The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-26

The girl laughed.
81 thought you were too deep in
politics to be listening" she said,
''but if you want to know Stanley has
just bet me six to one"
"That she won't walk down the
Grand Rue at MONDAY in the fisher
girl costume she admires so much"
interrupted Stanley.
Percy Rivers threw his paper on the
ground, rose, and crossed the room.
"What nonsense is this?" he asked
sternly, facing his younger brother
and sister.
Ethel shrugged her shoulders.
"You are always a spoil sport, Per.
cy," she said plaintively 'sit is as dull
as ditch water with you stepping in to
stop every bit of fun. Where's the
harm IN this? I dare say, for all
your long face and priggish manner,
that you had plenty Of larks in your
time."s
ON Percy's brow grew sterner.
Sam [ to understand, Ethel" he
said, shat you purpose masquer-
aiding here in a foreign town."
Ethel nodded.
"Call it what you like" she said
d%oggedly. 81 am going to dress up as
a fshwife the costume is most becom-
ing. Stan can withdraw his bet; I
shall do it just the same"
81 forbid you, Ethel"
A defiant look answered him.
"We'n see," she said saucily. sI'm.
off to consult madame" And with q
glance at Stanley she left the room.
Chow could you be SO senseless,
Stanley?" said his brother angriIy as
the door closed. "Now she will carry
out this ridiculous farce"
"Don't fly into a passion, Percy"
returned the young fellow calmly.
81 had no idea she vas really in
earnest"
"Look here" said Percy grimIy, 81
wash my hands of you both, but I de-
pend on you, Stanley, to keep her out
of any scrape this tomfoolery leads
to-"
"All right, old fellow, but you can
be easy. Ethel won't come to grief"
Miss Rivers, in the meanwhile, was
closeted in madame's sanctum behind
the shop. The Lenoirs were jewellers,
but mother and daughter would have
found their income precarious enough
without the money accruing from the
first and second floors, now occupied
BY the Riversea. It was policy, there
fore, to be obliging, SO though Nine.
Lenoir was shocked at the proposed
escapade, and inwardly apostrophized
the English as ga mad lot," she ex-
pressed great interest.
ST think I can find mademoiselle
the dress she requ ires," she said, all
smiles and sm1rks.
"You dear woman" exclaimed Ethel
delighted. "How? Where? OF
course, it must be new"
Madame nodded.
"Leonie," addressing her daughter,
"Josephine would lend hers, eh?"
"What? "cried Leonie shrillv.
"Her wedding dress-neyer!"
Madame regarded Ethel.
"Mademoiselle would be very care
full of it, would she not?" she said.
"Oh, yes" replied the young lady
eagerly. 81 only want it for an hour.
But will it fit me?'
The French oma surveyed Ethel
from top to toe critically.
eyes," she said, "mademoiselle is
the.rame height" Then with d wink
atspSLeonie: "How much will made
.~Aoselle pay for the loan?"
"The cost is the least part" replied
the girl quickly. 81 leave that to you,
dear madame"
Madame's arched eyebrows and hand
gesture said plainly: "Tho folly of
these people! |" and she instantly re-
solved to take advantage of the said
folly to do a stroke of business on her
own account. Independent Of the
Commission" she intende'l to charge
Josephine when the bargain was con
II will send about the costume OF
once," she said aloud. "And, Jo-
sephine, if she shall bring it
TO show m~ademoiselle this evening. 1t
IS all complete except"
Except what 2g,ssssnterrupted Ethel
as madame paused, while
Leonie looked wonderingly at her
mother.
"The long earrings" replied the
french woman suavely. "Mademoiselle
Inows they are an essential part Of the
Iress, and Josephine would not care
lend them" J
"But-" began Leonie. !,
Afrown from madame cut her short.
"Mademoiselle must buy a pair of
cal gold Ones" suggested the shrewd !.
radeswoman, with a triumphant
,lance at her daughter !; and leading
he unresisting Ethel into the shop she {
howed her several pairs of handsome
earrings. !,
"You ninny," said madame to Lee |
ME, with o reproving shake of the !
lead,' when Ethel. having selected, {
an off with her treasures. "You I
Jimmy, will you never learn to open /
'ou mouth for the ripe fruit to tumble :
q it?'' !
The Boulognaise fish girl proved !
eady to oblige the English lady, and .
sthel was summoned downstairs that {
vening. I
This il Josephine, Mees Etc" said J
Madame, By way Of introduction, !
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