The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-02
It was with q sober face that ellen

It was with q sober face that ellen
crossed the room to her work basket
and took up q piece Of embroidery.
| BEFORE she had seated herself, how
ever, light footsteps wero heard and
| the porticres We're parted to disclose
one of the most up to date of maid"
\ ems: yoluminous skirt, immaculate
shirt waist, dcmurely parted hair,
jaunty hat, and all.
! Good morning, Ellie" exclaimed
this bewildering apparition. ~ met
your mother on the steps and she told
nae to come right on in. Embroidery:
Oh, put it up! | want to have talk
a nice, good, old, uninterrupted
talk ;" and Ellen found herself seated
on the sofa, her hand tightly c!asped
in that OF her friend.
II am glad you have come" she
said with q smile. Il Was feeling
little-wel], little lonesome, guess.
"No wonder! Cooped up in house
a fine day like this. Isn't that = pic
turo of Mr.. billiard" --reaching over
end taking up the photograph from
the table. 81 thought so. What a
handsome fellow he is! J. tell you,
Ellen, yon are 3 lucky girl"
"Indeed! In what way:' and Ellen
Strengthened Up Il little.
'In what way? Now don't you
know it is perfectly absurd for you tug
| put Oh that innoccnt air with me-
! is scarcely to be believed that he has
been paying YOU such devoted atten-
lions lor nothing. Aud that being
the ease, ny dear, you needn't tell ms
You are going to refuse him"
"And why NOS pray" asked Ellen,
with some spirit.
"Why not?' echoed her friend.
"Becsuso no girl in her senses would.
Why, he is handsome, rich. dlstin.
suished~everytainy a woman's heart
conld desire
Ellen was silent, and her friend re.
garded her thouehtful!y for u moment.
81 see you have picture Of Dick
Wheeler, too. slercmarked presently.
81 declare, it is shame the way yoa
have treated that poor boy"
"WHy, what DO you mean?"
"Xou know we'll enough. Dicks g
nice boy, but such temper!'
lis his temper bad?"
"Is it," said MissKate, with ane sar-
casm. II suppose you have forgotten
that Right you and Mr.. billiard called
at our house and found Dick there.
We had been talking about you, and I
thought it only kindness to tell the
poor boy how in my opinion matters
stood. Then when you two came in
it only confirmed What I had been say
ing, aHd my. wasn't he angry! Do
You rcmoplber. he insisted on leaving
Immediately when he had told mo only
q moment before that he had come in
for long talk. I never saw any one
! more furious. I thought I would be
sorry for the woman who married
him"
Greatly, Kate, You are very unjust.
Don't you think any man might hare
been q little--wcll, perturboa under
those circumstauces?"
Kate shook her head.
"Hc is TOO quick tempered to suit
me-"
II like quick tempered people, ex.
claimed Ellen suddenly.
sob, no! So that's the way the
land lies, is it? I never supposed for
a moment that a girl would hesitate
between Mr. Billiard and Dick Wheeler.
J. SEQ ! have made mistake
t'Iou have done nothing Of the
kind" began Ellen. 81"
"Who is that coming in the gate?"
exclaimed Kate, looking out of the
window. "Yoar aunt, Mrs. Williams,
ind some clerical appearing gentle
,can--old DR.. Watson, is it not? So
here's GA end TO our talk. Good by.
Ellie. I'm sure the lucky man is iMr.
billiard after all, and I do hope you
! are not angry at anything I've said. l
! want to be on goo,i terms with the
future Mrs. billiard. She will DO q
person worth cu(tiyating. BY by"
and tbs animated young woman WIS
gone.
The next moment Mrs. Williams,
Short, stout ami good naturcd, entered
tho room. followed by tho kind,
benignaut cauntenanoe and stately
figure Of the Eev. DR.. Watson.
| "Gooa morning, nuaty," said Ellen
cordially. "Good morning, DR.. Wait
son. | am sorry, but mamma is down
! town"
$50 John told MS at tho door," re-
marked her auut, sinking in chair
and tanning herself vigorously. "I
only dropped in for moment, and
Glanced to meet DR.. Watson just
coming in tho gate"
liersupon followed the usual re-
! marks about the weather, and in
quir;es regarding the health OF the
respective families.
II hope you are we'll, dear chil3,"
said Mrs. Williams. ut seems TO me