St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-02-27
POPPIE'S DILEM MA.

saivering branches of the big cope
beech opposite to the library window; i
means dismally in chimneys, whistles
shrilly through loose fitting window
frames, and, in short, makes itself o:
disagreeahle as possible. But |, sitting
in my favorite chair in the snug library
! and with a new and exciting "yellow.
back" in my hand, bid defiance to the
weather, congratulate myself that [ have
the afternoon free to enjoy myself il
and need not 60 outside.
T ha, reckoned without my host, how
ever, for before | have read more thar
two chapters of my book, hear door
open, behind me and voice say in
curing
"Susan!"
It is Poppie, and I know she will want
to talk. | bend lower down over the fire
with my elbows on my knees, and pre-.
tend not to hear; perhaps she will &c
away again. Vain hope! She closes the
door and comes toward me.
"Susan" she says again.
"Well?" l reply unwillingly and with
out turning or raising my eyes.
II want to talk to you," says Poppie
coaxingly.
81 knew you did, is my inward re-
mark. "Well," repeat aloud, "what is
is it about?" And still l keep my eyes
fixed on the page, devoutly praying that
poppie will repent Of disturbing me when
she sees how engrossed | am, and will
leave me in peace. But she does no such
thing; on the contrary she kneels down
upon the hearth rug beside me and lays
her two hands upon my book.
Don't read, Susan" she says, in her
pretty imperative way? Il really have
something to say to you"
With faint sigh lay down the book
and turn to my sister. [ do not know
why or how it is, but always find my
self obeying Poppie with most exemplary
meekness.
"What have you to say?" asked re-
signedly.
1T is about something that happened
while | was at the Nugents,' begins Pop
pie.
"Oh, I'm sure you must have told me
everything about that VISIT interrupt
impatiently.
did [ ever say anything of a Mr.,
Harris?"
"No, I think mott don't remember, /"
Ireply donbtfuIIy.
Well, then, you must know he was
staying there, too, nearl y all the time
that was, says Poppie, sitting on the
floor beside me, her hands claspcd round
her knees and her face turned towards
the fire. "He is a youngish-oldish man
you know what | mean-no particular
age-very tall and big, with large
round face, like IL red moon more than
anything else. He is retired merchant
or manufacturer, and has heaps of
money, which he has made in business.
lie has lovely place somewhere in the
lake country and a splendid house in
Park lane; and Mrs Nugent told us he
must have at least twenty thousand a
year" She pauses, and, taking up the
poker, begins most unnecessarily to stir
the fire.
"WelI, is that alI?' | ask after short
silence.
Not quite all, replies Poppie calmly,
with her back still toward me and en-
phasizing her words with little taps of
the poker upon suffering, fixing log.
''He asked me to marry him"
She speaks with such utter unconcern
that for moment | do not believe her.
"You are joking" 1 cry ~rathfully,
taking up my yellow back" again;
land call it q very poor joke indeed, if
you care for my opinion on the subject
ut is not joke, Susan; really and
truly it is not!' declares Poppie, drop
ping the poker with clatter into the
fender and turning round 10 me, II am
quite in earnest, assure youu'
For a few seconds | stare at her in
silent amazement. Then she begins to
laugh.
us it then SO surprising?" she asks,
putting her lovely face close to mine and
glancing saucily up at me. "Susan, do,
for pity sake, shut your eyes and
mouth! You look so utterly absurdn'
"Well," calculated, II must confess
| am surprised; | have not quite taken
it in yet. But why did you not tell me
Of it before?" | add responsibility. you
came home on Monday last, and this is
Thursday-I call it a shamer'
But, now that have told you, what
do you say?"
II think it is by far the most delight
full piece of news ever heard!' | an
swered exctedly. "To think that you
will have twenty thousand a year and a
house in Park lane and
"Stop, stop!' cries Poppie. "You
are running on much too fast, Susan, for
Il did not accept him"
Didn't accept him." | echo blankly.
"My poor susan" says Poppie, laugh
ing again as she puts her soft little hand
upon mine, "are you terribly disap-
pointed?"
81 am" replied solemnly and mourn
fully-"dreadfully disappointed! 1t
would be, oh, so nice if you were mar
ried to such delightfully."- rich man as
this MIR. Harris seems to be! But, Of
course, there is no use in my saying
anything now, since you have refused
him." and / end with regretful sigh
Poppie gets up from the floor and,
drawing chair close to mine, sits down.
Susan she says, II want to ask
your advice
! do my best to suppress my astonish-
ment at this remark, for never before was
my sister Poppie known to seek advice
at any rate, of me-and respond inquir-
ingly-
Eyes, dear?"
Il did not exactly refuse Mr.. Harris
wait moment until / have done,
pleasee-as prepare to give vent to a
volley of delighted exclamations-s'I said
No ever and ever again when he asked