The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-03-20

use OF pretendlng"'
The impotence in the young man
tone amazed his aunt almost as muc,
as the sentiment he uttered. Neye
before had he failed to show her re
spect. On the contrary, the humble
ness Of his demeanor had been q griey
ance to her; it did not become one @
| her own blood to manifest the sam,
awe before her that an ordinary Nintl
Warder did.
The old lady Strengthened in bel
chair, the lines about her mouth
stltienca, and uer eyes glistened like
her knocker. as she answered.:
"percy Dean! You forget to whom
you are speaking. You forget yourself,
sir, and your good breeding is evident
ly suffering from the association you
permit yourself"
Percy was frightened. The last time
he had been rebuked in this temper by
his aunt was when he was q boy. He
meant no offence.
VI beg your pardon, Aunt Martha,
he murmured.
Mrs. Leveen took her knitting from
the table and worked bus;ly at it till
she was quite calm. She looked up
after every few thrusts Of her needle,
Indignantly at first, then coldly, and
finally the habitual expression OF kind
ness returned to her face.
81 dare say you are in q hurry to
80 to town, Percy, and I shall not &C.
tain you much longer. You may tell
me something about this young-this
girl. How old is she?"
"She is going on nineteen, Aunt
Martha.
els she cultivated, educated? Come,
Percy, tell me all about her."
'';5he went through the grammar
school, | think, but she had to work
after that. So she can't play the piano
or sing, but she is nice girl and can
tend the house and cook, now that her
mothers dead
"Tbat's right; she ought to be able
to manage her husbands household.
But tell me more about her. Is her
voice soft, are her manners gentle, IS
she modest? Describe her to NE, my
dear. Is she pretty?"
Percy was encouraged by the few
words of approval he had won.
"Aunt, she's beaut', that's"
"What do you say, what?''
81 mean she's beauty. Shes got
blue eyes and blonde hair and the
incest, biggest, reddest cheeks. She
amt what you would call quiet; she's
more lively like. You ought to hear
her laugh when we're down on the
docks nights with the rest of the
crowd. I'll bet you could hear ner
across the river in hoboken. And
Jolly? II she gets q mug as is too
fresh, she can jolly him along 10 beat
the band. But she's Oh the level too.
she does the square thing by her old
man every clip. The homework has
to be done before she's in for the
game. And she slaves for her little
sisters and brothers, just slaves for
them, and yet she does it as willing.
But then she's good to everybody;
always ready to help out with work
when neighbors are behind or sick or
have company, and she sticks up for
horses and cats and oil like that. You
wouldn't believe she was that way,
though, to see her at ball or dancing
on excursion boats up the river. She's
a good locker and good dresser, and
when she's out in full rig well, say,
she's sight. The other fellows don't
Go nothing when we're out"
Percy stopped short. Mrs. Leveen
had risen suddenly and she stood erect
before him, tall and white and proud.
"Why, Aunt Martial" he ex.
claimed.
THAT is enough, Percy. Thank
You. I see 7 have been wrong, all
wrong in this matter from the first.
You shall have your way, for it is
right. ! consent"
ooh, Aunt Marie, he cried, spring
ing up and Selling her hand to kiss,
81 an SO glad. But knew you would
after hearing about her. And say,
aunt, you ought to see her once. You
couldn't help but like her and admire
her. Everybody in the ward does.
Why, DO you know what they call her,
the men down al the Grapevine? The
way you looked then made me think
Of i. They call her the Pride of
Greenwich Village. New York Post.