The Opelousas courier., 1896-09-26

e1|.zN.Nz s];,t her hap
IN hKM1tt o. through he
hair. This was a trick of hers whe
thinking hard, and, rs a rule, the re
suit 7as more startling than pleasing
sit is OF no use! !" she said again
but this time with q different lnfe(
ton. 81 mustn't sit here and Civ
way to lazlness like this. If I don
write a tale, we can't pay the grocer
bill! must and will begin, only
what on earth am I to say?"
Mary's brain was fertile enough
and her busy fancy generally delight
ed in spinning love stories and tn
like. In the early days OF her scrib
bling she had been greatly laughed @
by her mother and sisters, but whe,
welcome little checks began to com
in return for bulky envelopes sen
through the post, the tone of the fam
lily altered, and Mary had for som
time been regarded as a person of i'm
%portance.
"Oh, Mary must write a tale," hel
mother would,say easily. when an ad
dlt1onal expense was suggested. Sc
the fancy Of tie moment would be in
dulged in, and Mary would shut her
self up in the little room she calico
her own, from whence in due time she
would emerge tired but triumphant.
On this particular morning, how.
ever, she racked her brains in vain.
She tried her hardest to think ofsome
slender framework upon which to
hang the usual mild lovemaking, bui
the more she tried to WOO ''the muse
the nor obstinately did the said
muse refuse to respond to her ad.
vances.
II feel exactly as if a wet sponge
had been passed W my BRAIN" she
thought despairingly. "There doesn't
seem a single idea left."-
just then a gentle rap came at the
door.
"Come in" said Mary impatiently.
She never liked being interrupted
when she was trying to work, and Just
now she felt more than usually cross.
Her face relaxed g little, however,
when she saw her visitor.
"You, John! I thought it wasJen-
ME. I wondered whatever she wanted
now."
"Poor Jennie" said the newcomer.
laughing.
"Poor Mary, I think" rejoined
Mary dolefully.
"Why, whatever is the matter?"
asked John Redmond, taking a seat,
and evidently preparing to make him
self as comfortable as circumstances
permitted. He looked very strong
and capable as he smiled down upon
Mary. and the girl was conscious of a
distinct feeling of relief, though she
hardly knew it's source.
"Well," said Mary, 81 feel worried
and bothered. You know, John, how
much all our folks have got into the
way of looking to me for help in
money matters?"
Eyes, I know" replied John, with a
rather curious infection.
II like to do it," said Mary quickly.
ut makes me very glad and happy to
do il. 1 should not say a word about
it to anybody but you, but you already
know these details. You are such an
intimate friend of the family, aren't
7ou?"
"a very intimate friend of the fam.
echoed the young man gravely.
"And mother has often told you
low easy 1t was for me to earn a few
pounds, hasn't she?"
every Often" answered the young
nan again, with the same gravity.
swell, john" said Mary, lifting a
,air of very earnest eyes to his, her
full Of sorrow and d1smav. 81
m sometimes afraid [ can't keep on
loing~
"What makes you think SOP" asked
ohm gently.
"lpcan't think OF anything" said
dary, the tears trimming up into her
yes. 81 have sat here this morning
nearly an hour, and not a single
.ea has come to me. And-I didn't
[are to tell mother and the girls!-
ny last story was. rejected. It was
UGH a blow, for I had been counting
n the money to buy Jennie's summer
lress. She was rather cross when I
old her che must wait while longer"
my dear little SOUL" said the
Dung man, ..you are overworked. I
hat is the simple explanation of the
7hole matter" j
The kindness Of his tone seemed to
together break down Mary's com. {
osure, for-after a momentary strug.
lie for calmness-she dropped her head |
Ito her hands and cried heartily.
John Redmond's face presented a /
1rious study, so many were the emo. 9
ons that passed rapidly over it. He t
+ade an involuntary movement tow.
the little weeping figure, but the t
ext moment checked himself, and |
quietly until Mary herself $
'
II don't know whatever you will u
ink of me |" she said, rather shame. n
cedly. as she wiped her eyes. "l
mt know what made me do It'll But !
N so much obliged to you for let |,
ng me have it out I feel better
w." :
10 be sure you do" said John, d
Ith . friendly and rather tender laugh. :