St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-12-16
ONLY A PRESCRIPTION
BY L. CRESMICkE.

At that time [ was very young,
scarcely more than child, but no one
would have guessed it; my pale, atten-
uate1 face was lined with grief, and the
eyes, which but a few months ago had
been likened to velvet had almost dis
| appeared behind their swollen and dis
colored lids.
And the reason for the change was
grievous one. had loved and been
beloved again. A stern father had put
his veto on all correspondence had
forbidden us even to hopel
Certainly Leslie Blount's prospects were
not good; his few years of soldering had
brought only debts and no promotion,
and his expectations, such as they were,
were shadowy in the extreme On his de-
parture for India three years back I had
been but child; was startled therefore
when, on his return, he rashly yet pas
sionately declared he had loved me all
along! l could not own to loving him
in return; | had not learnt what love
was, but had a vague, indefinite feeling
that it meant what the sunrise does to
the t1owers--color, light, expansion!
l hid nothing from my parent, but
told him in shy and loving accents of the
new experience which had dawned. He
was furious; had never seen him SO be-
fore. He swore that no pennies infan-
try subaltern was fit for his daughter,
and muttered something about con
founded cheek of the rascaIly sub. to
PROPOSE etc, etc. / wept and en-
trcatcd-he ranted and raved, and finally
wrote off to Leslie an Infatuated COM
mand never to darkcn his doors again.
Then |, heartsore and wretched at
this abrupt termination of loves young
dream, timidly entreated permission to
write one last cpistle. My request was
granted but only on condition that the
communication should first be submitted
tony cnragcd parent.
1t seemed terrible ordeal, but de-
tcrmincd to risk it, My dear unucky
lover should at least learn his love was
returned and that my constancy should
last "till death do US part This l
wrote and more still-pouring ont all the
feelings OF my young awakening heart
over four sheets of note paper, and beg.
ging him to work at anything which would
only "open sesame to paternal hearts.
With trembling hands I intrusted my
first love letter to my father 1t wrung
my heart to watch his mcthodical mode
OF rubbing his glasses before adjusting
them to read the confessions of love.
| could not face him, but glanced
away across The landscape till I imagined
he had scanned the whole, and then
turned. Was it possible? Could it be?
Did /, indeed, sec tear trick ling down
his venerable nose across which his spec
tacles looked dim and Opaque.
| had not intended to be eloquent Or
even pathetic | had written only as
my soul prompted, and this crude his
tory of my early grief had thus moved
him. | rushed into his arms and i'm
plored him not to refuse to send the
mi sive.
II will live it to the impairment
young dog myself" he exclaimed, and
bolted from the room. In IN hours
time he returncd and | scarcely dared
demand reply.
"Ile'll bring his own answer" was all
he vouchsafcd
What was my establishment as /
dressed for dinncr-wecping love.lorn
tears the whilc-to hear Leslic's we'll
known knock at the door. Down the
stairs fed with winged feet lie might
meet my father, words might eri in
blows, and then
Terrible thou hts courscd like light
ming through my brain. Yet another
shock awaited nc.
found my father ard Leslie hand
shaking, not formally, but with warmth !
and etfusion, in the hail. In a short
time all was explained. On receipt of
furious letter from my iratc parent, ,
warning him off the premises. Leslie,
but Just recovered from Indian fever,
had taken to his bed with ~ague. In .
this state my father had found him when
he had called to deliver my letter in per-
son, and there and then had asked him
to dinner.
There were, however, conditions at
tached to the invitation. Leslie might
come and dine but once more-just to
say farewell" but on his honor he must
promise never to attempt to see me or
write unless some more promising change
took place in his prospecs s. Should any
stroke of luck bring him reasonable
sum to marry on then he might venture
o correspond.
After all this state of things was pre-
cradle to the first, and Leslie parted
rom me with heart full of hope which
owe made Infectious
Before very long my father received a
etter informing him that having OBJ
aimed the post of special war correspon-
lent to daily paper at salary which
seemed to me enormous, Leslie was on
he eve of starting for Constantinople.
The Russo-Turkish war was the theme
n all mouths at the time, and my lover,
Who had long been painting for activity,
lad determined to put his military ex-
to some more practical use than
oating in garrison towns for meager pay
md tardy promotion. My father was
pleased with what he called
he "smartness of the young rascal"
nd agreed that at so safe distance a
might commence.
A new happiness came into my life
nd when the travel-stained letters from
ny literary warrior arrived from the seat
# war, full of animation, of anecdotes
nd sketches, and lastly of trusting aztec
ion, my joy knew no bounds. This
dded new zest to my education. for |
vas not yet finished" according to the ]
ch2lastic term-in fact, by comparison