The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-06-23
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4 N|QhyI|/AluNII5 INF LUENCE;
Heaven Forbid How tiresome such
perfect creature would be, AMI what a

tUal men: Not ornamental show pieces.
Il ike me, for instance: How compli-
mentafy you are. But the truth is
saa'n't be even ornamental, If circum-
stances don't change"
He looked away from Margaret as he
uttered the last words and began to
make marks with his heel in the sand.
She watched his movements; but her
mind was following up an engrossing
train of thought.
Are you going to sit still and allow
your life to map itself?" she asked, after !
have an opportunity to make future !
for yourself. Why don't you take al !
vantage Of it? do admire man who
can fight against obstacles, and who
wins for himself a great name and a
high position, not because of, but in
spite Of the accidents Of fortune. And
l certainly cannot understand how any
person with ordinary talents can so
| through life with no ambition above
amusement. grow disguised with my
self"
1T is just as I expected" replied
! Brian, eEdeavoring to speak lightly.
You're strong minded
Thanks. I consider your remark a
compliment, though you may not mean
it as such. l don't admire weak minded
men or women. am glad to have ideas
OF my own, and not to be swayed by
every passing word. You are laughing
again. I suppose you consider me vastly
amusing, but think myself vastly nom
sensical. There is something In the air,
l dare say, or in the company" she con-
cluded mischievously.
THE company without doubt" he
agreed II never pretended to amount
to much, and know never shall. That
is why I never considered 1t worth an
effort"
why not?" she asked quickly, some
instinct prompting her sympathy. you
have SO much before you. 1t is never
too late to begin, neither is it ever too
early. That sounds like q paradox,
doesn't it? Your profession Is an ad-
vantage in itself. 1t is such noble
one"
"a dog g life when it comes to practice,
he answered. Il tell you there's lot
Of sentimentality in the world. People
talk about this thing and that thing be-
ing ennobling and elevating, and all
that nonsense, when they know about
as much of it as do Of heaven. Much
good medicine has ever done me. I've
got my diploma. I've logged it all over
Europe, but it hasn't seen the light Of
day for many long month. I know
this don't suit your ideas, but I never
realized the need Of practicing for a
living. l expected to be independent,
and where was the need?"
But now?" questioned Margaret
"Oh, now, my beloved cousin has
stepped in and I'm as poor as the devil.
I beg your pardon. The words are
forcible but expressive. The feeling is
wretched, but the experience worse. I'll
worry along somehow. unless certain
event come about. Are you going
YES" she returned, half absently
| gathering her things together. Il am
!. hungry. I think it must be twelve
o'clock, and here in S'conset we dine at
that questionable hour.
"a barbarous practice, but now that
you speak Of it, begin to feel some in
ward cravings myself. May I walk I'M
der the shadow of your wing2'
Without awaiting her permission he
possessed himself of her shawl and
, trudged by her side through the deep
t sand to the village.
Turning from one Of the grotesque
7 little streets, into more grotesque
' Broadway, Margaret found that her ap-
> petite had been true guide. 1t was
) Twelve o'clock, and all s conset was 60
ing to dinner. This pleasant duty
' Sconset never forgot, 1t being one of
, the unwritten, yet faithfully observed,
laws Of the small town that, whatever
: the individuals occupation at the mo-
ment, the stroke of twelve should find
him ready, and all ideas gave way to the
9 reality-dinner.
After leaving Margaret Brian found
his own appetite had increased to an
t took himself to his unpretentious abode
i and the meal awaiting him.
( He did full justice to the latter, and
= at the same time managed to take in
9 the history of Captain Folger's eight
l brothers and sisters, all OF whom ha(
I reached their eightieth year and were
still in the land Of the living. AS hi
8 showed some skepticism on this latter
point, the Captain proposed cruise t.
u town, where the house in which they
a were all born should be pointed out tx
l.. him. It is needless to say Brian wa!
e still unconvinced. He afterward dis
: covered that town meant Nantucket
and cruise was the Captains word TO
\. ride.
J. These old eeamen do not take kindl,
to the expressions of landsmen. The.
: will greet you with the salutation
Where are you heading?" instead o
it Where are you going?" They will
IS agree to "land" milk and vegetables a
i your door, and if you happen to be rid
y ing with an old captain you may be re
: quested to shift your seat fore or aft
70 or midship, or to sit to the leeward, a
If the case may be. 1t is even said
n though we are not bound to believe it
n that when the whaling industry faile
through the discovery Of coal oil. tn
;" old salts, obliged through necessity an
h not choice, to take to farming, en-
If countered much difficulty from the fac
,e that their oxen were land animals, an
ID when commanded to go to port or star
d board were too obtuse to obey the order
is Horses were equally trying. Con
trary to tactics on shipboard, pull o
;, the port rein made the animal sheer
port, when the old captain was bent O
l. having him go to starboard.
le Under such difficulties blowing was slo
or work and farming decidedly discoul
10 aging experience.
le After Brian had disposed of tn
ID double duty Of eating and listening b
spent some time in walking up and dow
Is the streets of the grim, small villag,
ot hoping for chance encounter wit