The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-06-17

ing days passed, during which Tom
enthusiasm oozed away distressingly.
The first day we spent in decorating
our room, and the next in an eighteen
mile walk to Crows Foot mountain.
from which excursion we returned sore
and sad, but wiser men. Tom was
clearly disappointed.
Its a big fake-this mountain life"
he said, YEARLY; ''just to fancy, we've
been here two whole days and haven't
seen a girl yet. You prescribed noun
tain and mountain maid for me. Can't
you fll your prescriptions"
But Tom had no idea of the treat that
was in store for us. The first week of
our stay rounded up with a mountain
dance at Haunt's Bend, to and from
which we were piloted by the cordial
but not prepossessing Mr.. Hank Hester,
a lanky youth with more legs and arms
than he could manage consistent with
good grace and becoming dignity. The
dance, ! feel sure, ranks among the
pronounced social successes of that sea-
son. Warm as it was, they danced as
if dancing was a religious duty. There
"SAoS AShO "a VII AAAouA1Collk DN1lCS pkCo-
ent, all glorious in the splendors of gay
frocks and bright ribbons, and three
times as many homely looking noun
tain youths. Mr.. Hester introduced us
to Miss Mary Jane ~Spivvens, a robust
and muscular young woman, and then
left us to take his stand by the side of
the fair Miss johnson. At first Miss
Spivvens seemed to be suffering under
constraint, but under the influence of
Toms easy manner and speech her
tongue limbered up, and she told us
many things of interest about the
mountain country. From her general
| conversation we learned that some peo-
pie, not Miss Spivvens, however, be-
lieved Miss Susie Ricketts, TO be the
belle so them parts" Her remarks
about Miss Susie aroused Toms inter
| est and she led him across the room to
present him to the alleged belle.
Susie was a shy little creature, but
the one of all the others that would at
tract attention. She was simply and
befttingly clad in a plain white frock,
that. although loosely made, revealed
the grace of her figure. Her gold
brown hair was caught at the back and
fastened by a ribbon and then allowed
to fall in a wavy mass upon her Shout
ders. Her face was whittier than the
faces of the others. and two bright
| crimson patches burned on either cheek.
Her words, her manner. her general
| appearance were those of the noun
tain, but there was a subtle charm
! about her for all that.
All this l noticed from my post across
| the oom from her, and l noticed, too,
that Tom had grown quite animated
and was telling her a story Just as he
own circle. Tom danced with her, not
once, but many times. He missed two
dances, the two / danced with her. He
called me over and presented me in a
very formal manner. She and Tom
were already on good terms, and she
laughed immoderately at everything he
said, whether it was funny or not. She
looked up into his jolly face with an
expression of confidence and trust.
Hank Hester came over TO me with a
puzzled look.
Hes a-makin' love to Susie fit tc
KILL" said he. land she seems to like it.
1t 'ud be awful tough if he was to cut
Sim Ridgely outen her. They're en-
gagged, you know"
He pointed out a very miserable and
MISUNDERSTANDING young man who
was narrowly watching Susie and Tom
with the remark that ''Sim pears to be
a-takin' it purity hard already"
When the dance was over, 1 heard
Tom whisper to Susie and ask if hi
might walk home with her. A look oil
pleasure swept over her earnest face.
" came with SIM mean Sim Ridge
ly," she said, half apologetically, ''and
he'd be mad if 1 left him. Next time
you may go, and won't you coln.
round? Wa live about half way 'tweer
the Hesters and the station" Ton
promised hat he would be around, anc
as we walked home that night he wa.
in jubilant spirits and told me hat h
would have a picnic now, that he hat
found his mountain maiden.
The next day WI say Susie at church
looking even more charming than OF
the night before; and Tom walked hom,
with her, much to the evident discom
fort of Sam Ridgely.
After making Susie's acquaintance
the days seemed to pass easier for Tom
He was with her nearly every day
managing in his ingenious way to FIND
an opportunity to call or meet her some
where. Tom has the happy faculty o
making himself the friend of nearly
everybody with whom he is thrown
etts family and a welcome and priv
LEGGED visitor at their home. Every
night Tom would tell me of the prog