper. And, Mag, it Mr.
Smith sends you to "a nice place, be
good. Don't steal or lie, or do anything
wicked, and say your little prayers every
night, and grow up good girl
"Yes, sir, III try" said Mag. Then
all Of a sudden she began to sob violently
"Ncbody never talked so good to me
before:' she said. "1ll remember
always
Ne heard the feet Of his employer on
her gently FORTH and draped the shawl
over the shoulders of the dummy, which
was presently rolled in and put away
for the night with the other bjects
which had been set forth to attract GUS
tom.
As it happened, Ned did not see good
Mr.. Smith again. The prayer-meeting
soon came to close, and he never
knew whether Mag carried the note to
the minister or not. 1t was possible
that she was a little hypocrite who
grinned at the good advice he had given
her, and went thieving again next day.
However, he was glad, for Fanny's sake,
that he had been as kind to her as posi-
bic. At all events, he never saw her
again, and it was not long before he left
the store and sought his fortune in Cali
fornia
There he succeeded beyond his expec-
tations, and one day returned home a
rich man, and did all those pleasant
things that tilial and prosperous son
does for the old folks, beginning by pay
! ing off the mortgage on the homestead
of course He could scarcely believe
that he had been away so long. Nothing
seemed much changed-his parents
scarcely older Bill and Ben were ma
ture, but really improved Only Fanny
astonished him. Fanny was young
lady-tall, slender, shapely. Her tlaxen
hair was rich blonde, her eyes bluer
and brighter than ever, if possible. And
Fanny-little Fanny-was engaged to be
married. Ned could not believe that.
| She was as fond of him as sever, though,
and prouder; and before three days had
gone over their heads she had set herself
to matchmaking on his account.
"Of course, you know we want you to
stay here, Ned" she said, "and to marry
some one who likes the country. Now l
have plan. You must fall in love with
my Jacks sister. She is very pretty,
and as good as an angel, and so bright,
and a perfect lady; and she just worships
the country. And you can build house
between ours and her fathers; and Jack
and | will have one opposite, and that
Will be SO delightful. You do not know
how nice she is, Ned, but you will meet
her on Thursday. She is away on visit
now, but is coming home tomorrow.
Thursday she will come here to tea. You
must make love to her at once. Propose
as soon as possible, and have the incest
wife in the world. Oh, | am sure she
will be.'
Ned laughed. Like most men, he
doubted women's Judgment of each
other. Besides, he had not yet resolved
to marry If he should fall in love, it
would be different thing; but that
seemed unlikely. He had met many
pretty women, and was yet heart-whole.
1t seemed scarcely likely that Jacks Sis
ter-nice little country girl as she doubt
less was~-would make any unusual i'm
preston upon him.
However, he did not say this-only,
"1ou know she may not like me, Fanny"
But of that Fanny assured him there
could be no doubt.
She was in high state of delight when,
on o'clock on Thursday, Jack appeared
with his sister on his arm, and she was
able to say at last:
Brother Ned, this is my dearest
friend, Marguerite. Marguerite, this is
the brother you have not yet met. |
know you will be friends
Friends From the moment Ned's eyes
met those Lowell y ones belonging to jack
sister he was lost. He had never be-
lieved in love at first sight, but it came
to him like a flash of lightning. He de-
voted himself to Marguerite all day, and
would walk home with her at night, and
then Fanny said that she would go also,
and kept Jack at pleasant distance
socially near, but so that every word
need not be heard; and Marguerite was
the sweetest thing, Ned thought, as her
little hand rested ON his arm.
Going home again with Fanny, she
teased him to confess that he already
adored her friend, and told him that,
while putting on her bonnet, she had said
that he was ever so nice" But Ned
was too much in love to feel sure of sue
cess, and for some time was rather an
uneasy soul, hoping and fearing-his
courage high in the morning and low at
night, until one day he took heart of
grace and actually popped the question.
What he said he hardly knew. 1t was
in the orchard. They sat on rustic
bench under an old pear tree, and he had
talked for some time, when Marguerite
gave little cry, and said:
b" Mr.. Brandreth, beg you to say no
no more just yet. | have something to
tell you that may make you feel diff
ferently. / should have told you before,
but II put it off. You do not know
who [ am. Jacks sister, Mr.. Rawdon's
daughter, you believe me; but am only