The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-04-10

If there were mere to tell, I think |
shouldn't mind SO much," said Miss
Stubs sadly. I'D rather have a sad
story than none at all. AS it is, I
haven't even the right to be unhappy.
That isn't, of course, equal to the right
to be happy, which some fortunate wom-
en- have, but 1t is better than nothing.
Why, Madse, ny youth is over, and I
have nothing left to remember it by
not even a love letter. I think if l had
had just one love letter, that / could
keep always and read over and over
again, / should be content, for then !
should feel that I had one flower LEFT
cut OF the summer CT life.'
But GO tell Y what happened?:" /
urged.
Nothing happened. l once met
some i whom ! loved very much, aud
l think he loved me, but | an net even
sure OF that. I sometimes feel I'd give
everything | have if Icould only be sure
OF that, but I'm not. He was a young
man who had his way to make III the
world, and my dear father-as | have
told you hefore-thought a great deal
OF cur family and position and consid-
cred the man I loved was not coed
enough for me. So he just put a stop to
our friendship"
And you tamely submitted?"
"What else couldIdo? My dear father
was a very stern man, and I dared not
disobey him"
And as I gazed into the timid face 7
realized that poor Miss Stubs had not
needed much coercion to make her give
up her Gay dream at her stern fathers
command.
What was your lover like?'I asked.
"Gi, my dear, he was the handsomest
man I ever saw, with such attractive
mannersH' she replied.
WAS he tall?" I asked. Being 5 foot
9 myself, l had aprofound contempt for
little men.
eyes, dear, ard such a fire figure
nice broad shoulders, you know, and a
splendid c~arriaeet"
! could not help wondering how q
fine, handsome man could have fallen
III love with such a colorless nonentity
OF a woman, but-as / have frequently
notlced-there is no accounting FOR
tastes.
l was filled with pity for poor Miss
STUDIOS. 1t seemed SO sad to go through
life without ever really living, as she
had done, and thus it was that my great
scheme occurred to me. What a good
thing it would be if Uncle James would
marry Miss Stubs and SO give her some
comfort at the end of her life! 1 said
comfort because I was afraid happiness
was no longer possible to her. That had
disappeared forever with the vanished
fairy prince of her youth. But a COM
Portable old age is not a thing to be de-
splsed, and at present the little woman
was poor and desolate. Ifelt that Uncle
James was an inadequate substitute for
thel lost hero whom Miss Stubs had de-
scrlbed to me, but, ON the other hand.
what man with the smallest p~retension
to heroism would throw the handker-
chief to q plain, frightened little spin
ster OF an uncertain age?
Uncle James was mothers only broth
er. He was a worthy, middle aged bach
elor, rather short and increasingly stout,
and was the apotheosis Of commonplace
responsibility. He possessed a kind heart
and q dogmatlc manner, and he lived
chiefly at his club and thought a great
deal too much about things to eat. Tom
said that his highest feelings were
aroused only by pork chops, but Tom
was always rather severe on Uncle
James. When my uncle didn't talk
about the food at the club, he talked
about shares and investments, SO it was
no wonder that Tom and I thought him
rather an old bore, though we were al
ways kind to him because he was q rela-
tive. This, then, was the victim /
yearned to offer upon Miss Stubs
shrine, and I divulged my scheme to
mother.
Mother laughed. ST should be very
glad fer your uncle to marry" she said,
as it worries me to think of him all
alone, especially when he is equity. But
how could you expect him, or any other
man, to fall in love with that faded old
maid?"
"Oh, I don't expect him to fall in
! replied. He is far too old.
But | should like to see Miss Stubs
comfortably settled, and I am sure she
would be a good, peaceful little wife.
Uncle James isn't exactly the
sort Of person to win q beautiful prin-
cess for his BRIDE !.
Poor James! And yet he had his
beautiful princess once, like other men.
Tell me about it, mother. You don't
mean that that prosaic old uncle Of mine
was ever in love?''
81 do, though. He was dreadfully in
love once, years and years ago. He used
tell me a lot about the girl, and how