The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-05


after J iaving their faces newly washed
in the /glittcring morning dew.
&c ID, dear |" sighed pretty Sybil
Swe etfern, coming IN from the con-
vol sulus draped portico, where she
he d been idly rocking back and for
ward in deep-cushioned rocking
chair ''there goes Bernard Bramble
galloping past. without even deigning
to bestow glance toward the house.
What can be the matter, do you sup.
pose, Aunt Serefna?"
SYPHILIS Aunt Serefna was busy
weighing strawberries and white sugar
for preserves; for she was devout
follower Of the old pound-for-pound
method of making sweetmeats, such as
our grandmotbers used to make before
the day of tin fruit cans and self-seal.
ing glass Jars.
She was brisk, capable woman,
with a wrinkled, rosy-cheeked face,
that reminded one of tart-natured
crab apple, somewhat mellowed with
age.
= Not but what Miss Serefna's heart
was mellow enough, but her manners
were apt to be rather frosty and crab
bed, especially when she was vexed, as
happened to be the case just at pres.
ent.
whats thati" she demanded,
sharply, turning to her niece, with an
angry sparkle in her specialized gray
ewes. "Bernard Bramble look toward
you, indeedl / oaly wonder that he
condescends to ride past the house
even. wouldn't il I was him."
"Dear me, auntie," retorted the
pretty niece, Struggling her shapely
shoulders, II don't know how you'd
get home, then There's only one road
lie can 20, unless he takes to scaling
fences and cutting across peoples or.
chards and wheat fields, which must
say shouldn't think they would like,
if he did. And, besides, / don't see
what reason he's got for going out of
his way to avoid us. as il we had the
plague, just because IL"
.sBecause you refused to marry
him." broke in Miss Sereina, with
peppery warmth. "Why don't you
finish, miss? And goose you are for
refusing him, too. A well-to-do
Young man, thrifty and forehanded,
with a good farm, and money in the
bank, too"
ssBut, auntie, I don't like him
well enough to marry him, persisted
Sybil. "He amt half SO good looking
as Morton De Lisle."
"Humphl Morton De Lisle, in.
deed - smiled her aunt, sourly. ga
Teller you've never sot eyes on in your
lifei" :.
s.But I've seen his pictured" cried
Sybil, her sapphire blue eyes spark.
ling eagerly. dell Strothers showed
IL to me. He's her cousin, You know.
And she says he took great fancy to
NV picture, and she's going to give
him letter of introduction, so he can
come and see me. And, oh, aunt, he's
as-as handsome as Spanish don.
ssFiddle strings! How do you know
ANYTHING about Spanish dons, I'd like
TO know? Did you ever see one, Sybil
Sweetfern ?" demanded Aunt Serefina,
glowering at her, niece.
"N-no," admitted Sybil, truthfully,
stBut / know he is.
"You'd better quit a-thinking about
him. them" advised her aunt, sagely !:
"for Spanish dons amt much account,
'cording to my way OF thinking.
They're shiftless set, and you better
take up with Bernard yet, if he amt
one of them peaked-looking dons, as
YOU call 'em. He's got plenty OF
money, too"
sOh, aunt, 'peaked-looking, in
deed Morton De Lisle is just splen-
did. with hair like the ravens wing,
and eyes as black and melting as-as
anything! And as for money, wish
there was no such thing as money In
the world"
"Oho! Them very fine sentiments.
indeed, miss. No such thing as money
In tho world Just wait till You want
new frock or q summer bonnet, and
see What yos'll ssy then"