The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-04-03
AWOMA|N5 FLUENCE

quite privileged. So that wrct,hed
place didn't quite kill you?"
NO." laughed Margaret, allowing
herself to be placed in the chair in ques-
ton. Il am very much alive, as you
see. You and .MissHilton really amusg
me-; your ideas ok}fNpnset arc as differ
ent from the reality as night from day.
It is whole host Of delights in itself.
am really not an object OF sympathy, 50
your pity has all been thrown away"
so it has, you bad girl. Why didn't
you tell me before. might have saved
some. Still I'm glad to see you back.
Uncle will be delighted. He has been
positively unbearable, and I do hope
your presence vii! improve his temper.
Oh, had quite forgotten. Your cousin
is with you, isn't he? Is he nice? How
does he like things, and how do you
like him.
| Alice moved nearer to Margaret; and
taking her hand, lauShingiy gazed into
her face.
yes, he is home. He came yesterday
unendurable Fancy the position of
playing hostess to Il man Who feels YOU
have taken his birthright. Yet, there
are people in this place who think lie
fortunate. Some persons never see be
yond tho surface"
We'll, don't think about it, my dear,
said Alice, consolinsiy. 1T isn't your
fault. am anxious to SEQ your cousin
His return is all over the neighborhood,
| nf IT,, of 4 v,1c
Mrs. Downs. She may think poor dear
Alfy's chances lessencd thereby. He
has pinned to a mere skeleton during
your absence, Margaret.
\ contemptuous expression passed
over Margaret's face.
Il do wish some one would marry him
and carry him off to another neighbour
hood" she said. Il am so thoroughly
tired Of seeing him around. He may
be the paragon his mother thinks him.
/ daresay he is. He hasn't brains
enough to be otherwise. But prefer a
little wickedness to want Of sense"
| Don't be sarcastic discussing Ally,
my dear. He is very nice, girlish
young man, and his bank account will
reach from here to the Gulf Of Mexico. !"
Perhaps if it were shorter he might
| be better" commented Margaret
Money causes all tho trouble in tho
world"
The want of it, you mean, suggested
Alice, sagcly. 1T is wonderful power,
! no doubt. 1t makes beauty more beau
| tlful, virtue more virtuous, and great
ness moro great. The very thought Of
! It makes me wax eloquent. Seriously,
! my dear, poverty is the meanest thing
under the sun. Nell agrees with me
there. / had Il letter from her this
! morning, and to cheer you I will read
it.
"How is Nell?' asked Margaret,
smiling at a thought her mind conjurcd
up. Il don't seo that plaque she
painted. Have you become unapprecia-
tive of her genius?:"
No, returned Alice from the depths
OF her desk, where she was hunting for
her letter. But uncle gave me that
lovely little landscape on the left there,
and when I hung it by A!ice's plaque,
the contrast between it and her indigo
lake and impossible trees was startling,
even to my inartistic eye. I stood itfora
few days, but at last nature would bear
no moro, and the plaque now reposes in
my trunk, where the sun can not fade
or the dust injure. Hcro's her letter.
MY DEAR ALICE: At last am sitting
down to answer your letter, and ac-
knowledge its welcome Enclosure. My
head is buz2ing the things havc to say,
but I'll begin at the beginning. Graft
tude before everything in my category.
l will therefore thank you for your
Check. | spell it with capital, YOU
observe. don't know that it is correct
according to the rules of photography,
but under the laws which make us i'm
portant or insignificant in proportion as
we are rich or poor, it is perfectly in
order Henceforward I shall adopt it as
showing my deep and abiding respect
for money.
This particular money came in quite
apropos. We had been getting our sum-
mer wardrobe q use this word adyisedly,
as it sounds more imposing than cnumer-
atinS details), and you will not have to
strain your imagination much to bring
to mind the painfully cmaciated condi-
ton Of the family purse. 1t looked OK
tremely humble, assure you, despite
the fact that poverty is always proud.
But the moment your check arrived,
what change! 1t Immediately swelled
with pride, like the tabled frog whose
picture | used to admire so extrav-
agantly, and though it has been consid-
erably depleted since, 1t still remains
fat.
Now, Alice, word of advice. Keep
in with the old bear and make him
leave you some money; for, horrible
thought, the Reynoldses seem to be grow
ing poorer. I think it decided mis-
take on the part Of mamma and papa to
have had so many children. But have
noticed that this mistake is common
among poor people. l suppose they
want numbers somewhere, so they make
up in babies what they lack in dollars.
II matters don't mend with us, shall 60
to writing stories; always did think I
had talent.
In your last letter you mildly in
quired If we liked our new fiat. My dear
child, the question was superiluous.
Flats weren't made tO ho ELo6. NOT +ho