The Opelousas courier., 1898-01-22

Nv little room approving
~0 ly. Certainly thu
dainty furniture ani
hangings aud the blazing fire were
worthy Of approval.
81 quite agree with you, Geoff," an.
swered George from her low chair
where she sat with her slippered fee
on the fender. SAT first we fount
several drawbacks, but now that we
have got used to making our own beds
and cooking our own dinners we rather
enjoy life than not. OF course there
are heaps of things that we miss, and
it was pleasanter to have servants to
wait upon us han have a woman in
every morning to do up the rooms
but we are too busy to have leisure tc
pine. I teach the young ladies of the
town to play the piano, and to speak
their native tongue with accuracy; and
Josie is daily companion to al elderly
lady-hours from ten to eight, and a
holiday on Sunday. We rather like
it,"
"But Anna would not bend her
shoulders to the yoke!"
"No; Anna thought poverty in Eng
land very Objectionable. So she wrote
to James that she had changed her
mind about going out to be married,
and should sail for Melbourne in the
next steamer. We wanted her to wait
for an answer from him, but she had
a more perfect faith in him than we
had, I suppose; anyway, she is gone
"Have you heard of her arrival
yet?"
eyes, and no. 1--WE have heard that
the Petrol arrived safely, but we could
hardly have a letter from her till this
week. It is just about three months
since she sailed"
"Let us hope that her letter will not
bring the announcement Of her mar
riage to somebody else upon the voy-
age. It would be too bad if she
broke poor old Jamie's heart, and
those things do happen"
$50 do snowaakes in May. No, I
am not going to waste much anticipa-
tory sympathy owe Jamie's heart. I
am anxious to hear from Anna though,
and so is Josie. That young woman
is late tonight, and I am dying to see
her surprise when she finds you here"
"She is due, is she?" said Godfrey,
walking to the window and pulling
aside the blind that he might look out
on the garden path, dimly lighted by
the gas lamps on the road. ''Does she
walk or drive? There is a cab now
coming along"
"Walk, of course! We cannot afford
carriages!"
'The cab is coming here, neverthe-
less. Stops at the gate-somebody
gets out; it is Josie, or ANIMAL"
"Nonsense!' exclaimed Georgia.
starting up in such haste that her chair
went n way and the fire-irons
another. "Oh, Geof, what is it? T
am SO glad you are here!"
II am glad you are glad" he re-
turned grimly. "There, you see, if it
is not Anna ! am a Dutchman."
Sand if it is Anna it is her heart
that is broken and not Jem's," cried
George, rushing from the window to
the front door "Oh, my poor, poor
dear!' she went on as she flung it open
and caughtthe new m in her arms.
What is it all, and how came you to
be back AGAIN."
II am SO tired, Georgiei I cannot
talk" answered Anna YEARLY. Cali
my luggage is out there"
"Geof shall see to that. Come right
in, darling. You shall rest and tell us
all the tale tomorrow"
Rest was just what the wayfarer
wanted. She drank her hot cup of
tea, and took her soup in Georgie's
lately vacant chair and was after that
only too thankfully led away to bed.
Her sister undressed her and settled
her with all the love and tenderness
amongst the pillows without permit
ting a word of explanation, and then
ran down again to Geoff and Josie.
II call this a horrid surprised" she
said. II always did hate surprises;
they are no better than practical jokes.
What do you think of jamie now?"
"Perhaps the poor fellow is dead"
suggested Godfrey.
mot he; naught never m to
HARM said Josie spitefully. "The
best I can hope for him is that he is
ruined"
swell, heaven be thanked that
whatever has come to him we have
Anna back safe. She looks horribly
Ill. Geof, you will come in to-mor.
row to hear all there is to hear about
it," For Geof was evidently ready to
Il shall be in first thing, Of course.
I Would stop if I might, but it won't
DO to scandalize your pupils. Hthere
IS anything to be done you will fetch
me directly?"
Il am SO glad you are here!' said /
George again. /,
Poor Anna! her tale was told in few
words, but those few words contained j,
J volume Of sorrow. Her outward i
7oyage had bsea prosperous and ex- :
,eedingly pleasant. She was leaving {
,overty behind her, and was about to 1
neet the man to whom her whole heart {
sas given, and who had, as she knew. i
made 9 comfortable living for himself; ]
he was strong and we'll and light {
hearted, and all on board the vessel q
'onspirea to coars an latter her. She /
night have chosen / hasiaui from
,nongst half q dozen men, but it was i