The Opelousas courier., 1897-12-04
P.HEMIE.


said DIR. Jasper. He was the new
medical man, in huge favor with Mrs.
Albatross, Phemia's mother. "Iour
mother is highly strung-iuite a
woman Of genius, and allowances must
be made for her temnerament. my dear
young lady; temperament rules every
thing"
Indeed, Mrs. Alhatross's tempe:a-
ment seemed to rule Dr.. Jasper, the
the parson, the squire, the parish, but
it did not rule Picnic.
Look here" said the girl-she was
just twenty-"you and mother are a.
ways croaHing about me, [ know but
you do nothing to help meat least, [
think you would, but you're afraid
"Your mother used to take an in
terest in you, but you did not meet
her half way. Is not that SOP
"No, it isn't. When [ was sixteen
she had a fad of dressing NE up i'll
last-century costume and making a
doll of me-not my style at all, just to
show off her own c~leverness and
queerness at my expense. She said |
was ugly, and only dressing could
make ms fit to be seen"
"Well?" said DIR. Jasper, who was a
rising young medico OF thirty, as he
looked grayely and judicially at the
pretty-much tried girl, who only half
believed in his good will.
"Well," said Picnic, ~"every one
laughed, and Ishowed mother l would
not stand it."
"And them"
"Then she packed me off to school.
The mistress said [ was sort Of dazed
for a time, as if I had been ill-treated
and SO [ had-and quite neglected ;
but they were kind to me there, and I
was very happy for more than a year,
except in the holidays, which were
always odious. Then you came along
-" And Picnic paused and stole
a doubtful glance at the doctor.
"What then?" said the doctor, like
a person coldly inquiring for ordinary
information, yet with a certain little
twinkle in his eye which did not
escape the aggrieved Phemie.
"Then," said the girl, II thought
you were my friend at first, but I don't
now; at least"
At that moment Mrs. Albatross en-
tered, and, turning sharply on Phemie,
said with a snap, 81 suppose you
haven't fed the fowls, OF sorted the
linen, or done anything but idle away
your time, as usual?'
II was called when DR.. Jasper
came, because you could rot be
found"
"I'm sick Of your excuses, DR..
Jasper does not want to see. you"
Then, in quite an altered tone, as
Picnic shrunk away out Of the room,
"Do you mind coming up to ny sit
ting room? [ want to have a talk with
you about those changes at the [nfrm-
airy. I am SUR you will agrd with
me, and you will be most useft. We
can't allow things to go on" exc.
DIR. Jasper always did agree with
Mrs. Albatross. But, somehow, he
nodded her, and she usually came
round to his opinion. He listened and
she talked he could wait, and when
he had taken her bearings-without
ever in~terrupting Oh contradicting-
she listened and he talked, and not
then, but next time, she echoed his
opinions and fancied they were all her
own.
cit is such a comfort to find a SEN
sible MAI to talk to in a stupid place
like this"' said she, laying her arm
c~onfdingiy upon the doctors as he sat
smiling and agreeing with her.
Mrs. Albatross had worried n
husband into the grave-she was too
clever for him-but her intellectual
vivacity, imagination and enterprise
made her an interesting companion.
She was only a little past forty, and
well preserved, and she meant to
marry DR.. Jasper.
Whether it was hypnotism Or will
power, the doctor came again and
again and would not send his bill, and
the doctors bill never was paid-he
paid himself.
Don't speak to me-" said Picnic
hurriedly as she met the doctor COM
ing down stairs after a long confab
with her mother, ''mother's about.
She's out all tomorrow afternoon. I've
got to paint the doors. . . :" And
Jasper passed out with a sympathetic
smile. She knew he would call and
advise her about painting the doors.
He did call.
"What a deal you know about mix
ing paints and things! I'm sure I want
good advice a great deal more
than mother does. But, then, I'm not
clever like mother" added Picnic,
with a little aggrieved pout, $50 it's
not worth while talking to me-"
II do feel for you," said the doctor,
with an unusual warmth of manner.
"I have done all l could to get your
mother to be fair to you. Phemie''
The had never called her Phemie be-
fore, and she felt her color risel.
whats the matterg" he added hastily.
for suddenly Phemie's eyes filled with
tears, and she just weat of then and