St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-11-23
AN HONORABLE PRECEDENT.

AN HONORABLE PRECEDENT.
BY II. ID. MARRIOTT-WATsON.
"But don't you think" /" said to Miss
Hewitt, that the end justifies the
means" She shook her head. ''Oh,
no." she said: that's Jesuitical" swell
now, here's an example," suggested.
"fou are anxious to sell the contents
of this stall, aren't you?" ''Oh, yes"
responded Miss Hewitt. '.And You
would be delighted If someone were to
come and buy it all up? It would be
OF such use to the charity" Certain
ly," said Miss Hewitt, promptly. And
would vex Miss Chudleigh over the
way?" l added. Miss Hewitt looked at
me with suspicion, but I'm sure L was
very demures '>Oh, IL would be nice, of
course, to b successful" she assented.
1T would mean 6fty pounds" MAY
! trouble You tor another ice," said
i. feeling that was bound to do some
thing after that Thank you-straw-
berry. Well, as was saying, If you
could find a means Of getting rid Of all
this. and thereby benefting the
charity by SO much, you would feel dis
posed to take it, even If it wasn't
quite-well-quite, you know" Il
wouldn't do anything dishonest" put
in Miss Hewitt quickly. 'Oh, l wasn't
talking of anything dishonest" pro-
tested. 81 was only thinking that
there might be other means, not dis
honest, you know, but just little
well, not quite conventional, you
know"
"What sort Of means7" asked Miss
Hewitt curiOusly. 'sWhy now, said,
'.you have sold very little all the day.
haven't youe" Miss Hewitt bit her
lips. and disconsolate look came into
her face. while I've been here" l
said, '.you have only disposed of two
pairs of stockings, one woolen COM
forter for the hot weather, and a sort
ola kind of didn't quite see, but l
thought it loo kcd like a" II know
haven't sold much," broke in Miss
Hewitt hastily, and tn slight ac-
cession of color. ''You have only
bought few ices" / looked medita-
tive. $50 have" said, feeling that
another call was made upon me- Il
wonder if Imight-no; perhaps better
not. suppose you haven't such a
thing as a baby's perambulator. Miss
HEWITT" Miss Hewitt was not amused;
she had only an eye to a bargain.
NO" she said eagerly, I'm afraid l
haven't; but I've got a very nicely
dressed cradle, and some rattles-and
-" ''Ah," said I, shaking my head,
''I'm afraid it's not old enough for
those things" She sighed, and
glanced across the way, where Miss
Chudleigh was engaged in a roaring
trade. Il think l might have one
more ice," l said very bravely. 1t
was not SO very hard. after all; the
heat was very great, and they soon
melted.
Miss Hewitt was very nice about it
"Are you sure you ought to?" she
asked, doubtfully. Miss Hewitt" :"
said /, ''you are much too scrupulous.
That is the reason of your failure.
And yet you would have sold me a
cradle and rattles with perfect equa-
nimity, knowing that l am bachelor.
The Inconsistency of your sex is puz-
zle," 1 remarked, shaking my head.
.'Oh, but didn't think about that"
said she, with a blush. II only thought
you wanted Come then" said,
''what would you do to get rid of all
your articles of commerce." Miss
Hewitt's eyes opened. "Oh, if l could
only do THAR she exclaimed. well,
how far would you be prepared to go
Tor it?' said l, insinuatingly. She
paused ibid give up the ball to-
night, she exclaimed, impulsively. 1
shock my head Il have no means of
gauging the value Of that renuncia-
tion,' said, thoughtfully; "but possi-
bly, 1t is greater than the one l know
which would enable you 10 sell your
stall" ''Oh, do you know a way?" she
cried, Sreathlessly. ''Why. certainly"
said l, still rehectively. "Mr. Randall.
tell me" she pleaded, clasping her
hands and putting her elbows on the
stall She looked eagerly into my
face. l really had no notion until that
moment, but somehow her action put
1t into my head "Have you ever heard
OF the beautiful duchess of Devon
shire, Miss He witt?" askeu.
Miss Hewitt leaned, staring at me
for q moment, and then a look of in
telligence came into her eyes, her
color started and she moved away. Il
don't think you should make that
kinds of jests," she remarked, disdain-
fully. Its not a jest, i answered, re-
Assuringly. Then, you're all the hor-
rider" she returned, feigning to be
busy with her commerce. But" l
said, in perplcxity, 81 don't see-I only
asked you if you remembered the
duchess of Devonshire-the one what's
his name painted, you know" Miss
He witt was much embarrassed; her
face took on many expressions ''But
you" she began and stopped. do
you N0ssnber herr" I asked. ''Of
course, said Miss Hewitt, snappishly.
..Weu. hen," ! said. why am hor-
rid?" xA&pAid mo no sttention, but
began shifting the things upon the
stall in reckless way. ''Oh!' l ex-
claimed, suddenly,''I see what you
were thinking of-you thought I meant
- see now. You thought 1 was ad-
v,siue you to cell" Miss Hewitt got
redder taan ever II Ididn't think any
thing of the Sort" she exclaimed, hur-
riedlv. and dasting away at nothing,
s.and / wish you'd GO away II you're