St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-03-26
LITTLE ONE"
BY FLAvEL SCOTT MINES.

l
jewels and brighter eyes Of the fai
women suggesting the spray that i
thrown upward by the waves and lit b.
the sun. The human tide ebbed an,
tlowed-a turbulent whirlpool surrounde,
by wall of stony dowagers and ancien
beaux. Then there came sudden lull-
the wind died out-the dancers ceased
and all was order. The fitting couples
were the gulls darling here and ther,
after the storm was over
A girl came out into the hall, leaning
on the arm Of much-bedecked cavalier
who was jerky in his walk and voluble ir
speech. The man was a type Of the
many types of Washington society, blu,
his partner attracted the eyes of oil
She was probably nineteen, rather tall
and very graceful. Her features were
classic in their mould, but full Of the fire
of life and sympathy that the strongest
chisel fails to carve. AS they passed
down the broad hall, the man chattering
like simian, and the girl indiferently
regarding the blase youths that blocked
the way, a young fellow came forward
wearing an air of general disgust, and
looking infinitely more bored than his
other miserable fellow-creatures. He
stood carelessly to one side to let the
two pass, apparently regardless of them,
but as they approached, the girl ran for
ward with cry.
"Why," calculated the young man,
aroused from his state of apparent SOM
Violence, otis Lit-its Nancy!"
"You never told me you were here, "
answered the girl, blushing ever so
slightly. The de trop cavalier looked on
this meeting with an expression of feeble
ness, and stood to one side.
GLOW could tell your laughed the
young man, 'when [ imagined that you
were still in Virginia? was going down
tomorrow.
"Didnt you know I had come up to
Washington to make my debut, and
Oh, beg your pardon, Lieutenant Frax-
ton, my cousin, Mr.. Wentworth"
The Lieutenant shutfled uneasily and
bowed stiifly, while Wentworth made O
teint at slight nod of recognition.
Come into the conservatory, Nancy"
he whispered, offering his arm; and Mis-
tress Nancy, who acted her own sweet
smile and bow, and accepted her cousins
arm. The Lieutenant blinked ut them
as they went off.
"Well, Little One?' said Wentworth,
with questioning smile, as they en-
tered the dim, fragrant room.
Miss Nancy stamped her foot. "Nhy
DO you persist, Tom, in calling me SOP
she objected. "Itwon't do for society?"
"N ELL | reckon not" answered Tom.
That's my own especial name, and So
clety has nothing to do with it,"
"Of course not" responded the girl,
absent ~. She was thinking of some
years before, and Toms stubbornness
regarding that very subject; she let it
pass now as she had then.
"Iell me, how are you?" remarked her
cousin, leading the way to a clustered
seat Suppose had gone home and
missed YOU"
at would have been your own fault"
replied the girl. "You are SO mighty
independent that your own mother does
not keep track of your movements, much
less your humb' cousin"
81 didn't think she cared" Tom an
swered, and waited moment for her to
respond, "She don't'-whioh reply was
forth coming in due season.
Don't let's fight" Tom continued.
GLOW do You like society,""
"oh, laughed the girl, ''its pleasant,
because society seems to like me. Mrs.
Whorter, an old friend of papa's, thought
it too bad that should miss the madness
OF Washington season, and invited mo
up. Mamma is staying at your house,
and do you know, Tom, we are going to
spend this summer there. Auntie saws
that the visit is to be indefinitely nro-
longed. Isn't it good of herr"
"Periootly right" agreed the young
man. .l'm to spend the summer there
myself"
"Why, 1 thought you were going
cried the girl. $50 | heard"
"No, that is, if my homecoming
doesn't scare you all away" was the re,
ply of the tickle youth, who ten minutes
before would have called upon the nine
gods to bear witness to his intended
hegira. 1t was the first capitulation and
the girl must have understood it some
how, for she was uncertain how to an
'wer. After all, it was the belle of the
season who responded,
"Well, perhaps not"
Then an intruder came upon the scene.
I gentleman with fierce whiskers. which {
assayed the leonine, but lent rather a :
feline expression.
"IhIs-er-is my dance, l believe. s
Miss Hardy" he ventured. {
And Miss Hardy, responding with an {
Indifferent '1s it?" took his arm. Then !
she turned to her cousin. "IH save Won {
he next dance, Tom" +
Tho young man smiled and nodded in t
he most matter of fact way, while Puss- I
n. Boots glazed at the individual who re- a
'oivod such sovereign courtesy with such c
calmness. +
Left to himself, Tom gave vent to q t
whistle. Then he improved the occasion t
" growing and mentally clubbing him t
elf hydra-headed specimen of asininity. G
t had been three years since thew had r
ast met. He was then fresh from col a
ege, with an unlimited good opinion of ?
imself, and she just in the chrysalis a
tate. They had been good friends who g
we're eternally squabbling, and now t
Ilom winked slyIy at an oleander, and I
hanged his mental personal designation c
something more fattering He did a
OF consider his instability he did not r
ecall his harangues regarding single n
lessedness as opposed to the mis-
ry OF woman's thrall. His memory of "
hose college poems full Of cynical bitter W
ess toward the fair sex-so good at that il
me-was completely wiped out. He be-
anne slave with the grace Of con-
ueror; but there was enough latent good '
ense IN the young man to make him re- Ii
olive to keep his opinions to himself. s.
That night he settled upon his plan Of p