The Opelousas courier., 1892-09-03

VA$SH LAW * apron at the head
TT k8VMFL of the breakfast
nHG~ table, where she
~MGS(N%KS )awaited the APP
IMW1T@NAM pearance of her
ANMN1MM|M boarders. ''Isn't
M@NJMMAIi Joannaq"
@NVMI@ But Joanna,
WHRMks@ her cousin, after
a vain attempt to assume an expression
of sympathy, broke into a laugh.
.sIt's just too funnyl" she said. stOnly
think of Mr.. Dawson coming here to get
out of the way of what he calls husband
hunting old maids and giggling young
ones,' and before he's been here q week,
Miss Blssel arriving, in hopes of being
rid of selfish old bachelors" He,
hein
They'll both blame mel" sighed
Mrs. Moss. "But it's all Sophronia
Bissel's fault. If she had come when
she first intended it, I'd new have
taken Mr.. Dawson and now to think of
her taking US by surprise and finding
him herel And I had assured them both
that no unmarried people ever came to
our farmhouse, but only families"
"Hushi" whispered Joanna. "Here
they are"
Mr.. Dawson was always the first TO
obey the summons to table; and now as
his portly form and ford face appeared
at one door, there entered at the one
opposite a neat little lady in gold eye
glasses and with a cluster of pr m and
shining curls above her forehead.
They met face to face at tie foot OF
the table, and an ominous shadow i'm
mediately descended upon the face OF
each. They had instinc tively recognized
each other as old maid and old bache-
lor.
81 Declare said Joanna. afterward,
tsit was exactly like our old Towser and
Tabley when they first met. Don't you
remember how he glared and how she
put up her back2 He, hef"
s.bfrs. Moss said Mr.. Dawson, after
breakfast, ~ understood you to say that
no single ladies ever came to your
house."
Mrs. Moss explained about Miss
Bissel's unexpected arrival that morn
ing.
slut | assure you," she added,
sarnestly-s'I assure you that she won't
be in your way, for she came purposely
because she had heard that there were
no single men here. She hates bache-
lors."
"Hates b~achelorsm echoed the
boarder, incredulously.
ttShe does, indeed. You see. she
never received any attention from young
men when she was a girl, and now that
she's middle-aged, she don't expect it.
She calls bachelors selfish and disagree.
able, and avoids them all she cam
"Huml" said Mr.. Dawson, doubt.
fully.
And taking his n~ewly.arrived papers,
he repaired to his own exclusive seat on
the broad farmhouse piazza cosy nook
at the farthest end, from whence he had
permanently banished all children by
acowling ogreishly at them whenever
they ventured too near.
And now, to his disgust, he found
that Miss Bissel had conveyed a small
cane rocking-chair to this chosen spot,
and was serenely cutting the leaves az Q
magazine.
STARE say she knew this was my
place." thoaght Dawson, resentfulIy.
"However, I won't be driven out. y
And he drew up his " big arm.
chair and sat down with his back to the
lady, who hadn't taken the slightest no.
tice of him.
Presently, glancing around, he found
that che had quietly removed herself and
her chair to the opposite end Of the pi-
.azza, and placidly resumed her occupa-
ton.
aHumi' thought Dawson, looking
after her. .Strange woman that.
Hates bachelors, does she2 Why, I've
known a old maid who didn't
orn simpering and mincing round one,
and offering lozenges for colds, and but
ton-hole bouquets, wanting to pin EN-
on themselves, and penwipers and pm
cushions and warehouses;, and | don't
know what other trash. Dare say she
will in time
But Mr.. Dawson found himself mis-
taken. As the days vent BY, not only
did Miss Bissel not favor him with any
Of. the a-b0ve-named articles, but she
kept away from him as much as possible,
and Ignored his presence, and ut table
never noticed his remarks, and invari-
ably declined the dishes which he some
times found himself compelled to pass TO
her.
q How could she do less, when not only
did she dislike ssselish old bachelors
DugsnaU4Dsen rranKTy eoFu DIV weTT-nean.
ing hrs. Moss that this special old
baoheloE hated old nnaidsa
Hiss BisseI, when visiting tbs country.
was fond 81 sketohing and making col
l~ectioas Of wood plants, and just now
her special dssl was for : specimen of
maiden-hair fsfl hich she had been
told was to be found IN this neighbor-
hood.
Kgy azssF uAT sne WoglU sally forth on
this guest, and il more than nee hap
paned that ID shs field III woodland
she would eomesuddenlg upon If.
pawson taking what be caalel biz