The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-21

it. You ought to be in our family. I'll
marry you yet. and my mother shall be
as glad to get you as l, for | love you,
Phyllis"
If you do you will never mention
the subject to me again, for not onlyd do
l not love you in the least, but | can't
even respect Il man of your w~cll-known
habits. I've demonstrated with you
often, and you won't even try to give
them up. You make a bad lover; you
would make a worse husband"
IN reform if you'll marry me-. If
could be with you always l couldn't
help being better"
Try it alone first. You are going
downhill fast. Be a man for the sake
of your own manhood, and not to please
a weak woman"
Il can't. need your daily help"
"You shall have it." said, eagerly.
Come and see me every day if you
like"
NO, | mean your hourly presence. /
must be sure of you first. | want to re-
form for my wife. Dear Phyllis, please
say yes"
NO, no!' 1 said. Il hope You won't
think me unkind, but | can't
''Unkind.' he echoed. Il think you
are the cruelest girl [ ever knew. l
don't believe you love me at all"
why, of course l don't! Did you
think"
Il think you have driven me to de-
spair. And when the worst comes just
say to yourself. This is my work. /
alone could have saved him, and [
wouldn't"
Il shan't." | said: hastily and inele-
gantly. Because 1t isn't: it won't be;
| don't"
phyllis, you little think what you
have done to-day. If you persist, you
have deliberately destroyed a mans
soul. Mems souls are in the hands of
! women. Mine is in yours. What will
you do with it?."
As%lsual, l was badly frightened. l
felt faint, but | stood up and held out
both hands to him, saying tremblingly:
Il give it back to you just as l re-
ceived it. / dare not undertake the re-
sponsibility. Make of it what you
will"
He crushed both my hands in his and
then flung them from him.
IN go to the devil them he said,
and-I think he kept his word.
One day came ar offer from a man
who had loved me ever since l was a
little girl and who is the only lover |
ever had who became my friend after
ward. 1t seems to me l must always
have known that he loved me, and he
is still 50 unselfish and patient a friend
that always think of him as unehsng-
ing. All that he said was:
phyllis. we have gone this far in
life apart. Can't We go the rest of the
way together?!' And when / said No
and began to excuse myself he stopped
me:
Dear girl, don't say that to me.
have loved you much o. long and too
well not to know you. | understand
all you would say. Trust me as l trust
you, and forget everything l ever said,
except that my heart aches with love
for you. Remember hal always.
Shall we walk on?"
l was SO dismayed by his abrupt dis
missal Of the subject that | nearly fell
down instead. How conventionality
helps one through a crisis.
The last one was from a man at a
ball. On his dress coat. as he claimed
me for a waltz. was a long white
thread. l smilingly called his atten.
ton to it and took it off. My sister
saw me, and knowing things were in
that interesting condition when a wore
would precipitate matters, thought tt
tease me by saying:
who is it that says if a woman will
take the trouble to pick a thread from
a mans coat, that man may have hel
for the asking??" She laughed glee
away.
The first time we stopped to prone
made, my partner glanced down at ms
and there. caught in the flowers of my
gown. was this same long thread. Ii,
bent down to take it off just as W,
came to a clearing among the dancers
What are You doing?" l said.
I'm picking threads off your coat,
he repeated, stepping in front of me
VIII you: i Dug ne meant WOuls
I go on with the waltz. / laid m,
hand in his and we melted into GU
places.
did you UNDERESTIMATE he whispered
Now. it is bad enough to have to re
fuse a man on the sofa, but to have t.
do it when you are in his very arms
when, while he tells you over and owe
that ha lnunS Won ho CON aSlY
with z hand pressure without reproof
when every second you are impercepti
bly, being drawn closer and closer, unit
the wretched truth dawns upon yol
that the music and the dance are sec