The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
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AWOMAN5 FLUENCE.

resents. / met her while ago. She
wanted to step, of course, but / just
rode on. Awfully rude, wasn't it? 1
couldn't help it, l detest her. She
wouldn't care snap of her finger for
me if were poor, but simply because
oh! l hate such people! Thank
heaven, I'll soon be away from them for
awhile. told you l was cross, Miss
Hilton"
Il sec it, my dear, was the half grave
response. Have you quite decided to
go 10 that outlandsh placer"
What doleful expression. If that
outlandish place means Siasconset, I'm
afraid 1 must plead guilty to such
dreadful decision, and l think | shall
find my experience both novel and de-
lightful. l mean to do just as / please.
Take another name and forg It Margaret
Leigh entirely. I'm tired of her."
Poor Margaret Leigh. l fear you
don't appreciate her; and since you are
quite determined to go to that land s.
end of creation l suppose the best thing
for me to do is to hope you won't re-
greet it,
Margaret laughed at this view of the
matter.
you see, lam not looking for beaux,
she said, with mock gravity. I've al
ways liked old men better than young
ones. I'm sure those delightful old fish
ermen will suit me immensely. Besides,
I'm tired of civilized life and sham5
generally, so ] welcome something gen.
u;ne for change. l suppose you think
/ have very carping disposition, but l
do so want to air my grievances. Ii it
were not too undignified | should like to
! lie en- the floor and scream
Don't do so, my dear. The doctor is
right. You do need change. l don't
recognize my Old Margaret"
"A flattering way of expressing an I'M
flattering opinion, laughed Margaret,
giving Miss Hilton's hand rcbuking
little pat. Il am growing degenerate,
en- not? l feel outrageously reckless
| to-day. / have a most overpowering
desire to shock this prim and severely
proper neighborhool. Don't look so re-
proving, Miss Hilton. You couldn't
scold if you tried, and I'm afraid take
advantage of that knowledge. Your
expression reminds me of Mr.. Webb.
He was dilatiny On my grandfather's
virtues this morning-to me, of all peo-
pie, mind youi-when l stopped his elo-
quence, and horr fed him in the bar
gain by saying if my grandfather was a
| specimen OF the good men, preferred
the bad. do, too. / don't believe that
because a man goes to church every
| Sunday and occasionally puts his name
to subscription list, where it can be
seen and read by III, neighborhood, that
he is entitled to any admiration on that
account. There are other varieties of
charity which admire more, and these
my grandfather did not possess. 1 dare
| l. IoI< r~,,1 % ftn aIo 81 I'M
mally good people wh) are perfectly
content in their own self-righteousness
tThey are precisely the kind of individ-
uals | detest. Give me an out-and- out
sinner any day. I'm certainly CAD
didn't know him, because I'm afraid
should dislike him even more than do
now.
Don't scold me, please, Miss Hilton.
l knew such feelings are neither kind
nor just. try so hard not to have them,
but when think of papa l."
Sho paused abruptly, her face and
/ voice filled with emotion.
Miss Hilton stroked the bowed head
with an infinitely tender caress. "Iwould
be the last 10 blame your loyalty to your
father" she said gently, but wish you
could forget"
|
answer How can l forget the poverty
and want that embittered my father S
life and caused my mothers death! II
you had known papa as l did, she con-
tinued, more quietly; IF you had under
stood his hopes and ambitions; il you
had seen how his sensitive nature shrank
from his uncongenial surroundings, or
guessed how his heart longe1 for the
sweet peace and restful influence OF
home, you would be unforgiving too.
His father deprived him OF all that
made life worth living. I can never
forget that. The time has been when I
felt hard and bitter to all the world, be-
cause one man had been so cruel to him.
The money l enjoy now would have
made his life so different. 1t is so hard
For me to think of this. know / shall
regret all my life that uncle found US too
late. All these thoughts rush over me
when l think of my grandfather, and
then feel inclined 10 express my opin-
ion strongly.
"You can't understand my bitterness
because you are always easy and gentle.
l don't believe you could be angry ii
you tried; but have very fire OF pas
sion in me, and it flares up ON occasion.
Let us talk of something else. Did
I tell you of my letter from Cousin
Brian? No? I intended to- 1t came
after luncheon. / wonder he cares to
write TO me. Yes, | know | wrote 10
: him first, but felt called upon to do
that. / was so unhappy over the will
that | wanted him to know how l re-
belled against it with all my soul. You
remember what candid, generous let
ter he wrote in answer. This letter is
equally characteristic. He tells ne he
} is coming TO America soon. Do you
know, am really anxious to see him.
} Il am sure you will like him, put in
Miss Hilton, with suspicious haste. J
confess l always had a tender place in
my heart for Brian. He has some ex-
cellent traits, despite his shortcomings
He lost his mother when he was very
, young, poor boy, and his after training
was left in the hands of servants, ano
was not very judicious, as you may
imagine.
aHe aad uncle quaTeled great deal
; didn't theyl' asked Margaret, after
thoughtful pause.
ayes, quite often, was the answer
Brian spent money more freely thar
. his father approved. Your uncle ones
| remarked to me: If Brian were no
sure that / would pay his hills he'woult
be less industrious In making them.
think he was rather anxious for him Il
Axf d. mi M