The Opelousas courier., 1893-11-18

tool occasion 10 convey to MI. River
ton q warning hint of what her father
expected of them in the future.
Jack knew-as did most of the
souire's acquaintances-that despite a
ssoood heart at bottom" the old gen
tleman was apt to take up absurd ana
unreasonable preiudices, and to stick
to them with tenacious obstlnacy-
especially when he found himself oP-
posed. But on this occasionthe young
mans spirit rose in high rebellion, ana
it took all Eva's influence to pacily
him.
ono. Jack" she said, with gentle
6rmness, in reply to his excited re-
marks. styou must not speak to papa
at present. It would only make mat
tiers worse while he is in h Ii mooo;
| We can do nothing but wait and see II
in time he won't yield to more reason
able Impressions
In time!" repeated Jack, i'm.
patiently. "Why, EVE, he dont
| change his views on any subject within
! five years time -, tg1
suppose we shall have to wait, even IL
| it is as long as that.
One day the squire, returning from
| his morning ride, found his daughter
and his sister seated in the pleasant
little sitting-room opening upon the
garden. o4,u
Eva's white fingers were deity
~fashioning some r~ose-colored ribbons
into dainty knots and loops.
"What are those for?" her tne
innuired. as he seated himself IN his
own big armchair and untoided 9lf
paper while glancing admiringly atthe
silken stuff. 49,.
"To wear at the lawn party thl'
evening, papa. And you will go Will
us, of c~ourse?"
"a lawn party7 All, ] had for
gotten! Well, where is it to beat
the Lyens'P"
"At the Rivertons'," Miss Maddo1
said.
He gcGGtwled as he roughly shook ou'
his paper. d,
"Idon't wish to interfere with YOU
pleasures or enjoyments, Eva" n
said. "but I would rather that yo1
should not go to this party at tn
Rivertons'."
She knew that when her father ex
pressed a wish, it was intended as
command. and her hands dropped
listlessly into her lap, crushing tn
crisp ribbons. Tears forced them
selves between the long lashes, an
she presently rose and quietly left tn
room.
Then Miss Maddox looked up fror
her own work, and there was some
thing unusual in her expression.
"Archibald," she said, gravely, {"
have something to say to you.
would warn you not to carry TIL
. matter too far, nor to be too har
upon Eva and Jack Riverton, lest yo'
drive her into open disobedience an
even an e~lopement."
: san elopementl ".
His sister took from the little work
box which Eva had left on the table
8 folded letter.
9 Il found this here, just where 70
see that she keeps it. Perhaps
ought not to have read it, seeing tha
6 it is a love letter but, under the Gil
| cumstances, l consider it my duty t
let you know the contents. Will 20
1 read it.. or shall I do so?'
q The squire replied with q sort {
0 i~narticulate grunt, which his siste
interpreted in her own way, an
8 accordingly commenced reading
: aloud:
"'My own precious angel, Eva"
ssBah!" said the squire, with an e
, preston of unutterable disgust.
Z " since a cruel and relentless fate at pre-
ent forbids our meeting, I can but take II
q unsatisfactory method OF nun
with you. and telling you, my own deafe
. darling. of how unspeakably and unutteraf
Q dear you are to me-"
: "The fooll" muttered the squire.
"'oh, my souls beloved"
sFor heavens sake, Matilda, spa
!. mo II more of that sickening q
idiotic stuff! Why, it's worse ev'
. that / would have thought jack Rive
ton capable of. What were you sa
1 ing about an elopement9"
"It is this" answered his siste
: glancing down the page:
y "I fnd that I cannot exist apart frt
b you, and since your unfeeling father"
i
q "Humphl"
% "t-will not consent to our union, we mi
take our fortunes into u own hands a
/" defy any, earthly power to keep
asunder.'"
= "The rascal" cried the squi1
starting erect In his chair.
/, But his sister put out her har
ct d~eprecatingly.
"Hear the rest, Archibaldl"
u mot another wordl The idea OF
il rascal and idiot like that presuming
court my daughter"
re tfBut at least hear the last lines;
Goodnight, my souls beloved \
in angels fan you TO slunnbeF with their
- granee-laden wings and In your drea
- think OF your own devoted
ARCHIBALD MADDOX
1e There was a blank, bewilder
nause.