The Opelousas courier., 1897-03-27
HIS LAST RESOURCE.

properly speaking, a very uncertain,
Young woman whom he much adorcd.
He had been so deeply in ioyc for
more than a year, that ho had eyes,
ears and thoughts for non other than
pretty, fascinating Miss Damer. Yet,
SO skilfully had he been managed,
whether consciously to herself or not
he little knew that no word of his
could have been construed to give
evidence Of moro than q friendly
feeling.
There were Others in his prelica-
ment, and misery always loves COM
pany. At the same time be felt there
must be an end to all things, and bad
resolved to bring matters to a state of
certainty without further delay, know
ing full we'll that he had made q sim
liar decision q score Of times before.
Sho had q way OF turning the CONVEX
sation at most interesting stages,
without giving offence and with a
show of tact worthy a weigatier cause.
He could recall any number Of times
when he was on the eve Of making b
full a%vowal, and thought her particu-
Larry sympathetic, when a turn Of her
head or q glance Of her clear gray
| ewes would throw him back into the
old state of detection, and he would
leave with the words unsaid. Again,
Interruptions had come when he was
at the point of growing serious, and
there had been much in the way Of
his declaring his love.
He felt she must have read it in his
eyes, in his every act, yet there vera
| several other fellows who wore their
hearts on their sleeves in a much more
amazing manner than did be, and who
were treated with the same calm i'm
partially.
There was Hilton, member OF every
club in town, and possessor of such
AN income as is never an objection in
affairs Of the heart. There was Res
sler, the captain Of his college Eleven,
adored by all the girls, ado:ing Miss
Damer only. There were Maliard,
Ho!lister and Smith, all rafting good
fellows, to say nothing of n Book
leigh, a sort Of literary man with long
hair, ready made ties and original
poems. No man feared him, as a
rival, however, for he made his love
as common as postage stamps By talk
ing of her to everyone he knew.
Moreover, he was the kind Of fellow
to make a hit with old ladies at after
noon tens, and the men not only con-
sidered him moro different kinds of an
ass than any n OF their acquaint-
ances, but actually gnyed him to his
face. Among themselves they iestiugly
accused him Of imperfect carebration.
But in spite Of these facts, aud that
he enjoyed a fair share Of Miss Da-
mer's favor, they liked him because he
was kindly-natured and altogether
harmless.
As Hotaling chewed the end of his
pen he mcditated upon these things /;
particularly Hilton's ten thousand a
year, and wondered If the latter con
sideration would weigh with Miss Da-
mer. He believed it would not, and
wrote her q note accordingly. He
asked for an engagement during the
week, adding that he had under con-
sideration IN offer to go abroad rs for.
eign Correspondent for q New York
| paper, aud that in Ease Of accepting
he would sail the next Saturday. He
would leave it for. her to decide
whether he should go or stay. It was
his last resource, and he felt that it
would bring things to q crisis. II she
rtfused him, he could go away-and
forget. II she-but the other posi-
bility plunged him into such deiirum
Of delightful dreams that he destroyed
| the misHive and resolved he would see
her that evening and set his mind at
rest.
There is o popular fallacy that van
ity il the prerogatiye Of woman ex-
clusively. Many bold that the soul
OF man is above such petty considora-
tons as dress and personal adornment.
Go to! Vanity bath no limitations OF
sex. As Mr.. Richard Hotaling care
fully accomplished his toilet that even
ing, with frequent glances toward the
mirror, he thoroughly appreciated his
good points and valiantly strore to
make the most OF them, in order to
look we'll in the eyes Of her he loved.
After looming his dress suit. which
he loathed, rs most men do, it oc-
cured to him that he would fee
easier and consequently appear to bet
Ter advantage IN his Tuxedo. Al
M&aSH+ @#&S&8s