The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-31

HER EYES WANDERED AWAY FROM 1T.
a studio for you, with u big north light
and all con encnces. Then, again, if
you would have liked to come here to
spend your honeymoon, I would have
vacated tho place for a month. and let
you have it all to yourselves.
For the accommodations l should
have offered you I should have charged
you no moro than what your living
would cost mo. Certainly not overS7 q
week each. For tho rent Of my studio,
I should have asked you one landscape
painting every year.
/ was most cheerfu!ly impressed by
the prospect thus laid before me.
My dear sir, exclaimed, you are
generous, indeed. Will you make me
the Same offer if bring some other lady
here as my wife,"
"No, sir, cried the Ma or. striking his
knee with his broad hanl; mo. sir, l
will not. Iknow all about Miss Weldon,
and l have formed great fancy for her.
known women"
So saying he rose abruptly to his feet,
walked to q window, raised the shade
and looked out into tho night. re-
NAMED gazlny into tho cheerful fire.
The enthusiasm Of this man had had Il
powerful effect upon me. I was actu-
ally thinking what a. delightful thing it
would be to marry Miss Weldon.
1t was not tho first time that this
thought had come into my mind but it
had always boon promptly dispellod. AS
l told my host. was not marrying
man-at least [ considered that my
financial circumstances gave me no
right to be one. But now the state of
affairs seemed to DO entirely changed.
So far as pccuniary circumstances We're
concerned, there was no reason why I
should not be married tomorrow, and
the perception Of this fact sot me in a
glow. Tho Major now returned to tho
fire.
"Hello!" he cried: "your face looks as
if you were getting converted"
1t may DO that 1 am" l said; you
are powerful preacher"
He stepped quickly toward me and
clapped his hands upon my should r..
Now" ho said. you arc on the right
road. Don't hesitate, don't look to tho
right or tho loft, don't stop to consider,
don't reason, but 50 straight ahead and
ask that young woman to be your vito.
The fact that you arc beginning to feel
converted shows that you want her, and
indeed should have q very small op;n-
ion Of YOU II You didn't want her. Ask
her Tomorrow morning; ask her in this
house before YOU 80 Into tho crowd of
Delivers, whe:o you will have no
chance ut all. I'll see to it that you
have every chance hore."
Major. said J, rising. Il have the
greatest mind in tho world to do it.
You have PIT before me opportunities
which did not suppose to exist. You
have stirred up feelings in mo that l
thought wero long ago conquered and
quoted; you have
Now, my dear boy" interrupted the
Major. don't say another word. Go to
your room while YOU are in this mind,
go to bed and 90 to sleep. Don't en-
slider this or that OF any other thing.
Keep your mind OIL the one fact that you
are going to propose to Miss Weldon in
tho morning. Above all, don't think
about me. Don't imagine that perhaps
! am not going to suit your fancies. |
will give you my word that if I don t
suit, or can't make myself suit, I'll clear
out. I'll take the risk Of all that"
, Very good" said |. I'll 20 to my
room, for it is past country bedtime, and
I'll keep my mind on the subject you
have brought up before me. But what
Of that regents punch you were going to
brew"
Not drop, sir, not drop ex-
claimed tho Major. when men want
cheering up, and havo nothing to do
afterward, a glass Of punch OF winter
night is very good thing. but in 4
case like this We want Gear heads.
Anybody can determine TO marry al
most anybody il he drinks enough
punch. When l set out tc drive pair
of horses IN storm or on cold. chilly
night never touch drop OF spirits, no
matter how much may feel that noed
warming up. At such times I want to
be sharpcned, not comfortcd. But when
I get safe y home mix myself glass
of something hot. Making up your
mind at this time is much moro impor-
tant than driving any sort of horses in
any kind Of W. ather. The punch can
wait until tomorrow. and if things turn
out all right I'll brew something out Of
the common, I assure YOU"
In my bedroom that night I gave no
time to elaboration. Before I babe tho
Ma or goodnight I had made up my
mind to propose to Miss Weldon.