The Opelousas courier., 1894-11-10
fectly safe on that score, and we might

Mamma was silent if not convinced.
but Harold Phelps remained an agnos
tic. Not that he had any idea that the
splendor of the parlor decorations re.
suited from the plundering of the
china closet. The purchase Of the
stuff" as he called it. was but anoth'
er bit of girlish extravaganza.
II thought better of you, Elinor,'
j he said, viewing the table with evident
disgust. Nobody knows what l have
suffered in other peoples parlors lit
tered with dining-room trash. Posi-.
lively, when l see one of those ever.
lasting little tables with its four OF
six Or twelve cups ! am tempted to be.
come profane Or to stealthily tip it
over. l know l shall do so some time.
What will people drag into their par.
lors next? I.had hoped nj spot might
remain unprofaned by the rage for
china"
Elinor's scarlet lip curled, but she
kept silence. Had she spoken she
would have been rude. something I'M
pardonable in a Van Tooker. Harold
Phelps had laughed at her Theosoph.
zeal society, he had doubted the in.
fallibility of Ibsen, he had publicly de,
clared that he didn't car and worst
of all, he had intimated thatif Mamma
Van lockers French had not been
that of Stratford ate Bowe she would
have hustled out of the house uncere-
moniously certain volumes which lit.
tered the library table. Still, Elinor
credited all this to the fact hat young
men do not like intellectual young
women, and that he thus covered his
humiliation at having fallen in love
with her. But to hout her cherished
china was an objectionable offense.
That Harold and she had been sweet.
hearts since he wore knickerbockers
and her dusky hair fell in ripples yer
her shoulders-Miss Van Tooker de-
tested curls-did not, as might be sup
posed, facilitate the course Of true
love. Neither did Harold's bank &C
count, for she, foolish girl, had scruples
and feared people would say she bar
tered the Van Tooker claims of long
descent for mere money. The p%erfec-
ton If Harold's attire did not win her
heart, for being intellectual she rather
aSp3Sred the ill-fitting coats and lavish
display of throat affected by the pro-
fessors who addressed her various So
cieties. So when he ventured to offer
her his heart and hand on the very
evening he laughed at her china, her
sharp mo-" proclaimed so clearly the
cause of his discontinue that he
smiled to himself in spite of his disap-
pointment.
OF these things Elinor was thinking
when the bell tinkled and Christine,
appearing from the laundry, usbered
into the room a young lady whose fur
wrapping and a fluff of yellow hair
shone brightly.
Nell, you darling how ar, you?"
Gilmore emerged from the sealskin
embrace and held her friend at arms
length while she inspected her.
Elizabeth Ware, I wrote you a
letter last night addressed to River
side, Cal, and now you walk into our
parlor as calmly as though you had
announced your arrival weeks ago"
II came h%urriedly. We are on our
way to New York to meet Harry.
Isn't 1t too lovely? I've volumes to
tell you and / know I'll never get
through in three hours. Mamma was
driving out this way, and l begged
meet me downtown later on"
Another ring at the bell. The long
suffering Christine again discarded
her apron, rolled down her sleeves
and this time ushered in Harold
Phelps.
Miss Ware, to speak POLITICALLY, I've
been following a tress of your yellow
hair all morning. Irwin Brown told
you were in town. but l doubt
whether instinct would have led me
here when / missed you at the hotel if
/ hadn't caught a glimpse of your hair
in a carriage coming this way. 1
thought | couldn't be mistaken, SO
here l am in pursuit Of information"
Harold, / find you are as cruel as
ever; at your old tricks of raising my
hopes only to let them fall again.
First. you have been in pursuit of me;
I'm immensely fattered. Next, it's
only for what know; I'm of secondary
Importance"
First, always, because without you
and if Julia did not learn the name of
that perfectly delightful boarding
place with those elegant people you
described in your last letter before she
starts out west tomorrow she would
never forgive me. Besides, 1 assure
you, ! really wanted to see for myself
the wonderful effect upon you of our
Italy"
Then you must stay for lunch; can't
he, Nell? There isn't time to see
and it will take hours to tell it.
Nobody understands going west until
she has tried it, SO | shall begin at the
very first. When she goes to buy her
ticket
Elinor with an assumed calm
would have been awful had her
guests understood it.
Certainly; / shall be delighted to
you stay, Mr.. Phelps. Unjust tell
Content that you are here, Bessie. Go
on with your instructions to Mr..
Phelps; ! will return in a moment"
"Elinor Van Tooker," moaned Con-
tent, what In the world do you mean?
Company to lunch, Christine washing,
and nothing to eat! You have lost your
senses
use yours then. Content. She in
vited herself and of course / am very
glad to e her, but Bessie has always
had everything and can,t nnderstand