The Opelousas courier., 1894-04-28

S"4AS "SAS ~ SPfSA N
the parlor windows were lighted; but
that was always the case on Sunday,
when Maria's beaux we're calling on
her.
As he stepped into the kitchen entry
he was greeted with a savory odor Of
pies and cake, and saw that the table
was nicely set with the best moss rose
bud tea set. Maria, who had heard
his step, came to meet him.
"Oh, Dan, I wanted to tell You!
We've got company arrived-mother's
cousin Lydia and her daughter Dora.
They've been visiting Uncle Erasmus,
in Huttonville and to-day he's brought
them over to spend some days with us.
I hope they'll stay longer, for they're
such pleasant people! Step up stairs
and brush yourself up, for supperll
be ready in a minute
'sBotheri [ won't go in to supper.
They needn't know that I'm here"
"Now, Dan, I wouldn't be doing
anything more to vex mother. She's
worried enough about you already ;
and I've left her in the parlor with
Cousin Lydia to talk over old times;
and Dora's helping me to get supper.
She's the incest grill"
Maria disappeared; and Dan, as he
stood h~esitating, had a view into the
neat kitchen.
There he saw a slender and very
pretty girl, with dark eyes and hair,
arranging the cups and saucers, and he
noticed how daintilv she handled them,
and how light and graceful her mo.
tions were! And also her sweet voice,
as she laughingly replied to some re-
mark of Maria! It struck him that
he had never before seen the kitchen
look SO bright and cheerful.
He stole up stairs, and carefully
brushed his hair and put on a more
becoming tie. Then he came down
and was introduced to Dora.
She stepped forward with a smiit
and gave him her hand, and as Dan
met the clear. frank eyes, it seemed to
him that a sort of sunshine stole into
his heart, partially dispelling its gloom.
And as he sat and looked at and
listened to her, his face gradually soft
ened and assumed a c~heerfulness which
it had not worn for many a day.
He did not go out after supper, al
though he had half promised Ben
Howells to have a talk with him about
that enlisting business. And next day
he hung around the house on some
pretense or other, getting little
glimpses of and brief chats with Dora.
Maria saw it, but prudently said
nothing-only managing to throw
th~m together as much as possible.
"Dan," she said, next day, pre-
tending to be in a great hurry, "can
you spare time to help Dora shell
those peas? I'm SO busy, and the
pea must be on the fire in ten min
utes to be in time for dinner"
So Dan sat down, and while she'll
ing the peas, watched Dora's deft fin
gers as they split the crisp pods and
dropped the little, shining green balls
into the bowl.
SCI guess you're not used to work
much" he said, noticing how white
tne we're.
"Aint II" she said, laughingly.
'tJust ask mother about that. / do
most Of the work at home help to
cook and clean, and ] sew, and find
time to play on the piano"
"Do you9" said Dan, who was very
fond of music. 81 wish that Maris
had a piano, but she never cared to
learn to play"
"You will make a nice wife for
somebody, Dora, with all those accom-
plishments," Maria said.
Dan glanced up, with a sudden
twinge of jealousy. He wondered l.
she were engaged; nor did he feel en-
tirely at his ease until he had learned
from Cousin Lydia herself that,
though Dora had plenty of beaux, she
had never shown a preference for any
any one in particular.
"Cousin Dan," said Dora, as the
two sat on the front porch in the twi-
light, "they tell me that you are
thinking of going to sea or enlisting
for q soldiery
"Well," he answered, a little sheep
isbly, II hadn't made up my min.
about it"
"'Twould be a pity to leave your
mother, wouldn't it? She would mis-
you sol"
He felt half mortified that he should
appear to her SO heartless.
81 don't know that | was really il
earnest about going. / felt somehow
restless and dissatisfied. and did no:
know exactly what / wanted. I guess
I needed a change Of some sort. But
I'm getting over it now"
II hope you are. I don't see how
you could wish to leave this pleasant
home for the hard life of q sailor or
soldier"
"Do you think it pleasant" he
asked, with q sudden light of interest
in his eyes.
81 think it one of the sweetest
homes ! have ave SEEM she answered,
frankly.
And then there was a moments. 81
lence.
Dora" eaid Dan, slowly, ssif you
think I'd better not go, I won't"
And then he blushed at his own
boldness, and strangely enough, Dora
blushed, too.
A day or two after. MRS. -awson salo
to her son:
"Dan'el, my son, You were talking
about wantinga tonic, and I've spoken
to the ministers wife concerning you.
She says you're needing quinine and
calomef. or gentian."
snaOh, never. mind, mother! ! guess