The Opelousas courier., 1897-05-22

: NlIsIMJhNTSS rived at the la
W|WHMWWWNSSS mentioned stae
o. a'OV w y about the tin
Clarence Parker reached his twent,
l fifth year. His father left this seen
Of earthly change when Clarence was
t growing youngster OF two years, an
, bis mother, the sweetest tempered lii
, tie woman to be found. immediatel
: commenced q system of indulgence &C
mirably calculated to make a miIkso
OF her only son and the heir to hi
fathers large estate.
That he did not grow up vicious wa
probably due to the fact that he fairl
idolized his mother, and would no
have grieved her for any amount Q
self qualification. Also, it must b
confessed, because he was too indolen
to care to seek pleasure that did fal
directly across his path.
He had been educated by a privat,
tutor, till he entered college, haJ
graduated there and travelled through
Europe with his mother.
AIRS. Parker was q little woman, a
mere mite beside her tail, stalwart
son, who called her by q thousand pei
dlmlnutive names, in half a dozen
languages. She was blue eyed, fair
haired and daintily pretty, neat to the
extreme of nicely, gentle, low voiced
and ezqulsitely feminine, yet withal
with a we'll stored mind and an intel.
lect that made her a charming CON.
panion, even for her college Hedsel
son. Many a suitor had tried to win
her from her n devotion, but in vain.
All her love that was not her sons
was buried in his fathers grave, and
she neverput off the soft grays, puppies
and neutral tints of second mourning.
when you r married, Claire, I
Will buy one pink rose in honor of the
OCCASION she would say. But at
twenty-five, Clarence had never given
her occasion to think of the pink rose.
L have said he was spoiled, and in a
Certain sense he Without any
vicious tendencies, he lacked the am.
bltion and energy that are the attri.
butes of a true, manly nature. Tall,
strong, in perfect health. handsome as
q young Apollo, he was content to
dawdle through life, spending his am.
pie income upon dress, jewelry, opera
tickets, q well-appointed equipage,
and the means of q lazy, useless ex.
lstence. And his mother, proud of his
beauty. his polished courtesy of man.
ner, his devotion to herself, asked no
more.
But she was a truly loving oma
and when Clarence was twenty-five
was willing to concede her throne in
his affections to a younger, stronger
love, the love that would brighten her
sons life With home happiness when
her scepter was in the coffin.
And half proudly, half respectfully.
she recognized the fact that the ideal
of womanhood he had founded upon
her example made him far too fastid.
In his intercourse with the girls
Of modern society. A loud voice an.
noyed him. A brusque manner dis.
him.
"When I find q young lady as gen..
tie, refined and lovely as yourself" he
would say, 81 will move heaven and
earth to win her. Until then, let me
my liberty"
1t was in the late spring and Mrs.
Parker was preparing for her annual
'emoval to her country seat at Chest.
Int Hill, when q letter reached her
rom her cousin and lifelong friend in
ohio, begging her to take charge of
lis only daughter for q few months,
'hile ne was absent upon a trip to the
West. He wrote:
"You lave so often urged me to allow
lyra TO pay you a visit that I do not hest :
no" to ask your hospitality for her.
Well take her with me, as we are q {
aL,y .. nlne men upon a prospecting jaunt. !
40 not IKE to leave her here alone. Will
gu ADD to your Kindness by using the en- ,
.osea eneck 1or her dress. We have lived !
this lonely seclusion so long hat I do not [
oubt her whole attire will be startlinplv :
r1m,'lve, and she has no friends here to :
clip her select ~lnery." '
There was much more, read aloud to =
.larence, with this explanation:
my cousin John became o Isrmit r
hen his wife died, ten years ago. He 4
wealthy, and o mar of learning, but $
Q has buried himself for years upon 9
lonely farm. Ihave urged him Of n
IN to send Myra to q good school. and 4
It her make her home with me, but a
said the child was his only comfort. !,
al l believe they have been INSOFAR. K
Die from her babyhood. She is-let .
o see-she must be nineteen" II
Clarence made grimace. A
when does she Gomez" he asked. =,
Thursday. We shall be Of Chest. =,
At Hill, but you can como into the Il
ty to meet her." =,
Certainly" y
And at the appointed time, in a .,
uitless suit Of summer gray. Mr.. q
arence Parker drove his carriage +,
d coal-black horses to the depot. v
train was just in, and he watched q,
g passengers stream by till one an. cr
cred his ideas Of his expected in
usin. =.
A girl. very tall, very straight and .b
y handsome. in a dark, Southern
lie, dressed in Shifting gray linen, pf
9 plaid shawl on her arm, walked
him to the dressing-room, with q II
e, graceful step and poise OF her y
'rlous head eninently suggestive OF Il
1ntry life in the West.
she is q perfect squaw," Clarence .
'ught, slowly following her to the
'es. room The next moment, b,
lceiuiIy towing; he asked: T.
'l1ave ! the pleasure OF greeting -
Myra Delan0, my cousiaYh 8,
an, yon are Clarence ~ she said. q
's!aas tTo 6sszlina seHs q teeth u ii