The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-21
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"Well, goodbye. You will fall a
victim, I have not the slightest doubt,
to Emmeline's charms"
eyes; but will she allow herself to
be charmed?"
'Not if she's wise. But here is your
train. Goodbye; and if you break
your heart the great remedy for such
complaints is change OF scene, you
know. If I hear of you in Africa I
shall understand what has happened. "
The speakers shook hands. He found
a place in the train, and she made her
way again to the pony carriage in
which she had driven him to the sta
ton, his farewell words not having
been perhaps exactly what they would
have been if spoken in the hearing Of
a less limited audience.
"What an idiot he isl" she said to
herself, and then she laughed. The
epithet would not have wounded the
feelings of the most sensitive of NOR
tails had he read Alright the laugh that
followed it. ''Poor George!" was
with sigh her next comment, and a
grave look clouded her bright face.
George was the husband for whom
her mourning had now reached the
lavender and white stage. Poor George
he had never liked her cousin. But
there was no harm in Dan, absolutely
none. The pony took his time through
the hedge-shaded lanes-hedges gar
landed with wild roses and honey
suckle.
Three days afterwards the post
brought letter, among others, that
was read over more than once by the
recipient. It ran after this wise:
DEAR LYD1A-Words spoken in JEST as you
and the Greeks say, come true. I am en-
gagged to Miss Winterton. Emmeline
so have right now to call her-made me
the happiest Of men by accepting me this
morning. feel cannot let post 20 With
out telling you my news. When think OF
how we made a subject for ridicule and mer-
riraent Of An object to me now 30 precious,
indeed come to the conclusion that nv fate
is better than I deserve. Yours, always afrec-
tionately, D. FORBES.
P. S.-Emmeline sends her best love, and
counts upon your presence at the wedding.
Lydia's red and white grew very
vivid as she read this communication
the first time. On the second perusal,
white predominated; on the third, her
color suddenly returned, and she
laughed.
''He is silly creature" she told
herself; II will give him good time
in revenge. He deserves it. How
could I be so foolish as to be taken in?
Emmeline! Absurd! Poor old
Emmeline, with her dust cloak and
bag of keys"
Lydia sat down to her writing-table,
and, looking very much pleased with
herself all the while, wrote as follows:
MY DEAR DAN-1. do no; deny that your
note took me little by surprise, but I am
very, very glad (three underlines to each
verV}rol what you tell me. OF course, our
foolish little Jokes meant nothing. In fact,
as blind, people often joke about those
they like best. l think Emmeline is most
admirably calculated to make you happy,
and l send my sincerest good wishes for
your future life Always, dear Dan, with
love to Emmeline,
Your affectionate cousin,
LYDIA BRACKENBURY.
P.S.-Please give the enclosed note to Mrs.
Winterton. cannot forbear writing just q
line to her to say how much your engage
ment, of which l have heard fro", YOU.
pleas s me. She will be so glad abo t her-
self, l know.
Captain Forbes was at breakfast
when Lydia's letter was brought to
him. The Winterton family were
ranged round the table, and without
reading his own document, he handed
at once to Mrs. Winterton the note
enclosed and addressed to her in his
cousins handwriting. Then he read
what she had written to him, and his
usually lively color turned to a posi-
tive gray. This was awful. He had
given to Mrs. Winterton letter to
say how much pleased Lydia was to
have heard from him of his engage.
ment to her daughter. What fright
full perdicament to be in! He looked
to the head Of the table where Mrs.
Winterton, most grim, stiff and pro-
priety-loving specimen of the British
mother, sat behind the teapot. He
looked across to Emmeline in her
prim. unattractive, old-maidish, latter
youth. How should he ever get out
of this? Of course the letter was all
nonsense. There hadn't been a word
of truth in it. How could there have
been? Really, Lydia might have
known. He had certainly taken long
time to compose the effusion and to
make it seem as real as possible; but
to whom would it have occurred, even
if she had believed such monstrous
impossibility, that she would have
gone and written off on the spur Of
the moment to the old woman? And
she didn't seem to care one straw.
She believed such an outrageously i'm
possible thing, without the least hest
tation or distress! It was nothing to