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

CA' VIZ suitS Iic, VI CttA SulL AACj uAu
I shall remain bachelor. -
"ind You 90 TO take tea at Mrs.
Lnton's," murmured Mrs. Harmon
between her teeth, while a disturbing
expression came into her clear seeing
old eyes.
Under this ironical and even inquis-
itorial look Andrew lost countenauce
little; he could not deny that to mat
rimony he preferred flirting with Mrs.
Laton.
lie was pulling himself together to
reply, or rather to defend himself.
when the street door bell was heard
"a caller, ch? Is this your recep.
ton day, aunt, or do you, too, give
yonr friends tea at 5 o'clock?"
"You are impertincut, nephew. At
my age woman does not give $
o'clock firtations.' It is not even q
caller. nm sure it is my little friend
Rosamond, the charming girl I spoke
o."
Suull uee luou.
"Do You not wish even to sec her?'
"Ncrer! Or, If you insist, I shall
go into this little ante-roon and look
ut her through the crack OF the door.
That is the on y concession / shall
Make" aud the young man stepped
quickly into the next roo,u rs the OPP
poslte door opened to admit the visi-
tor; through the slit Andrew could
make out the graceful silhouette of %
young girl.
Glow DO You do, Mrs. Harmon?"
said the girl, as she entered the room.
II have brought back the little books
on the orphan asylum that you lent
mamma. May | stay moment with
your
She continued to keep her back to-
ward Andrew, aud he, now beginning
to get tired of the game, had about
concluded that she must be fright.
fully ugly.
''Sit down here, dear, beside me-"
and Mrs. Harmon easily contrived to
place tbs girl just opposite the small
room and the young man, approach
ing his eye to the crack, was struck by
the pretty face he beheld.
swell, Rosamond, what are you do
ing nowadays? Are you going out
much?"
"No, very little. had card for
Mrs. Laton's tea this afternoon, but I
wrote her was i'll. You will not be-
tray NE, will you?" and she laughed
merry laugh that set Andrews heart
to vibrating.
"Do you not care for such affairs 2"
asked Mrs. Harmon.
"Surcly. Mrs. Harmon, you do not
think it would be amusing to spend an
hour or two watching Mrs. Laton's
Hirtotions, with no one to talk to but
the insipid women and stupid men of
her set ?"
"Iou are severe, my child"
"!Sevcre? We'll, with woman like
Mrs, Laton, I do not think one can be
too mnch So.
lnstinctiycly Mrs. Harmon raised
her eyes to the door that concealed
Andrew, and, under pretext Of ar
ranging tho portiere, she crossed the
room and, as she re.arraDged the dra-
perry, whispered to her nephew: ''It's
nearly fvc--you'll be late for your
ten
But her warning was nnheeded:
Andrew did no. bulge. AS for the
girl by the fire, size was still full Of
E.r idea.
"Do you know Mrs. Laton. Mrs.
Harmon?" she asked.
"acs, yes" the old lady fastened
to reply; and to turn the conversation,
she went on: ''But you arc wrong to
declare TINT all men are stupid. There
are some who are quite sensible.
Sensible? Well; i do not know
them. ] do not mean that they are
all stupid, but they think themselves
so superior that they are wearisome.
Tney arc vain, iusutferable bores,
with their blesc airs and their idea
that they are irresistible because they
can 'lirt with Mrs. Laton, who mas
beschcl hair, and smears paint on
her face rs il it were a palette, aad
whose brains are good for nothing but
to devise outrageous gowns
Again Mrs. Harmon cast an uneasy
glance toward tie little room, il which
Andrew was fast waxing angry. He
would have liked to stranglc this girl,
whose superb health aud triumphant
beauty irritated him.
"And when will you get married,
my dear??" suggested Mrs. Harmon,
again throwing herself into the breach.
81 shall never marry"
"lnleed? Why not?"
"Why not?" repeated Rosamond,
shadow of melancholy coming over
the face that Andrew admired in spite