The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-04-21

Dhetlc tones GeplOTeQ tnOSc udllOudl
complications and calamities that had
sent to Minersvale one SO powerful, and
90 ready; to work evil in society, az
was that subaltern who delighted to
be addressed as Mr.. Adjutant! 1t was
declared to be such pity that he was
not down south getting his whisker-
less head shot OF.
Look at him! It's awful to see the
way he is trying to dazzle that dear
Stella Zenith! 1t is terrible to think
that one of our very brightest and
most lovable young ladies should per-
NIT herself to be cajoled by him! One
would never have thought 1t Of her.
What can make her mother so blind as
to allow such goings on? 1t is pity
that her father don't horsewhip him,
or that some young gentleman of hon.
or does not make hero OF himself by
calling the shoulder-strapped scamp
out and sticking his own sword among
his ribs in search of his wicked heart!
He don't intend to marry her and he
will only break her heart!"
Those who knew the family best did
not wonder at the apparent non-inter-
ference of Mrs. Zenith, for they knew
that no opposition could deter Miss
Stella unless she could see for herself
that she was wrong. What she desired
to accomplish she was sure to compass
in defiance Of hirdrances if she was
satisfied that it was right; and she did
her own reasoning as to what was
right and what was wrong.
AS for the adjutaEt. he was at first
attracted 20 Miss Stella by desire to
fathom her eccentricities. He had no
suspicion of the fact that in his pres
ence she carefully eonformed herself
to that course that would be sure to
captiyate him.
do not wish to be Inexperienced
to Miss Stella's detriment. She was
without hypocrisy. Nothing could
have induced her to that. Size was
simply wise observer of people; an
accurate reader of character; and
she saw that by INDUCING herself in
her oddities unrestraiIed; by doing
whatever she felt prompted to; by
being her most natural self always,
regardless OF conventionalitleS, she
would he1most successful in attracting
his admiration, and as she admired
him she sought to secure his highest
approval She was shrewd enough TO
be herself, natural and uncurbed.
Serious love making was as foreign
to the adjutant's intent as was suicide.
He contemplated the one quite as lit
tie as the other. IL. when he left his
quarters to make that first call on Miss
Stella. one had suggested matrimony
to him, he would have responded that
a matrimonial engagement was an in
tangible possibility of the indefinite
future and a question that could not
arise for him Until the war was over
and he settled prosperously in busi-
ness.
How very little we know Of our own
future. How very little we know OF
our own minds. 1t was not a fort
night till the adjutant asked Miss Stel-
la 20 become his wife and embraced
her as his p1ighted bride. This result
was but one more evidence OF Miss
Stellas power to mould others to her
own wish.
, The adjutant proposed to remain in
the army till the war was over; posi-
bly, afterward. He told his affianced
that as they were both so very young
ne Thought lucy SuOuiu uClCi LACii
marriage till peace was established and
he settled to the business of his life,
whether that should be in the army or
in some civil pursuit.
To this Miss Stella verbally assent
ed, but with mental reservation,
that il the war ended before their mar
riage, the country was at that moment
much nearer peace than the authori-
ties N either side suspected.