The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-09

ne knew the lIn9e S~Ae
lnouoh, It was Tom Danforthl
uIaid up2" that young man demand
ed, coming in breezily, big and broad
s~houldeted and b~right-eyed and cheerful:
uToo bad! On your lungs9 Have you
tried a capsicum plastera | can get you
one in five minutes if you want me TO-"
ats in my head" said George dls-
mally. But he smiled his pleasure at
Tom panforth's appearance, and wrung
the young mans hand and took his coat
and hat. "I'm glad you came glad to
see youl Stay to lunch, won't youf
Have this foot-rest, Constance is home
up stairs" he said, in a breath. "Just
wait" he ended, eagerly. I'll go
get her."
But he came back sulkily.
"she vert out with Kate, it seems
he explained in an injured manner. ~
didn't know it. They're always gaddlng
about. Have some naraschino or some
thingg" d,
oCordial at this hour of the daya'
Tom protested, looking the SOU OF reas'
surfing good nature and betraying no ex'
c;tement at the fact of Constance's
absence.
He even took up d newspaper.
s.He doesn't care," George unused,
gloomily. maybe he isn't in love with
her after ALL"
And he sat and eyed his stalwart
friend, and thought what a husband he
wnuld have made for Constance, and
how blind and contrary and exasperating
they all were and how helpless he him
self was to arrange matters as they ought
to be arranged.
He fell into unhappy silence.
"Has the cashier Of the Freeseborough
Bank really gone off with the fundss"
said Tom, with his handsome nose in the
paper. "There's q rumor to that effect.
Stewards his name. He's rich enough
ANYHOW. He ought to be"
The bell .againt
II was Mrs. Parftt, looking pretty and
pink checked after the fresh air, and as
blithe do though gong to the Carpen.
ters' reception in her old beaded wrap
were not going to be a horrid necessity.
ooh; you, Toma" she cried, cordially.
81 am SO glad! Poor George is 50
wretched with that cold, and you can
cheer him up!" =.
81 don't need cheering up" said
George, budding his shawl closer.
where is Constance7"
"Conny" said Mrs. Par6tt, brightly.
"ob, we met Hugh Dudley in his cart,
and he took Conuy along with him.
What a stylish turnout he has"
Mrs. ParaEtt unpinned her bonnet.
"He did, did he?"
Her husband tWitched in his chair so
violently that his elbow knocked the
einger-tea cup to the floor.
Tom picked it up.
II wonder if that scamp has taken
the money, if it will burst the bauks" he
said. sits a shame!"
aWhat bankp Mrs. Parftt ques-
tened.
And an animated discussion ensued.
Mrs. Parftt knew the defaulting cash
ier's daughter Tom Danforth had known
| his brother. George, who knew more
/ about him than either of them, contri.
buted nothing to the conversation.
He leaned back and shut his eyes,
three distinct vertical lines showing be.
tween them. He confessed TO himself
that be was entirely out Of temper; but
he had-certainly he had-ample cause
for being so-ample distracting cause.
He begun to think about golrg up and
going to bed a. a temporary escape fion,
his Affections.
"And I'm sorry enough for Sally
stewart-There's Connyp said Mrs.
Parftt. assid she shouldn't be gone
long"
Constance came sweeping in. Her
stylish long dress trailed after her with
fine effect. Her light coat was open. and
showed the white silk vest Of her dress.
Her little hat set back prettily on her
fair hair which was blown into
many straying tsndrils.
George thought, with q mental gtoan,
that che had never looked 30 lovely.
"Oh, Tom, youa" Constance cried,
quite as Mrs. Parftt had done.
And then, not at all as Mrs. Psrdti
had done, she gave him both her hands
and-it was no hallucination, it was q
fact-and let him kiss her.
She turned upon her cousin with he.
blue eyes sweetly dewy.
"Do you like it, Georges" she said.
fare you glada know you like Tom.
Aren't you pleaseda We'd have told
you before, but we've only been engaged
a week, and nobody but Kate has known
it so far"
"And l thought / wouldn't blurt il
OUT" said Tom, standing, flushed and
beaming. 81 thought I'd let COMFY tell
you, you know"
care you two engsgedp George
reared. He sought vainly to get his
wife's eye. "Then how about Hugh
Dudleyfo
"Mr. Dudley9" said Constance,
vaguely. "Oh, George! You haven
thoncht that Hugh Dudley wanted me
or / him9 why, it's all about Grace
Quinby. They were engaged, you know,
and then they had some ridiculous
trouble or other; and Grace and l have
been so chummy ever since I've. been
here that Mr.. Dudley came right to me
with il. He's been here two or three
times to tell mi things to tell her, and
I've told her all of them. for Grace was
foolish and hasty, and it really wasn't
Mr.. Dudley's fault at all, and I've been
anxious for them to make it up. And
now they have. He came this morning
to get me to 60 taere with him, and he
met me on the street and NJ went. And
| Grace. began to CRY when she saw him,