St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-02-24
OPEIOTTsAs. La SATURDAY., FEBRUARY a, 1894

ssbest suit made MN look like u hog In
armor, instead of the honest carpenter
he really was, Damiens' clothes fitted
him TO perfeetion-even the flaming
scarf he wore harrnonized with the
gypsy type of his features Surely there
was nothing very formidable in this
good looking young countryman-then,
why this Huttering sensation in his
presence2
1t was very provoking that the COM
pany seemed to have entered into
conspiracy to give this rustic Don Juan
every opportunity to infiict his obnox-
ious attentions upon her, but she avoid
cd him as much as she could, though
she could never get quite beyond the
fixed gaze of his insolcnt admiration.
The crisis came at last. She had seat
ed herself in low chair in remote
corner, thankful for q little respite
from his prosecutions, when. noticing
her isolation, he flung himself on a seat
bc.ide her and coolly rested his arm on
the back of her chair, while he said in
o tone OF easy nonchalanee:
e~is'Say. HVanda-I may call you Wanda,
mayn't I?-if you will dismiss your pu-
pills at half-past three tomorrow after
noon will call around for you with my
buggy and span Of blacks-they'l be
sight different from Daddy Dolman's
old cripples-and III take you a spin
across country, wherever you please
Glastonbury, If you like, for the nights
are moonlit and the horses arc fine as
silk
There was this plea for his insoleace.
He honestly looked on Miss Arlington
from in his eyes higher social plan;
and in western villages familiarity be-
tween young people Of opposite sexes
ripens with tropical growth unknown
to the ccremonious east.
She was ablaze in q moment.
.sATr. Damiens,' she said, her face as
white as sheet and her lips quivcring,
'"Talye your arm from my chair"
mo otfense," he stamnered, abashed
at her defiant beauty.
''And yourself from my presence"
He was too astonished to move.
II am sure only meant to be friend
ly and ="
Poor girl, she never was intended by
nature to play high tragedy role, and
am afraid her supreme air OF frozen con-
tempt bordered rather on the ridiculous,
as she cast on him glance of wither-
ing contempt and left the room. cheeks
flushing and lips quivering.
Hello, 'Phonse, what hev yer been a
sayin' ter teacher ter rile her SOP" old
/ Al ksTIar 1oatyoH r,fS0r Qf
yer, as her went out"
'.I simply asked Miss Arlington TO
ride in my new buggy tomorrow, and
- she declined" Damiens replied with
| smile, meaning to assure the company
| that he was immensely amused at her
behavior; but his passionate nature re-
bclled against this assumed indifference.
and before Mr.. Dolman could offer his
coincidence he burst out with uncon-
trolled anger: Course the room! How
hot it is. Give me my hat, Jim Dolman,
and, for Heavens sake let me get q
mouthful Of fresh air."
Many were the comments made as he
strobe from the room and slammed the
door behind him, the men enjoying his
discontinue, the women, after the man
ner of their kind, unanimous in their
condemnation of the girls misconduct
''Such silly importance" remarked
one.
'sStuck-up ninxp' sneercd another.
''City manners,I suppose" Martha in
sinuated, with smile which expressed
commiseration for anyone brought vi
in the communicating atmosphere OF 6
metropolis But Jabez. to whom shs
spoke, murmured with a satisfied
| chuckle:
Didn't her sot down on him somei
He jest wanted takin' down a peg Oh
two, an her did it fine, her did"
Martha flashed Indignantly:
You dare not say that to his face
Jabez Short!'
Whcreupon Huldah, who was ready
to tear Jabez Shorts hair for his re
mark, with true feminine consistency
hew to his rescue and gave her sister t
understand that one exhibition OF femi
nine spite was enough for that even
ing's entertainment.
/ Meanwhile Damiens, like wounded
animal, sought solitude. For an houl
or more he paced up and down th'
bank Of the river. his hot blood at feve
heat.
| He felt the indignity of the girls de
mcanor keenly and bitterly, but wha