St. Landry democrat., 1892-10-29

The sun had ceased to shine on my
grandmother's house. My father had
suddenly decided to make trip to New
York, to be gone for matter Of five or
six months, and left me alone in my
childish sorrow, after having vainly
promised to bring me more things than |
ever could have dreamed of-things to-
tally unsuited and inappropriate for a
child of my tender years.
My grandmother was silent, but scrupu-
lousy exact in the daily business of life,
and persistently refused to consider any
presupposed advances to be made by Aunt
Washington and Henry Lytlc in the flu
ture. Said my grandmother, "Serena
has made her own bed, and she can lie
in it."
Soon after my fathers departure my
grandmother sent for Barrister Quilts.
Now Barrister Quilts was the family at
torney, as his father had been before him :;
one of the powerful triumvirate in great
old families, without whose attendance
great family occasions were null and
void.
Seedcakes were brought and pair of
cobwebby bottles, for service in my
grandmother's boudoir, ceremonial al
ways preceding important business tran
sactions
Upon his departure I encountered Bar
rister Quilts upon the piazza, whereupon
he patted me on the head and called me
a very clever child, taking unusual notice
of me.
Affairs were very quiet in my grand
mothers house, but my grandmother be-
came suddenly aware that was in need
Of an education, so a governess and
muslcmaster were provided for me, my
pantalettes were made little more Or
nate, and with all this care soon became
most miserable lit lie creature.
One day, Jane, my maid, revealed the
cause of all my woes. She was curling
my hair for my daily presence in nv
grandmother's drawing-room (here were
visitors), when, my hair becoming
in some way entangled with the cane
for it curled naturally, I cried out.
'La!' said Jane, 'hain't you Shame,
Miss Frances, ter cry out lack er baby,
when Ole Miss done sot you up fur er
leetle lady!'' and she tweaked my hair
again, at which my tears continued to
flow. "When Ole Miss done cut Miss
S'rena out'n de WILL lack she done cut
Marser Leo, and mex you de heir!
Hain't you Shame, when you oughter be
proud an high!"
"What, janet" l cried, aghast, "Won't
grandmother have Aunt Washington for
her daughter ever any more?"
"No," said Jane, 'she done taken you
in her place"
"Mer'
Yes said Jane, with a cautious
shake of her finger, "an' you oughter
have fitten ter your 'sition, Miss Frances.
Dey do say, Miss Frank, as how miss
S'rena is dat happy wild Henry Lyle she
don't keer."
"Where is my Aunt Washington" I
demanded.
"Hush! hain't got her; overter yer
Cousin Dorcas'," said Jane, "but none
Nv us fun here hain't ter see her er ter
speak ter her. Ole Miss say So"
II won't have her place, and I'll tell
grandmother sop | cried, stamping my
DOT, as was customary with me in those
lays, on sudden rise Of temper. 'Tll
ust tell grandmother so, so there!"
''Better leave Ole Miss lone" said
'ane in an awestruck tone. "Ef she
vanter leave you all she got, you can't
top hit"
My grandmother had disinherited nv
aunt Washington, as she had my Uncle
1eo, the year before I was born, and
Who had never returned from France
ince that eventful period.
Time wore on, and with an uneasy
Conscience wore, as deemed it, my Dor
owed dignity. My father returned and
oaded me with gifts until l skipped
bout like a bedizened Indian princess,
ut still was not happy, for l feared to
onfide my troubles to my father without
~ grandmothers advice
At last we heard that there was another
erena at the house Of my Cousin Dorcas,
Serena, rose leaved and tiny.
It was only whispered, and I went to
ed, fevered with interest and silent GU
losity, for dared not mention the news
. my grandmother
She had changed of late, was sometimes