The Opelousas courier., 1898-04-16
A WOman'S Little Game.
BY CHARLES B.. LEWIS.

L Will honestly admir- that wa
"gone' on her even before she hahttle,
me the card which give her name /
Jeanne Lancaster. She was from Chi
cago and had called to i.aTalire abou
Charles Day. She had" scarcely men
toned his name when she began t,
weep. If you have eve been an OLE
bachelor you will understand how
quick the heart of such a man melt1
under the tears of a good looking
young woman. I'began to speal
soothing words, Of course, and pres
emily she grew confidential and made
confession. She was al heiress, while
Day was but a poor young man. They
met they loved-they became en-
gagged. She would have welded hin
in his poverty, but he wouldn't have
it that way. He went out to make
his fortune before claiming her, and the
first good thing he struck was the state
treasury. Miss Lancaster had read
all about it and had been almost brok,
en-hearted. While she had put Day
out Of her heart as being unworthy OF
her, she yet felt like having a few last
farewell words with him.
By the time the pretty little woman
was through talking ant. smiling and
crying, [ was ready to put a brotherly
arm around her and speak words of
consolation. Indeed, when I discov-
cred that her engagement was ''oft,"
l came very near Offering her my
heart and hand as a substitute. Moth
ing restrained me but the fear that [
had not known her long enough to in
spire the proper trust and confidence
which a good girl should have. I at
once granted her the privilege of a
private interview with Day. That is,
she was allowed to enter his cell, the
door of which was left open, and con-
verse with him while a guard waited
within call. The interview lasted half
an hour, and there was much weeping
and promising and protesting. The
young mar didn't want to be thrown
down just because he had stolen $780,
600 and been sentenced to 20 years in
prison. The girl was obdurate, how
ever, though it broke her heart over
again to tell him that he need no
longer hope. When she came out, her
handkerchief to her eyes and a sob in
her throat, she sat down in the office
to collect herself and then said:
Il want Charles to restore that
money and have been pleading with
hin to do SO. If 1 can have n or
two more interviews with him I think
I can accomplish my object"
| jumped a foot high and told her
she could interview him every day for
q month. He knew where the one
was, of course, and if it was restored
through any effort Of mine the tax
payers of the state would carry me
around on their shoulders as a reward.
Not only that, but the oftener Miss
came the oftener [ should
see her and the deeper I should be in
love. She came next day at the same
hour, held another fearful interview,
and when it was over she said to me:
"Charles has almost made up his
mind to confess, but still h~esitates. He
has a sister of whom he is very fond,
and if you don't mind her I will bring
her in to help me plead with him"
didn't mind, of course. If he had
Jour or five favorite sisters I should
been glad to have them all in to
coax the secret out of the rascal. Day
appeared to be very much broken
and after Miss Lancaster had
eft the prison he sent for me to ask
t the governor would pardon him on
lis giving up the money. I had to
that it might be four or five
years before he could look for his lib
'rty, but it would surely come before
lie had served out more than a third
# his sentence. He seemed quite
over this, and when I pressed
lin to tell me where the Doodle was
he opened his mouth as if to
10 SO. On second thought he shook
lis head and replied:
IF 1 tell anybody it will be Miss
lancaster and my sister. [ had deter
mined to die first, but I ain beginning
o see things a little differently"
I left him with the impression that
he two girls would soon have the Sc
ret. When Miss Lancaster appeared
lext day Miss Day was with her.
Hiss Day was very coy and retiring. |
neither shook hands with me MOI
eplied to my s%alutation and turned
Ter back as loon as possible. At the
anne time, as l remembered later, Miss
not only dallied with my
and, but pressed it and was very ef-
lsive in her speech. She said she
7ould have something special to tell
le when she returned from the inter-
lew, and she looked at ME SO archlv
hat I jumped at the conclusion she
as going to confess a first sight love
d. me.
The interview did not last over Is
and it took place just as dusk
as drawing on. When the two ladies
to the door Miss Lancaster
over to me and whispered:
"He has promised to confess all to-
borrow, and every dollar will be re-
I am glad, not only on his
count and mine, but for your dear
AXE. I know you to be a noble man,
nd if you would not think it unmaid-
in me IL"
I took her hand in mine and gave
several squeezes and assured her
lat nothing she could possibly an
ounce or confess in the English Ian
uage would be considered by me un-
of her. She pressed my hand
return and was going to confess
er love, but the telephone bell rang
IA mt her ont Che met ml;..