The Opelousas courier., 1896-07-25

very tough and sweep better and last
longer than half q dozen ordinary
ones. Then she's cleaned up the old
gilt frames that [ wanted regi.ded, un-
til they SHINE like gold; and told me
how 7 could make a better pudding
with less e%ggs-that very pudding you
praised at dinner-and how to take
the stains out of the new table cloth !;
and now she's altering the pattern of
my new dress, that I never could get
to fit, and making it look like a differ
ent thing. If she goes on so, she'll
be a treasure, despite her white hands
and small waist-and pretty face, too
for that matter!"
Squire Holmes, as he was called in
the neighborhood, found his home
more tidy and cheerful looking his
Sunday hat better brushed; his Sun
day cravat better ironed, and his hand
kerchiefs better hemmed than they
had been for many a year. Also, his
wife, who of late had become fretful
and complaining of overwork and the
worry of inefficient help, nowappeared
wonderfully frightened up. And, in
deed, poor Mrs. Holmes felt as though
a burden Of daily care was removed
from her shoulders; and she became
quite grateful and attached to the
pretty, cheerful, obliging girl, who
verify, us she observed to a neighbour,
was like a sunbeam and a blessing in
the house. She ouly wished that she
had such IL daughter, she added, sigh
ing; and the wonder to her was that
Richard should be SO Indifferent to
Mirandy, since he appeared to have
given up all thought OF that city Miss
unsuitable match for a farmers son
and n country doctor.
"Dick,' said Squire Holmes, pok-
ing in the ashes with the end of his
cane, "Dick, You don't go to see that
girl, Miss Weston, now, ell ?"
"No, sir" answered Dick, de-
murely.
"Glad of it! Thought you'd take
a sensible view of the thing in time.
Still, a young fellow like you ought
to marry. A doctor can never sue
ceel we'll in his profession without q
wife,"
81 agree with you, sir" said the
doctor.
"lf You could fud a suitable girl
now" suggested the squire, cautiously;
ga tidy, Industrious, smart ~good-tem
pered, good-looking-"
Dear mes fatber!" interrupted
Dick, iu 5tone of astonishmsnt,
s'wbere on earth am I to find such a
combination of PROJECTIONS ?"
"Why?' said the old man, looking
up sharply, ''there's Mirandy, for ill.,
stance"
"Oh!" said the doctor, turning over
the leaves of a big book.
eyes, sir and a nicer girl couldn't
be found this side O. the ocean, sir.
That's my opinion"
It was the doctors also, though he
did not just then choose to express it.
So things went on for a week or two
longer, Dick and Miranda seeming
rather to avoid each other. The old
people we're concerned, and became,
of course, more than ever eager for
the match.
Squire Holmes knew that Miranda
was of a good aud respectable family,
being related to Squire Ellis, of Hope
town, a very worthy and much re-
spected man /; w%heretofore there could
be no objection on hat score to his
son marrying her. But Dick was in
sensible-positively stupid, the old
man said [; wherefore it became neces-
sary to take him in hand .down-
right
"Look here, Richard" said he,
solemnly, "what is your objection to
Mirandy Parsons, that you can't take
a fancy to a girl above all others CAL
culated to make you a suitable wife?"
"No objection to the young lady
herself, sir" responded Richard,
gravely.
"Then why don't you marry herr"
bringing his cane emphatically down
upon the floor.
Because, sir" answered Richard,
observation-disclosures, father, to tell
the truth, II am already married"
"What!" roared the old a
s'Y,s, sir I've been married two
MONTHS" confessed Richard, peni-
tently.
"'You have-and you dare tell me-
SO. Married to whom?" he roared
again.
ITO Miss Clara Weston, SIR"
This was too much. The old rem
tleman was speecbIess; and his wife,
scarcely less agitated than himself,
shrieked to Miranda for water. She