The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-07-14
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1AW0MjAIIN!5 M .UENCE'

see. You and Miss Hilton really amuse
M; your ideas Of S'conset are as differ
ent from the reality as night from day.
It Is d whole host Of delights in itself. I
am really not an object OF sympathy 90
your pity has all been thrown away"
So it has, you bad girl. Why didn't
you tell me before. I 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 will improve his temper.
Oh, had quite forgotten. Your cousin
does lie like things, and how do you
like him?"
Alice moved nearer to Margaret, and
taking her hand, laughingly gazed into
her face.
Yes, he is home. He came yesterday
afternoon, and Well, it Is simply
uncomfortable. Fancy tho position Of
playing hostess to u man who feels you
have taken his birthright. Yet, there
are people in this place who think me
fortunate. Some persons never see be-
You'd the surface"
We'll, dom think about it, my DEAR
said Alice, consolingly: ut isn't your
fault. am anxious to see your cousin:
His return is all over the neighborho0l,
of course. I'm afraid 1t won't please
Mrs. Downs. She may think poor dear
Alfy's chances lessened thereby. He
has pined to d mere skeleton during
your absence, Margaret"
A contemptuous expression passed
over Margaret's face.
II do wish some one would marry him
and carry him off to another nefghbor-
hood" she said II am so thoroughly
tired Of seeing him around. He may
be the paragon his mother thinks him.
I daresay he is. He hasn't brains
enough to be otherwise. But prefer d
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. I"
Perhaps if it were shorter he might
be better" commented Margaret
Money causes all the trouble in the
world"
"The want of it, you mean, suggested
Alice, sagely. 1T is a wonderful power,
no doubt. 1t makes beauty more beau
tiful, virtue more virtuous, and great
ness more great. The very thought Of
it makes me wax eloquent. Seriously,
my dear, poverty is the meanest thing
under the sun. Nell agrees with mo
there. l had q letter from her this
morning, and to cheer you I will read
it,"
How is Nell?" asked Margaret,
smiling at thought her mind conjured
up. Il don't see that plaque she
painted. Have you become unappreoia-
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 Alice's plaque,
the contrast between it and her indigo
lake and impossible trees was startling,
even to my nartistic eye. ! stood itfor
few days, but at last nature would be or
no more, and the plaque now reposes in
my trunk, where the sun can not fade
or the dust injure. Here's her letter.
MY DEAR ALICE: At last am sitting
down to answer your letter, and &C.
knowledge its welcome Enclosure. My
llCtLu lllC AuNO w say
but I'll begin at the beginning. Graft.
tude before everything in my category
I will therefore thank you for your
Check. l 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 ir
order. Henceforward l 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 advisedly
as it sounds more imposing than enumer
ating details) and you will not have tx
strain your imagination much to bring
to mind the painfully emaciated condi
ton of the family purse. 1t looked ex
tremely humble, assure you, despite
the fact that poverty is always proud
But the moment your check arrived
what a change! 1t Immediately swellet
with pride, like the tabled frog who's
picture I used to admire SO extav
agantly, and though it has been consid
erably depleted since, it still remain
fat.
Now, Alice, word Of advice. Keel
in with the old bear and make hin
! leave you some money; for, horribl
, thought, the Reynoldses seem to be grow
, ing poorer. 1 think it a decided mis-
, take on the part Of mamma and papa t
have had so many children. But Il hay
noticed that this mistake is commo
, among poor people. | suppose the
want numbers somewhere, so they max
up in babies what they lack in dollars
| II matters dom mend with us, shall G
q to writing stories; l always did think
had talent.
? In your last letter you mildly in
| quired if we liked our new fiat. My dea
child, the question was superauous
t Flats weren't made to be liked; not tn
: cheap flats, at least, and those are tn
: only kind we indulge in. Our presen
r one is narrow tunnel, probably tritl
/ broader than the road which is popu
t larry supposed to lead to eternal bills!
" We have daylight at each end and vary
, ing degrees of twilight in the middle
S and our bedrooms are so small thu
q Bess, being girl of resources, knee
S upon the bed to say her prayers an
S prevent me from tumbling over her fee
which, to say the least, are not in pr
S portion to our apartment.
T. Speaking OF Bess, I'm dying to kno
: if she ever mentions Mr.. Spencer in ht
). letters to you. That man is my abon
h ination, and l SILVER at the po5sibilit
: of such a brother-inlaw. He likes he
: know, for he comes here nearly ever
night, sits in our bcst chair, which 1
has nearly worn out, and talks throue
e the biggest nose it has been my for
y une to see. Altogether he is odiou
a and if Bess marries him, she is no 81:
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