St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-11-18
Because Of Ideals
MAY I walk home with you?" he
uvI asked.

kHAY / walk home with you?" h
lu asked.
1t was past eight o'clock on we
winter night, and they had just com,
out of church, where the vicar hat
been discoursing eloquently on the so
cial equality of man.
The girl looked up at the sky, opened
her umbrella and said: Yes"
You think he was right?" The mar
nodded his head in the direction of thu
building they had just left.
Not at ALL" said she, with LITTLE
toss of her head. Il think he was al
wrong in general"
but in particular?'
You and have nothing to do with
particulars" she remarked, kicking
away stone which lay in her path.
I'VE are particulars" s"-briefly.
NO, we are not" retorted the girl
1--WE are most decidedly generals. My
father is Gen. Carwithen, my grandfa.
ther was Gen. Carwithen; your father
is-a general dealer" This latter was
said under her breath.
HI HSdil uiu AOA Nohti odiSs ASA hS
merely asked her if it made any differ
ence to themselves.
Il think we are, and always shall be
as far apart as those two stars" she
said, sadly.
The rain had ceased, and two watery
stars twinkled feebly in the gloomy
sky.
II am nearly home now," she said,
after little silence. "You had better
not come any farther. Good night.
The man apparently did not see the
hand she held out. He said good night
iaconically, but he turned and watched
her until she was out of sight.
Once home, she flung herself on the
bed in an agony of despair. The man
found his friend awaiting him on his
doorstep,
"Hulloa! You look bit down in the
mouth, Needham. | knew this busi-
ness wouldn't work satisfactorily" he
said.
ITS working splendidly." answered
the other.
s.Then what is t?' asked his friend.
Randall Needhau gave little laugh
and shrugged his shoulders. .'The tale
is rs old as the hills, Arthur" he said.
Il am in love-"
'.Phew!" CALCULATED his friend.
20, it's all right" said Needham.
''She is perfect lady," Arthur glanced
round his friends study. Violins and
bows galore Uttered the room; music
was the dominating passion of the mans
life.
''She doesn't know?" he asked.
Not she." answered Needham. '.She
thinks my father is a general dealer in
only heaven knows what! But I'll
make her own she loves me before she
does know. No one here has ever
guessed my story. I am poor violin
teacher. pure and simple"
Not SO simple, either" Grosvenor
laughed.
The two men had brought out their
pipes and sat putting away at them to
their hearts content.
Look here. | met an old woman /
know in the street to-day" went on
Grosvencr. Il told her was staying
with yoa. and she asked me to dine
there; she turned up her lofty nose
with scorn at the bare idea of you
joining her select party at table. No
one is good enough for Mrs. Ranter;
she has her precious girls future to
think of, and you are not an eligible" :"
"Ranter." echoed Needham. "Why,
that's the name Of my best pupils
mother. Are you going?"
rs thy servant dog?" returned
Grosvenor.
Mrs. Ranter is one of the most ar
rant humbugs on the face of this earth.
Nothing short of title is worth any
thing to her." said Needham.
%. know her. returned the other.
Il think she would sell her soul for
position"
IF she had one" added Needham, and
they both laughed.
"How did that general dealer idea
get about?' asked Grosvenor. He had
stopped smoking to refill his pipe.
20, l don't know." answered the
other. Il expect Mrs. Ranter is at the
bottom of it, and haven't contradicted
it because it served my purpose WELL"
You were always rum chap. you
know said his friend. Il can't think
how it is people don't see through you.-
Nee5ham paused in the act of putting
some coal on the fire. Il have always
had my ideals" he said. .'One Of them
was to be loved and married for myself
alone. My father being out in Canada
made it easy for me to sink my identity.
And Ire had an ideal existence, too"
he added Its rather fun to be
snubbed when you know it is unneces-
ary.'
Grosycnor looked thoughtfully into
the FIRE. Il had ideals, too, once upon a
time" he said. Il would have died for
sny of them any day. The difficult part
was to live up to them"
.Don't outlive them. old fellow" said
Needham. 1T is mistake. When the
real shines in the reflected glory of the
ideal. it is always the better for it."
DO you really think so?" asked
Grosvenor. as he got up. Il am on to
bed now. If I stay up any longer you
will be persuading me to follow your