St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-09-14

/ ana IrlvOlltleS attcr fow years OF en-
forced companionship. There's . vasl
difference, little Alice. I can tell you
in summer Irritation on the deck ot
an ocean steamship crossing to Havrs
and lifelong companionship with q
nice, shallow fellow, accustomed x
have his way in everything, and te
| consult his own convenience first and
foremost. As for that intense devo
ton which makes all sacrifice OF
| oneself sublime pleasure. you need
not expect any manifestations of the
kind from Charlie Cameron. He's q
nice fellow, but that sort Of heroi cs is
simply not in him.
But. after all, Miss Alice. what are
You besides a sweet writer of sweet
unmeaning notes, dear and charm
ing young woman, admirably gowned,
who looks forward with delight to
her trip to Europe, nor has a single
,, word of regret at parting with those
she ruthlessly leaves behind, although
she full well knows the bitter pain she
infiicts.
So I've burned her dainty scented
Tennessee mountains this summer,
when I'll forget all about her, lovely
little humbug-if can.
What are you doing. old man? De
stroying your correspondence" said
Cameron, coming le:surely in and
drawing reading chair to the open
window. Very sensible thing to do.
Never leave letters or bills scattered
about. Servants are the very devil
for prying into a mans letters Must
have been scented, Judging from the
pleasant odor of violets around. What
makes You look so blue? Light cigar
and moralize, and you'll feel better.
Guess that note did it. Now let me
give you a tip about wOman's cor
respondence and way of writing. 1t
might make you feel better.
something I've learned by expert
ence. and a pretty long and varied and
sharp experience mine has been. l can
tell you. Whenever you get note or
a letter from a woman-I mean, OF
course. young and pretty woman
read it carefully, and, whenever she
expresses opinion or sentiment, then
believe the contrary of what she
writes. You have no idea what safe
rule that is to follow. A man is sure
to come out straight in her good
graces and to avoid lot Of unpleas-
antness if he will bear that in mind.
Personally I've found it to work splen-
didly."
Nhereupon Cameron lit a cigar and
took up a palmetto fan from the
table.
is that 500 Then you would not be
lieve that young woman was de-
lighted to go off Immediately on a five
months absence abroad if she only
told you so''
''Of course not. a man must be very
green, or very unsophisticated where
women are concerned, to believe that,
if she wrote specially to tell him SO.
In that case she meant to say: My
dear boy, am desperately sorry l., go
away and leave you. l can't say SO
outright, so do the next best taing.
l wrote to tell you am going, and !
am glad, and if you are not a fool you
will understand and do the proper
thing"
OF course, Cameron is clever. have
always said of him that he is egotis-
tical. but l have never denied his
brains l don't know but what look
upon him now as an unrevealed genius.
Perhaps, if he had not been largely en-
dowed with the good things of this
world. he would have shown his great
capacities by some wonderful inven-
ton.
And in your opinion what would be
the proper thing to do? What would
you doo" asked, gathering up gently
the poor little heap of ashes, the worth
less remains of Alice's sweet, misunder-
stood and harshly treated note.
What would l do?" answered Cam
eron reHectively, tipping the ashes of
his cigar with his little finger. You
say she's handsome, and young and
rich?s
1 had not, but it was all true. What
[ had doubted was her sincerity.
In that case" continued Cameron,
Il would 60 to see her, with the inten-
ton of saying good-by. and 1 would
propose to her, and l would go abroad
with her this summer on the same
she crosses in.
THAT was evidently the invitation
yiven you in that note you SO foolishly
burned. my dear boy. l suppose she
wants to have you along while she ex-
,lores the old cathedrals and art gal
cries and climbs up the Alps. Now.
lon't fall over some precipice or get
.aught in some snowstorm in the early
all, before you get back to these
hores.' concluded Cameron, while
swept the ashes of my sweet, ill-used
tote with mingled emotions into an
.mpty envelope, which put in my vest
rocket.
And look here, old man." said Cam
ron, as shook hands, having called |
lp a coupe. better not mention that
'ou burned that note. Women are pc.
uliar in some ways. Don't like to
ave their letters ill-treated. Looks
and as If you had ugly |
houghts about them. l bet you
hought that handsome young woman
vas an insincere little humbug."
"Why, man, thought she wanted to
'et rid of me-" l said. Il was puzzling |
'ver her meaning when you came in"
so saw" said Cameron. with an
unused smile. resuming his palmetto
an and pulling closer into the window
@ catch the south breeze. Now just
ct me tell you-I have had large ex-
'erience of women. as said just now.
Veil. Alice Dacres is the sweetest,
most loyal and most sincere woman ]
yer came across. Her face. beautiful
S it is. can't compare to her soul, as
-ou'n find out for yourself some OF
nese days You are not fit for her,
I'D fellow, l must say. But she fancies
'ou. so suppose it's all right Go and
ell her good-by. and propose to her as
suggested. The idea of burning that
weet child's note. and to think that
'ou misunderstood her besides; you
ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Il would be if l had the time,''
aid, impatient ut delay. as the coupe
lrove up. Good night" 1 said.
Thanks for the benefit of that ex
e L