St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-11-07
3g8HE55s 81 = n.
MRS. LATONs TEA.

Was GGMoluCIlHS ASA uCpAleH [hhaACS, i,
good Cooking young fellow OF 2s.
who, for his part, was considering the
timepiece on the mantel, whose hands
were already past three o'clock. y ~ e
ssWelI. Andrew, do you find the clock
very interesting?" "s-ee'
In some confusion the young man
stammeredan excuse bal tssfe wen tong
Now, den tdenysit,. you naugbt fell
low. You wanted to Riow il your visit
had lasted long enough, for you to take
your departure decently"
Not at all, aunt. Your guess is
quite wrong. for haven't the slightest
intention of going yet. But why do
you keep regular sun dial like that
in your drawing room ?''
perhaps because was born SO long
ago that it is and not the clock that is
behind time. But come--instead of
critieising my drawing-room, tell me
what8you are going to do when you
leave here"
I'm the first place I am not going to
leave hereafor ssssane time but when
have wearied you with my presence
until you cannot stand lit any longer,
1t will be time for me to go to Mrs. La-
y toms TEA S@&
I Mrs. Laton-Pau1ine Laton?"
s'The same @ a.
@Ah, yes, / used to see her some time
ago. j remember her vaguely-a large
woman, dark
she is blonde, aunt"
Indeed? She used to be brunette.
And So you are signing at the feet of
Mrs. Laton?''
eve are all signing at her feet" =
s'She must enjoy il, - s sss @ q ~
s'Well.I rather think she does" 8
SIS it fun ?''.~7~-s--- .s-s.ses.z7.s-
Eyes, after fashion. We are always
the same little circle of friends, and.
then, besides Mrs. Laton, theresa sis
ter, rather good-loolting girl, and q
few other young matrons and bachelor
girls" W Sga &8
'sAnd what do you do besides look at
these women?"s @.sx,5..
s'We take. tea, which we moderate
with rum, bit Of oflemon; we gossip and
we hirt.' 4 4ts ss;x.s3 .ss s.ss..Fgs s..,sss ia
'sOh, OH
"But, my dear aunt one nruat do
something between five o'clock and
dinner.~
evidently. and flirting is what you.
have found to do"
1T is a way to kill time"
81 scarcely know what You mean by
the term. Explain 1t to me-" .s. H..
"0h, impossible. A definition for the,
word has long been sought, but it has
not yet been found. But, given young
woman tete-a-tete with a young man
who is not fool, and warrant you it
won't be long before you viii have a
practical demonstration. Filtration is
a manner of being discreetly indiscreet.
To know how to fiirt is no common ac-
eomplishment. It is veritable sci
ence." v
"And isioH a science, toog'@
.'No, 1t ii rssther IN art. 81
''And marriage-what is it?'
IL "ob, that is philosophy"
" EIndeed? At what age does one at
this philosophy r. Ss 81
s late as possible"
ItIieems to me that TBS"
'sAAfA auntiv cried Andrew, spring.
ing ffAeA his chair, CONFESS THAI you
are conSeeting some terrible plot. You
look as gi lty as a conspirator,,'
Mrs. Ha mon smiled d fine smile and
enjoyed foss a moment the eonsterna-
tion in her Victims face. kT hen she an
swered, after q pdllse;;ss .ses 4ssssss-s&s
Eyes, you are right. 7 wish You to.
get married"
sTn heaven s name what have done
to your gasped the young man, with
comic seriousness, and, as the old lady,
still smiled. he continued: "see4 here,
aunt. II should never have suspected
you of such a thing. You, a. woman of
intelligence, a superior woman, de,
scending to the role of naatch-malSert3
It is terrible shatteringrH my idcals.''
Come, come, my poor boy do not be-
so cast down. The girl is charming, I
can assure you.''
ssOf course" Andrew burst out. "the
girl is always charming. Oh, know
her; I can seesher now; she may not be
exactly pretty, but, as you havessaid,
she is charming. She dresses aeimira+e
bly,, and makes all her own gowns. She
stood at the head Of hea classes in
school, and attends lectures now. More
over, she has taken cooking lessons and
can put up preserves. She plays the
piano, she sings, she paints, and she has
tidy fortune in her own right. Bah!
No. a thousand times, no! I do not
want this miracle be perfection. 4
know d thing or two, aunt, even if 4
don't look it, and If marry, shall
marry woman who suits me. But 7
know girls-they are all alike-and
know what they are and what they are
worth. There isn't one who suits. me,
or can suit me, and I Shall remain a
bachelor.s' aE .tysa log y
sAnd you go to take. tea at Mrs.
Baton's,'' murmlred Mrs. Harmon she-4
tweens her tee TIL while disturbing ess-l
preston came into her clear-seeing old
eyes. ks
Under this ironical and even inqnisi-g
tcrial look Andrew lost countenance
little; he could not deny that to lnatri-
mony he preferred flirting mith Mrs.
1atolf. Ss@ Sal ~ Y a =
He was pulling himself toge ther to re-
ply. or rather to defend himself, when
the streetdoor bell was heard.
"A caller, eha Is this your reception
day, aunt, Of do. agous too. give your
friends tea at five osclock?s